On Wed, 29 Jan 2003, Harmon Seaver wrote:
Although canola oil is a much better source for fuel. And diesels a much better IC engine for hybrids. Even in non-hybrids, VW builds some pretty nice diesel cars, including the Lupo, on the market for a couple years now, which gets 80mpg. And the prototype that VW's CEO drives around in that gets 280mpg.
From http://www.used-volkswagen-cars.co.uk/volkswagenlupo.htm: "As befits a small car, the cheapest models come with a 1.0-litre engine that is decent enough, though finds it hard going on the motorway." And I bet an alcohol fueled model airplane engine gets 1000 mpg. It just can't lift a gallon! We have put a lot of research money into fuel cells, and the pay off is not in auto's, it's in battery replacement. Energy density and economics are both important, as is infrastructure and politics. I'll be climbing on my bicycle in a few minutes to ride home in the snow - it uses regular meat and potatoes for fuel :-) But not many people can deal with the risks. If we make it a law that everyone rides their bike to work so we can use the gasoline to conquer the world, Bush might get a second term. But let's hope not. Patience, persistence, truth, Dr. mike