Disney buses to go green

[devoy1701]

Unfortunately, you just can't do much with the plain reciprocating internal combustion engines. Conversion is expensive and doesn't necessarily increase efficiency as much as a new car, with a lighter chasis, a better transmission, and a proper engine.

Hybrid is (part of) the answer. This is a technology that has more room for research improvement, trust me. As time goes on and new ideas arise, hybrid will become very attractive. Why? Because hybrid systems are a way to use rejected energy. (If you are really interested, search not only hybrid/electric engines, but also regenerative breaking, heatingcooling&power projects/waste heat engines, the six-stroke engine, or even el/Quasiturbine engines).

I will be using your keywords and doing some searching in the near future. Thanks!

And agreed...hybrid tech is a step towards the right direction. But I refuse to get rid of my powerful V6 (I really do love it!) for today's version of a hybrid who's technology will probably considered obsolite and inefficient in 10 years. Now I probably won't be getting another V6 when I'm ready for a new car...but I'll opt for a 4 cylinder before I buy in to some hybrid that is on the market now. As someone mentioned in one of the more recent posts, technological advances haven't slowed down, they actually happening at incredible rates...we just haven't gotten to that one particular breakthrough that will replace combustion engines. And Hybrid technologies are being refined at a fantastic rate as well that a hybrid from 2002 is nothing like a hybrid from today!

 

[Rayray]

I will be using your keywords and doing some searching in the near future. Thanks!

And agreed...hybrid tech is a step towards the right direction. But I refuse to get rid of my powerful V6 (I really do love it!) for today's version of a hybrid who's technology will probably considered obsolite and inefficient in 10 years. Now I probably won't be getting another V6 when I'm ready for a new car...but I'll opt for a 4 cylinder before I buy in to some hybrid that is on the market now. As someone mentioned in one of the more recent posts, technological advances haven't slowed down, they actually happening at incredible rates...we just haven't gotten to that one particular breakthrough that will replace combustion engines. And Hybrid technologies are being refined at a fantastic rate as well that a hybrid from 2002 is nothing like a hybrid from today!

Who knows? In the near future, you might not be buying any kind of cylinder engine. Those rotary (el) engines might even make a comeback. haha

And you know you mentioned combustion engine advancements. Try searching chemical exergy/availabilty of fuel. You'd be surprised at how much potential is permanantly lost from burning fuel, instead of other means of energy extraction (such as a fuel cell). This field of energy and thermodynamics is buzzing with possiblities at the moment to fix problems like the one above.

Also add the Stirling engine to your keyword list. That's a really basic but purely efficient heat engine (can be ran on waste heat).