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Subscribe to this threadMIT helps Ford apply pressure
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EM @ Aug 11th 2007 10:05AM
So, if Ethanol injection is used then you'd have to carry a separate tank full of it. Since it's hard enough to find Ethanol at gas stations then the person would have to find another place to fill that up. Which means spending more money and adding something else to do to maintain the car, which isn't good. Considering the amount of people I know who either don't know they have to change their oil or don't like to, this could be more of a disaster than a boon to Ford. It's an interesting idea, I'm just skeptical of the feasibility of adopting these systems. Ford wants to (and desperately needs to) make money, the cost of actually implementing this system will probably lead to it being abandoned by Ford, and shelved.
taipeileviathan @ Aug 11th 2007 10:59AM
uh, isn't this the nature of change (and as Remy says, "nature IS change")? by your logic, nothing that requires adaptation would be feasible... and we'd all still be living in caves. 20 years ago few homes had personal computers and http hadn't even been invented, yet look at us now...
if the gains in power and efficiency are great enough, market forces and consumer demand would align accordingly to support this endeavor as would investors with their money, and people who'd want to partake in progress most definitely will learn to adapt. not to say that Ford couldn't then screw it up, but in any case, it's probably too early to tell in this case, in terms of the technology itself, the suitability of Ford as its adopter/proponent, etc.. one thing for sure tho: it certainly is too early to discount the whole thing as unfeasible.
EM @ Aug 11th 2007 11:14AM
I didn't say it would not work, I simply stated that I was skeptical of it. Especially considering that cars can run completely on ethanol while developing acceptable power. Considering that the biggest complaint consumers have isn't the fuel mileage or emissions, but the cost of gas in general, adding an extra step and cost (even assuming the gains were significant) that consumers would tend to avoid it. The idea in itself still requires oil, so it's not like Oil companies won't raise the price of oil to compensate for loses anyway. It seems to me that, just like hybrids, this is more of a band aid than a fix. Hopefully the research will lead to the fix though.
People change yes, but it generally takes time. Consumers are an iffy bunch. There are some people that rush out to get the latest and greatest, and they are usually the smallest group. Especially car buyers, who tend to buy based on want and not on need. Hence, cars like Mustangs, Camaros, Corvettes, Vipers, etc. Some of the best selling cars are cars that people buy because they want them, not because they need them. I think that this technology will be a seguey into something better, not a fix solution.
Joe @ Aug 11th 2007 11:28AM
The ethanol required for this process, or a liquid with similar chemical characteristics can be produced with an on-board distillation unit that uses latent engine heat...Ford owns the patent for that one.
spdracerut @ Aug 12th 2007 5:31PM
The volume of ethanol required is very small. A one gallon tank of ethanol would last a few tank fulls of gasoline.