Question of the Day: What Type of ‘Alternative’ Vehicle Will You Drive in the Future?
It’s a brave new world of alternative propulsion out there, and while the American public is starting to wrap its collective head around many of the options, there still seem to be more questions than answers. So we thought we’d pose the question to our readers; which ‘alternative’ type of vehicle can you most see yourself driving in the moderately near future? For the purposes of our discussion we’ll narrow the options to biofuel-burners, diesels, all-electrics, hybrids, and hydrogen fuel-cell power. Leave your answer in comments.
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Comments
Cicero
Algae made bio-diesel
X3 SoB
Actually, Switchgrass Bioethanol has a higher yield per pound and is very easy to grow and harvest while not cutting into foodstocks. As to the Question(good one Seyth), Series Hybrids are the way forward in the near term, provided the difficulties with Lithium Ion storage are ironed out. Many different Heat engines could be used efficiently in a series hybrid, while retaining the range and performance that we Americans crave. Even us Japs!
Son of a Beach
Hydrogen is a red herring with the current technology, as it takes as much energy to manufacture it as it puts out. This makes Hydrogen an energy transfer medium(like electricity), not a fuel. Hydrogen may be fashionable, but the only thing your getting from the manufacturers is a snow job, if they are calling it the fuel of the future. Electrolytic efficiency has to improve dramatically, and all the other schemes to refine it from methane or petrochemicals are voodoo science.
klarens
all electric or hydrogen fuel-cell.
klarens
or lpg(propane gas) which is popular across europe
Johnny
A diesel vehicle with a separate tank for used fryer oil from any fast food place.
stu
battery assisted jet pack
bepsf
Horse-drawn carriage (when I'm not walking)
Wes
If I had to choose from what is available now, I would probably choose one of the General's flex fuel offerings.
smokyburnout
i can see myself driving a diesel in the short-term and a car with a hydrogen internal combustion engine in the long-term future... i know full electrics are probably more efficient, but they have almost no appeal to me.
94 taurus owner
1.Water
2.electric
3.waste powered
4.solar
bmwloco
TDI, possibly with hybrid breaking assist.
As I do now, a big solar panel for keeping the electrical gear charged up (mind you, it's an '85 Westy).
The Volkswagen Up Space would probably fit the bill. 2 cylinder turbo diesel hybrid.
Yeah baby.
Ducati Minor
The one powered by human ego.
Garrett
Keep my TDI.
Then maybe a Loremo or an electric.
chuck goolsbee
I'm already driving a TDI on homebrew.
In the future though I want a 2-seat convertible with a TDI.
--chuck
http://chuck.goolsbee.org
VII
Hrm........dun wanna think about it right now.
(Classic American response)
Deepwater805
There is really only one viable interim alternative readily available to mass market now. That's hybrid technology. In spite of it's present reputation amoung automotive purists, what we are seeing is really just growing pains. In ten years the vast majority of first world car owners will be driving hybrids, with the third world following about a decade later. Real fuel savings with this technology is here now, and can be had with our next car purchase. Many of us are beginning to lean in this direction, and the more the market demands hybrids, the more industry, with it's competative spirit, will research to come up with a better mouse trap, and a cheaper one.
Johnny
Hybrids, no thanks, I'd rather not buy a car for status. http://www.motorauthority.com/news/industry/hybrids-delaying-fuel-cells-...
95 camry
i get 40 mpg average from my 95 camry.I want an air car from australia.or a hacked (extra batteries)prius that gets 100 mpg.or buy a scion xb boxy,but gets 40 mpg they say. of course, they had to mess with it, so the newest ones have bigger engines & worse mpg.a tesla motorcar would be cool. my question, why buy a smart car when i get 40 mpg from my 95 camry with lots more space?
and just so you know, cadillac had developed a carbuerator technology in either the 60's or 70's to get 800 mpg.the test vehicle got out by accident. was repoed of course and never heard from again.and then they say they just can't build a car with lower CAFE standards .... they've had since the 70's oil crisis to get their stuff together. no wonder US carmakers are in trouble.
chartguy
A turbo-diesel is probably the most likely option. I'm guessing that the slowing economy will actually lead to lower oil prices, and may slow the transition.
bepsf
"I’m guessing that the slowing economy will actually lead to lower oil prices..."
Boy, is that some wishful thinking...
...with worldwide demand for oil going up and no additional resources being found, oil prices won't be going down significantly anytime soon.
X3 SoB
800 mpg?! Talk about wishful thinking! Who believes this urban legend bullshyt? I mean beside 95 camry, who doesn't even know how to use a shift key. I seriously doubt even that his car gets 40 mpg.
Ducati Minor
So do I.
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