ALTERNATIVE ENGINE TECHNOLOGIES
Alternative engine technologies are generating a lot of excitement. They either deliver better fuel economy or give the owner the flexibility to burn alternative ethanol-based fuels instead of imported oil. _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________
Should you pay extra for a higher mileage power plant or stay with a more conventional gas engine? Either way, it’s a calculated risk. With the gas engine you save money now and hope the price of gas doesn’t go too high. With the high mileage option, you spend more now thinking that the price of gas will stay high or get worse. Of course, if you do pay the extra money for the high mileage option and the price of gas drops, you still stay ahead of gas prices more than with a conventional gas engine. And there are other reasons to pay for the higher mileage option. Heartfelt environmental concerns or patriotic sentiments can transcend personal economics. Paying the extra money for higher mileage power plants (or, for that matter, squeezing into one of the micro cars), out of commitment to a higher cause is perfectly valid. A lot of systems deliver better fuel economy but you need to decide whether or not they’re worth the extra money. No method of estimating future expenses is ever perfect. But the Edmund's
Here are the currently available alternative engine technologies. _________________________________________________________________
FLEX FUEL – These vehicles are often available as a no cost or low cost option that allows the owner to burn a variety of fuels ranging from conventional pump gasoline to 85% ethanol blends. This technology doesn’t increase fuel economy. In fact, E85 ethanol blends can increase fuel consumption buy about 25%. The big advantage of burning ethanol blends is reduced dependency on imported oil. E85 often costs less than conventional gasoline. But does it cost enough less to make up for the reduced mileage? We discuss that and more on our E85 Ethanol page. _________________________________________________________________
DIESEL – The new diesel engines are cleaner, quieter, and more fuel-efficient than ever. Are they worth the extra price? This Edmunds Diesel vs. Hybrid Comparison
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HYBRID DRIVES – The hybrid drive has been making headlines with greatly improved mileage and proven reliability. In the very near future the pluggable hybrid may reduce oil consumption by 80%, and bring an end to the era of oil dominance and crisis. But are hybrids worth the extra cost? How long will the batteries last? How much extra will the car cost to maintain than a conventional power train? These two articles from Edmunds answer those questions and more:
Edmunds, Things to Consider When Buying a Hybrid
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ELECTRIC VEHICLES – In addition to the pluggable hybrid, the all-electric drive train is a strong candidate for the power train of the future. While the base technology has been around as long as long as the automobile, the big snag has been energy storage that allows both fast recharge and driving range that compares to gasoline powered cars. That hurdle has been cleared and there are now two all electric cars available in the U.S.A. and elsewhere. Phoenix Motor Cars and the Tesla electric motor car are leading the charge into the era of high performance vehicles that consume no oil. Phoenix Motor Cars is currently making a sport utility truck with more vehicles coming soon. Tesla Motors has super hot GT styling, with matching performance. _________________________________________________________________
WHO HAS WHAT? Some car companies have no alternative engine technologies to offer, while others offer a wide variety. In the current market General Motors offers the widest variety of alternative engines in the most models. They are in a heated race with Toyota to bring the first mass-produced pluggable hybrid car to market. Who has what alternative engine technologies available is changing almost daily. A simple way to sort through the chaos of technology advancements is to enter terms like ‘hybrid car manufacturers’, ‘E85 cars’, or ‘diesel engine car companies’ in a search engine.
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