Which is the better engine configuration for a fuel-efficient car?
THIS?
The Crower 6 cycle engine invented by Bruce Crower,
the same guy who owns the popular aftermarket automotive camshaft company.
Similar to a 4 cycle engine. Adds a 5th and 6th cycle where water is injected into the engine between the exhaust cycle and intake cycle. The water entering the hot combustion chamber instantly turns into steam and expands to 1600 times its volume giving an extra free steam driven power stroke.
He claims a 40% reduction in fuel consumption and less emissions.
In the prototype models the engine consumes about the same amount of water as fuel. However in production models the steam could be captured and condensed to be used repeatedly.
An added benefit of this design is that it draws enough heat from the engine making the cooling system obsolete.
http://www.damninteresting.com/the-six-s…
OR THIS? The Crowler engine is brilliant, but this is better.
A fully electric driven car with an auxiliary engine to charge the battery pack.
The small auxiliary engine would only run when the car trip is expected to exceed the car’s range.
On short trips, it would be charged by house current.
On longer trips a hybrid internal combustion(IC)/Steam engine would charge the battery.
The IC/Steam engine would weigh under 150 lbs and only be used to charge battery pack.
It would consist of a 2 cylinder gasoline engine combined on the same crankshaft with a Steam engine that would run off the exhaust heat from the IC engine.
Like the Crowler engine, there would be no need for a cooling system as all the waste heat would be used to power the steam engine.
The Chevy Volt has a 165 HP motor to drive a huge generator and requires Premium fuel.
It is a step in the right direction, but it may prove that US market is not ready for electric cars.
Sure wish it had a light Carbon Fibre body.
Keep your battery powered car! Do you have any idea what it would cost to replace the batteries? Where are the raw materials produced to make them? How much house current does it take in dollars per day to re-charge the batteries?
The Crower engine (originally invented by Leonard Dyer in 1915) is interesting but does have some problems. Emissions would be a concern, the lack of a cooling system is nice but that is now offset by having to carry a water tank as large as the gas tank (and water is heavier than gas). You will need distilled water to prevent contamination of the combustion chamber and a way to keep the water tank from freezing in cold climates. Too many hurdles to overcome for it to ever be in a production car.
The electric vehicle you describe is coming out soon. The Chevy Volt is an all electric car with a small gas engine used only for charging the batteries.