AUTOS

Sputtering Ahead

NPR's 'Car Talk' guys search for the car of the future.

By Brian Braiker | Newsweek Web Exclusive

Apr 17, 2008 | Updated: 1:47 p.m. ET Apr 17, 2008

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Posted By: computer @ 04/28/2008 3:53:25 PM

Comment: There is hope....however, it is sad because this is being withheld from the public. Right now there is a company that is selling a device called the Hydro Assisted Fuel Cell available right now for current vehicles. The device is promised to guarantee at least 50% increase in MPG or money back. The company is also working on getting approval from the EPA on the Pre Ignition Catalytic Converter which once intalled in conjuction with Hydro Assisted Fuel Cell you will be getting over 100 MPG even on SUV's and Trucks. The biggest downfall right now is the governement is not taking too much interest. The sooner we realize that some technology that benefits consumers is being suppressed then the sooner we can demand more from those elected in office....and the gov't is not so innocent because they are interested in tax revenue from gas sales. Anyway log on to www.picctv.com to find out more.
Posted By: computer @ 04/28/2008 3:47:58 PM

Comment: There is hope....however, it is sad because this is being withheld from the public. Right now there is a company that is selling a device called the Hydro Assisted Fuel Cell available right now for current vehicles. The device is promised to guarantee at least 50% increase in MPG or money back. The company is also working on getting approval from the EPA on the Pre Ignition Catalytic Converter which once intalled in conjuction with Hydro Assisted Fuel Cell you will be getting over 100 MPG even on SUV's and Trucks. The biggest downfall right now is the governement is not taking too much interest. The sooner we realize that some technology that benefits consumers is being suppressed then the sooner we can demand more from those elected in office....and the gov't is not so innocent because they are interested in tax revenue from gas sales. Anyway log on to picctv.com to find out more.
Posted By: zima @ 04/27/2008 11:05:36 PM

Comment: What can we do to make a difference, how can we as Americans force new technology to market?
Posted By: zalobar @ 04/27/2008 5:54:50 PM

Comment: Who killed the EV1??? I dont understand the get all the marbels Tac. When you have all the marbles who do you play with?
Posted By: zalobar @ 04/27/2008 5:41:04 PM

Comment: The real problem is the internal combustion engine being outdated since the model T. There are many patents on external combustion engines that are far superior and cheaper to make and run. One uses an internal closed system of expanding gas when heated, this gas powers the Motor then is recycled through a condensor for re-heating/expansion. This motor using 6 chevy 350 pistons makes 1650 HP at any rpm. Pistons are driven on either and both sides. Look it up at USgov.gov. Patent office. ###3,970,055. While there look up ### 5,105,111, for an electric motor that was used in the 1980, Daytona NY solar powered race. It performed flawlessly, Other complications with the car kept it from being noticed. This is tech. That will never make it to market because it isnt wastefull enough.
Posted By: sludgetrucker @ 04/21/2008 9:31:46 PM

Comment: This little diversion(register,ect) proves that what I posted earlier is being blocked by big OIL. Let me once again voice my view: Big OIl is coming up with these people that are basically "YES" men to slow down the real truth about our dependency and what it is actually doing to our health, our ecomomy and the entire world climate. Everyone has their price, but the non stupid people should be able to see through the haze.
Posted By: sludgetrucker @ 04/21/2008 9:25:36 PM

Comment: Yet another discredit for the way the world views oil. This is perhaps a show paid for by the big oil companies. Something they need, to slow the truth down, because when it is out in the open, they lose their profit margin dramatically. The deserts will become deserts again whether we do it our mother nature does. Its a matter of time and how we judge greed.
Posted By: nawawimohamad @ 04/18/2008 3:03:17 AM

Comment: If you calculate fuel efficiency based on the number of mileage covered by a gallon of petrol, the figure is really wrong and misleading. The fuel efficiency should be based on the amount of chemical energy (produced by the combustion) being converted to the mechanical energy (in actually moving the car) as a percentage of wasted energy (heat, noise, vibrations, friction etc) which is actually just about 27% efficient! Yes only 25% of the energy produced by the gas combustion is converted to mechanical energy.So please check your mechanic sciences.
Posted By: Jim@bozeman @ 04/17/2008 10:05:21 PM

Comment: What would drive a US built vehicle to get 40 or 50 miles to a gallon wouid be for our large collection of brain
dead law makers is to tack on a $3 gas tax. This would bring the price of gasoline at par with many other
places in the world. It's too bad the law makers can't get by the whining of a spoiled American to make this
happen,Take the tax money and build a public transportation system. Being from Montana where it is a long way to
the next town is not awelcome answer, but I believe it's the only way to get to where we should be.
Posted By: Jim@bozeman @ 04/17/2008 9:08:50 PM

Comment: What would drive a US built vehicle to get 40 or 50 miles to a gallon wouid be for our large collection of brain
dead law makers is to tack on a $3 gas tax. This would bring the price of gasoline at par with many other
places in the world. It's too bad the law makers can't get by the whining of a spoiled American to make this
happen,Take the tax money and build a public transportation system. Being from Montana where it is a long way to
the next town is not awelcome answer, but I believe it's the only way to get to where we should be.
Posted By: Manqusso @ 04/17/2008 6:45:03 PM

Comment: The car of the future is all-electric. It has solar panels on top and regenerative braking. It is mid-size such as a Camry and sells for under 40k.
Posted By: marklsmith @ 04/17/2008 6:08:36 PM

Comment: John must drive a car that he can afford. I think an SUV may be too much for him. Also, you can't quite pull a boat or trailer with a Prius. Maybe John should think a little more before he writes about what others are driving. I also believe that it is how many miles you drive, not what kind of vehicle you drive. Someone driving a Prius could be using a lot more gas than someone driving an SUV.
Posted By: marklsmith @ 04/17/2008 6:08:20 PM

Comment: John must drive a car that he can afford. I think an SUV may be too much for him. Also, you can't quite pull a boat or trailer with a Prius. Maybe John should think a little more before he writes about what others are driving. I also believe that it is how many miles you drive, not what kind of vehicle you drive. Someone driving a Prius could be using a lot more gas than someone driving an SUV.
Posted By: marklsmith @ 04/17/2008 6:06:37 PM

Comment: John must drive a car that he can afford. I think an SUV may be too much for him. Also, you can't quite pull a boat or trailer with a Prius. Maybe John should think a little more before he writes about what others are driving. I also believe that it is how many miles you drive, not what kind of vehicle you drive. Someone driving a Prius could be using a lot more gas than someone driving an SUV.
- Posted By: John Harrington @ 04/17/2008 18:11:34
  
  Comment: We have two Volvos in the family, one a late model XC, the other an older 850 (hey, I have kids in private school, which costs about the price of a new car every year!). How often do you pull a boat or trailer? Not every day. Buy the car you drive 90% of the time, and rent the other 10% is the rule of thumb. Enterprise rental car has pickups and SUV's. You'll be amazed at how much money you'll save! And I feel compelled to comment on what my fellow citizens drive, since it impacts me and my family directly.
Posted By: John Harrington @ 04/17/2008 5:33:12 PM

Comment: U.S. car companies didn't "milk" the SUV craze; they created it! They created the cow, and the milk, and then sold it to the public using advertising appealing to the reptilian part of human brains. Now we have a critical mass of gas guzzling behemoths that makes it tough for the more eco-conscious among us to drive smaller cars, because of fear of death in collisions with SUV's. The SUV craze is one of the biggest crimes ever committed by US corporations. Think about it; SUV's cause increased death on the roads, increased insurance rates, pollute our air, hasten global warming, and fund terrorists. What could possibly be more unpatriotic than driving an SUV?
Posted By: John Harrington @ 04/17/2008 5:32:19 PM

Comment: U.S. car companies didn't "milk" the SUV craze; they created it! They created the cow, and the milk, and then sold it to the public using advertising appealing to the reptilian part of human brains. Now we have a critical mass of gas guzzling behemoths that makes it tough for the more eco-conscious among us to drive smaller cars, because of fear of death in collisions with SUV's. The SUV craze is one of the biggest crimes ever committed by US corporations. Think about it; SUV's cause increased death on the roads, increased insurance rates, pollute our air, hasten global warming, and fund terrorists. What could possibly be more unpatriotic than driving an SUV?
Posted By: John Harrington @ 04/17/2008 5:32:12 PM

Comment: U.S. car companies didn't "milk" the SUV craze; they created it! They created the cow, and the milk, and then sold it to the public using advertising appealing to the reptilian part of human brains. Now we have a critical mass of gas guzzling behemoths that makes it tough for the more eco-conscious among us to drive smaller cars, because of fear of death in collisions with SUV's. The SUV craze is one of the biggest crimes ever committed by US corporations. Think about it; SUV's cause increased death on the roads, increased insurance rates, pollute our air, hasten global warming, and fund terrorists. What could possibly be more unpatriotic than driving an SUV?
Posted By: Jim@bozeman @ 04/17/2008 5:14:33 PM

Comment: What would drive a US built vehicle to get 40 or 50 miles to a gallon wouid be for our large collection of brain dead law makers is to tack on a $3 gas tax. This would bring the price of gasoline at par with many other places in the world. It's too bad the law makers can't get by the whining of a spoiled American to make this happen,
Take the tax money and build a public transportation system. Being from Montana where it is a long way to the next town but I believe it's the only way to get to where we should be.
Posted By: Jim@bozeman @ 04/17/2008 5:13:42 PM

Comment: What would drive a US built vehicle to get 40 or 50 miles to a gallon wouid be for our large collection of brain dead law makers is to tack on a $3 gas tax. This would bring the price of gasoline at par with many other places in the world. It's too bad the law makers can't get by the whining of a spoiled American to make this happen,
Take the tax money and build a public transportation system. Being from Montana where it is a long way to the next town but I believe it's the only way to get to where we should be.
Posted By: Jim@bozeman @ 04/17/2008 5:08:16 PM

Comment: What would drive a US built vehicle to get 40 or 50 miles to a gallon wouid be for our large collection of brain dead law makers is to tack on a $3 gas tax. This would bring the price of gasoline at par with many other places in the world. It's too bad the law makers can't get by the whining of a spoiled American to make this happen,
Take the tax money and build a public transportation system. Being from Montana where it is a long way to the next town but I believe it's the only way to get to where we should be.
Posted By: Jim@bozeman @ 04/17/2008 5:05:12 PM

Comment: What would drive a US built vehicle to get 40 or 50 miles to a gallon wouid be for our large collection of brain dead law makers is to tack on a $3 gas tax. This would bring the price of gasoline at par with many other places in the world. It's too bad the law makers can't get by the whining of a spoiled American to make this happen,
Take the tax money and build a public transportation system. Being from Montana where it is a long way to the next town but I believe it's the only way to get to where we should be.
Posted By: Jim@bozeman @ 04/17/2008 5:03:56 PM

Comment: What would drive a US built vehicle to get 40 or 50 miles to a gallon wouid be for our large collection of brain dead law makers is to tack on a $3 gas tax. This would bring the price of gasoline at par with many other places in the world. It's too bad the law makers can't get by the whining of a spoiled American to make this happen,
Take the tax money and build a public transportation system. Being from Montana where it is a long way to the next town but I believe it only way to get to where we should be.
Posted By: Jim@bozeman @ 04/17/2008 5:03:09 PM

Comment: What would drive a US built vehicle to get 40 or 50 miles to a gallon wouid be for our large collection of brain dead law makers is to tack on a $3 gas tax. This would bring the price of gasoline at par with many other places in the world. It's too bad the law makers can't get by the whining of a spoiled American to make this happen,
Take the tax money and build a public transportation system. Being from Montana where it is a long way to the next town but I believe it only way to get to where we should be.
Posted By: pinkpanther87413 @ 04/17/2008 3:44:36 PM

Comment: New Car?? Horse and buggy! cleaning up horse crap may be the only job made in America! As we are to stupid to re-make the steamer with todays tech, it would be a cool car, running on water!
- Posted By: John Harrington @ 04/17/2008 17:32:44
  
  Comment: U.S. car companies didn't "milk" the SUV craze; they created it! They created the cow, and the milk, and then sold it to the public using advertising appealing to the reptilian part of human brains. Now we have a critical mass of gas guzzling behemoths that makes it tough for the more eco-conscious among us to drive smaller cars, because of fear of death in collisions with SUV's. The SUV craze is one of the biggest crimes ever committed by US corporations. Think about it; SUV's cause increased death on the roads, increased insurance rates, pollute our air, hasten global warming, and fund terrorists. What could possibly be more unpatriotic than driving an SUV?