Do you think, humans will have a replacement for the internal combustion engine in the next fifty years?

Question

An engine as efficient as the internal combustion engine is yet to be found. Do you think this discovery is likely fifty years down the line.

Answer 1

It depends on how you look at efficiency. If humanity knows how to produce a cheap fuel that's not polluting (they're working on that, but not as hard as they should), then everything we know now (combustion, jet engines) will be economically efficient enough not to look for an alternative for the engines itself. Engine efficiency does not play the biggest roll if the fuel is cheap and sufficient available, unless you have to go a long stretch (like planes and ships). And I've not heard of any revolutionary idea yet that would suggest there's a new "fuel --> mechanics" system in the making. But probably solar/nuclear/wind-energy etc. will be producing a lot more of our electrical energy to charge our battery-packs (which will be getting better and better over time too), that will drive electro motors, and also new types of fuels will replace fossil fuels in mainly the same type of engine we use now.

Answer 2

If you look at efficiency, an internal combustion engine is very inefficient. It requires an elaborate system of coolant and radiator to keep it from overheating (that heat could have been used for motion, but is going intp waste) Most internal combustion engines are only 30% efficient.

Efficiency of fuel cells on the other hand is 65%. Thus a fuel cell will produce more usable energy per unit fuel. It also contains no moving parts, thus making it more reliable, and cheaper( when mass produced). If only table-top fusion was possible, we would be able to get the hydrogen for the fuel-cell too!

Answer 3

Well, ppl say that a better engine was already discovered, an engine that does not use any gas, or fuel that produces carbon dioxide or anything poisonous in large cantities such as todays engines, but here comes the big problme. If huge oil companies know about such an engine than they will do al in their power to stop the making of such an engine because the will loose all clients if they won't sell their oil. So I would say that people already found out about a better engine which is much more environment friendly but "something" has stopped them from telling it to the world.

Answer 4

no because the real answer is a non-polluting efficient internal combustion engine ( of course the other answer is a non-combustion power source which is not an ENGINE it is a motor and what we are working on is a power source for that motor) ) AND a note for the answer below we replaced horses because they are inefficient - little capacity for work and a massive infrastructure contrary to popular opinion working horses don't live on grass and their grain needs would be more efficient as alcohol)

Answer 5

no. nothings changed. gas companies are in control, and want you to use more fuel. at least the max they can put out so none goes to waste. think about it, the interest rate controls our spending as well as the gas prices. if we didn't use the oil fuel it would be worthless. soon it will be priceless. The time is now to make that change to get a vehicle that will get more miles per gallon. if everybody wants one then the car makers will make them, if the oil companies and government allow them to. Then you can kiss the gas hogs goodbye. wherever the money is at thats where they'll be. anyhow just a thought.

Answer 6

I certainly have a number of books on the subject, and that i'm confident it particularly occurs. there became even a case of it interior the small city I lived in while i became 9 years outdated. It became comparable to the nicely-regular Mary Reeser case in Florida interior the early 1950's. in my view, i think of it must be on the subject count of the alien craft phenomenon, somewhat because it pertains to this style of capability UFOs would use. evaluate that if each and each individual has his/her very own unique electric frequency (only like we've unique fingerprints), this frequency must be activated by using something employing that exact same frequency for capability. it may well be a one in a million probability, like winning the lottery, on your frequency to experience precisely that of a alien craft passing overhead.

Answer 7

It's called a horse!

Answer 8

no problem.