Are their any inventors out there thinking up other ways to power a car ?

Question

I read an article in a local paper about an inventor in Wi that is working on an electric vehicle powered by bumps in the road or suspension travel---I imagine it's a system that uses the up and down motion of the shocks to energize a magnetic field and generate electricty to charge the batteries. Sounds simple and is simliar to regenerative braking in that the energy used to stop a car is put back in to moving the car. Article is here:
http://www.winonadailynews.com/articles/2007/05/21/news/01lead.txt
Since America is the land of inventors, I was wondering if there's anyone else looking into available ways to power a car other than hybrid, diesel, hydrogen, photovoltaic, etc...how creative are people getting with the price of gas now.

All good replies but I'm wondering if someone is working on the use of normal car operation to power the car---a gas engine is inefficient because it loses so much heat that could be used better to power the car if it could be captured better. I recall Smokey Yunick--a racer and writer for Popular Science was developing an adiabatic engine http://schou.dk/hvce/ some years back but has passed on. Sounded like a good step towards this goal and maybe should be revived. I'm also intrugued by the idea of magnetic energy production from oscillating or braking forces of normal vehicle operation....if you can translate heat energy from braking and shock absorbers into electricty, I think it would be a viable and easy way to gain some additional mileage at relatively low cost than to convert to another fuel source which should be explored also. Thanks for any input, Paul

Answer 1

yes and oil companies buy the rights too them then sit on it.

Answer 2

I've seen a number of people power their diesel cars with vegetable oil from restaurant grease traps. It really works.

Some car companies have created some that work on natural gas also. Back in the 80's I saw one that had been converted to run on coal.

Back in the 70's the turbine engine was widely thought of to be used. In fact for a year or so it was used at the Indy 500 race. However, those engines were done away with because they weren't loud enough to please the fans, although most everybody who saw them race loves to recount the tale.

And the idea of powering cars with hydrogen fuel cells has been around since the 1960's. I saw designs once for a full size van from the 60's that was designed for fuel cells.

Another idea that has been introduced lately is hub motors by GM. Electric motor hubs placed right at the wheels so all the energy goes directly to the wheels instead of getting lost in drive shafts and planetary and sun gears going out to the wheels.

My idea would be to utilize the force of the gravity of the earth to it's fullest potential along with magnets that keep their charge, basically a gravity/magnetic motor. Use the force of gravity to pull a weight down and create energy. The weight would be a large magnent. At the bottom beneath it would be another large magnet that could be shield or turned off in some manner while gravity causes the top magnet to fall. When it reaches the bottom of its cycle the bottom magnet turns on or becomes unshielded and forces the top magnet away from it and up. However, I'm certain there is probably some loss of energy in there somewhere.

Answer 3

i have to say anyone working on any sort of POV power system is limited in scope. private autos are an antiquated idea. the world is getting too small to continue this love affair with personally operated vehicles. too small to continue the antiquated hiway system. it's 2007 for crying out loud; the future is now. cars are ruining our environment and our infrastucture. few are looking at the big picture in favor of quick bucks.

rather than trying to police the world, our best and brightest should be leading the world. america needs an extreme social revolution in regards to living spaces and transportation. mass transit is the only way that makes any sense whatsoever.

Answer 4

I have seen this video http://hytechapps.com/ of the person who has developed the technology to first seperate water to create the hydrogen gas, and then apply it for use in a blow torch. He then converted the technology to apply it towards fueling his car. It sounds like hydrogen is the wave of the future, but like everything else, until it becomes cost effective there wont be enough money behind it to take it to the next level.

Answer 5

Look up Keeleynet.org. There's all KINDS of ideas, from the Tilley electric made from a De Lorean to power plants using zero point energy, like Searl, Hamel, Bearden, and Hutchensen. Fascinating stuff there!

Answer 6

The only quick fix right now is to run synthetic oils in the engine,trans and rear. I picked up 3 more MPG'S in the Ford Ranger and went up one tire size to a more highway tread. The best synthetic I found is Conklin, second may be Amsoil and you will be changing your oil less

Answer 7

Not exactly sure on where this inventor is at, but from what I understand hes come up with a car that runs on water!

Answer 8

Photovoltaic paint and good batteries. that way you can power up your house when you get home.

Answer 9

This is French but you could start your own plant here...


http://www.theaircar.com/