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Ford's plug-in hybrid takes fuel cell approach
AP via Houston Chronicle ^ | Jan. 22, 2007 | KEN THOMAS

Posted on 01/23/2007 8:54:27 AM PST by thackney

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zero-emissions hydrogen fuel cell

Only if the hydrogen is produced using a zero-emissions energy source like Nuclear, Wind or Solar.

1 posted on 01/23/2007 8:54:28 AM PST by thackney
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To: thackney
Ford keeps mating this gee-whiz technology to big, heavy, inherently inefficient platforms like the Escape and the Edge. Half of what makes the Toyota Prius a successful design is that it is a very efficient shape with all sorts of low-friction, low-drag goodness.
2 posted on 01/23/2007 9:01:37 AM PST by bondjamesbond (Have you ever noticed that whatever the problem, the government's solution is always "more taxes"?)
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To: thackney

Fix Or Repaie Daily.


First On Race Day ended in 1954!


3 posted on 01/23/2007 9:04:57 AM PST by dalereed
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To: dalereed

Somehow missed Found On Road Dead!


4 posted on 01/23/2007 9:05:43 AM PST by dalereed
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To: thackney

I would happily drive a Volt, no problem with that whatsoever. First electric car I've seen that doesn't make me look straight out of Queer Eye.


5 posted on 01/23/2007 9:06:20 AM PST by domenad (In all things, in all ways, at all times, let honor guide me.)
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To: thackney
Big hurdles include the cost: millions per car

No problem. We'll just pass a federal law requiring them to sell it for $10K.

Same approach the 'rats use with the pharmaceutical industry.
6 posted on 01/23/2007 9:07:57 AM PST by jtal
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To: bondjamesbond
Hybrid technology has their biggest advantage over traditional platforms in stop-n-go city traffic. In such lower-speed driving conditions, aerodynamics is not a significant component.

If higher speed highway driving is you primary concern, you would be better of with Prius shape without the extra weight of batteries and secondary drive.

7 posted on 01/23/2007 9:09:27 AM PST by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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To: bondjamesbond

You have probably heard of Mr. Pogue from Canada who, in the 1930's, developed a carburator which used exhaust gases to vaporize the fuel so the engine ran on only fumes which is the way they are designed to do. He was able to get 200 mpg's in a mid sized car. There were numerous newspaper articles about his invention and the oil stocks even went down on the news of it. Unfortunatley, he was bought out by either a car maker or oil company, I don't remember which. It's pretty well known that the big auto makers and oil companies are purposely keeping great technology out of the scene so as not to greatly drop their profits. They believe they are doing the right thing but obviously it is hurting the average American.


8 posted on 01/23/2007 9:12:30 AM PST by fabian
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To: domenad
What about a Tesla?


9 posted on 01/23/2007 9:12:35 AM PST by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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To: thackney

Bling


10 posted on 01/23/2007 9:18:16 AM PST by Vaduz (and just think how clean the cities would become again.)
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To: thackney

I'll save the 117k that one of those costs, buy me a nice fat towncar for 25k and spend the savings on premium gas, thank you!


11 posted on 01/23/2007 9:20:56 AM PST by domenad (In all things, in all ways, at all times, let honor guide me.)
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To: fabian
You have probably heard of Mr. Pogue from Canada....

I hadn't heard of him, but Snopes sure has:

Claim: A miraculous car that gets 200 miles to the gallon is reclaimed by the factory and never seen again after its owner calls to congratulate the manufacturers about its fabulous performance
Status: FALSE

http://www.snopes.com/autos/business/carburetor.asp
12 posted on 01/23/2007 9:24:37 AM PST by armydoc
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To: fabian
It's pretty well known that the big auto makers and oil companies are purposely keeping great technology out of the scene so as not to greatly drop their profits.

How did Big Lube and/or Big Piston keep the Soviets from developing that technology? What is now keeeping Big Sino from developing it?

13 posted on 01/23/2007 9:28:29 AM PST by decimon
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To: dalereed
Somehow missed Found On Road Dead!

Also missed "F***in' Old Rebuilt Dodge".

14 posted on 01/23/2007 9:33:44 AM PST by Retired COB (Still mad about Campaign Finance Reform)
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To: fabian

It's pretty well known that fools who heard of Mr. Pogue from Canada buy into this type of engineering quackery!

FACT: There is absolutely NO incentive or valid business reason why ANY automotive manufacturer would NOT want their products to get good or great fuel mileage.

Do you think that GM, FORD, DCX or others would sit by as their businesses crash from HIGH fuel costs? These firms are loosing BILLIONS of dollars each year.

If such an invention existed they would be the first to go after it as it could well mean their survival.

If the "Big Oil" firms had bought this device to keep it off the market they would have been dragged into the courts years ago by every firm that uses fuel.

Nice try - but it never happened.


15 posted on 01/23/2007 9:50:55 AM PST by Jambe ( Save the Cows ! -- Eat a Vegan !!!)
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To: decimon

Maybe their own oil companies are keeping it from them as ours are...greatly improved mpg's means alot less profits for the oil business no matter what country and less tax revenues for the government. Just do a search on Mr. Pogues invention and read about the many high mileage patents that have been bought by the car makers. It has and is happening.


16 posted on 01/23/2007 10:08:03 AM PST by fabian
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To: fabian

But the Soviets didn't have "companies" and did want to surpass us. Ditto for Maoist China.

I've heard variations of this story (100 mile per gallon carburetor, for instance) for 50 years and know the stories go back much farther than that.


17 posted on 01/23/2007 10:14:31 AM PST by decimon
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To: Jambe

I think you should do a little reasearch on Mr. Pogues invention as well as others that have greatly improved gas mpg's before you post a reply. I have and it is a fact. I'm sure the car makers have made a decision that to let the high mileage inventions out of the bag will hurt their profits alot more than any poor sales that are usually temporary. They are also financially intertwined with the oil companies and of course if everyone got 100-200 mpg's that means alot less gas tax revenues. I think you are a bit naive about this subject. I'm not saying that the car and oil companies are evil...they are just protecting their profits but it is very short sighted of them. By the way, when I was 20, I copied some plans for a simpler vapor system using the radiator water for my big plymouth fury and went from 13 to 28 mpg's. The gas is formulated different now and takes a higher temp to vaporize or you would be seeing alot of simple hot water vapor systems on the market.


18 posted on 01/23/2007 10:19:46 AM PST by fabian
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To: fabian
It has and is happening.

Pure fantasy. No company would pass up the money that could be made from selling such a device as well as guaranteeing petroleum remains the sole energy transportation fuel for another century.

19 posted on 01/23/2007 10:21:06 AM PST by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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To: bondjamesbond

"Half of what makes the Toyota Prius a successful design is that it is a very efficient shape with all sorts of low-friction, low-drag goodness." I'm waiting for the 23,000lb+ GCVW rated Prius so I can put my backhoe with the goose-neck 20' low deck trailer.


20 posted on 01/23/2007 10:24:16 AM PST by MaDeuce (Do it to them, before they do it to you! (MaDeuce = John Browning's gift to freedom))
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