The problem with modern diesels

[dom14]

I cant see that happening in the next 50 years cuppa. There is still a lot of r&d going into the old diesel buy some major automotive manufacturers. I always fail to see the emissions side of the argument. Sure we can all drive electric cars but they still pollute just as much as a petrol or diesel vehicle. Sure nothing comes out of an exhaust but the materials used in the batteries are horrible for the environment, not to mention the vehicle still drives on tyres and has all the other mechanical components in the drive train. Even solar isnt sustainable at this point.

Interesting line of thought. So, what is the solution for a greener transport?!!

[dom14]

Something for us all to strive for:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perpetual_motion
Just might need a whisker of diesel and or Aerostart to get science rocking along:-)

It ain't gonna happen, but nothing wrong with trying though.
With some luck, we may be able to tap into "Quantum vacuum energy"

[dom14]

That extended range EV concept with gas turbine is very very interesting.

Have they built any prototypes of that sort?!!

[mudnut]

Gas turbines have been around for a long time. I was told that they were suppressed decades ago because they can run on different fuels.

[nissannewby]

Interesting line of thought. So, what is the solution for a greener transport?!!

Walking.....

[MB]

Maybe for another thread thingo you can build Mr Dom :-)!
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_EV1
Haha (No politics sworn by all) :-)

[dom14]

Walking.....

I do a fair bit of cycling. Quicker and greener both at the same time(I think).
Rubber tyres are still made out of petroleum derivatives though.
We better find greener transport technologies though. I think some improvements like electric cars, solar electric cars, etc etc are
better than doing nothing.

[Plasnart]

Interesting line of thought. So, what is the solution for a greener transport?!!

Improved battery technology which is in full swing. Lot of way to go yet but they're getting smaller and more powerful every year. I believe batteries will power most vehicles in the future charged by either solar or small power plant like that EV gas turbine in Cuppa's original post.

The E-racing cars and E-moto are getting better and better and shifting from experimental to mainstream focus.

Just think we went from this:



To this in around 100 years:




Similar advancement in vehicles. Another 50 years and what we know now will be crazily outdated and old fashioned.

[nissannewby]

Sustainability is the key. This will be the hardest thing to get right. Hopefully technology advances in way which will aid this. It will be a tough ask.

[dom14]

Maybe for another thread thingo you can build Mr Dom :-)!
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_EV1
Haha (No politics sworn by all) :-)

Yeah, I know that thing. They crushed all of those units without allowing anybody to buy them.
Another interesting fact is that electric cars are actually older than gasoline cars.
Only new thing is hydrogen fuel cars, which also isn't that new.

If we can find a way to pump out hydrogen from our sun, we can forget about environmental issues of energy use for the time being.
(which also means large amounts of hydrogen burning will eventually produce it's own problems).