Comments on: New technology turns heat into electricity for cars, saves fuel http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/08/15/new-technology-turns-heat-into-electricity-for-cars-saves-fuel/ Gadgets, gear and computer hardware. Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:19:14 -0500 hourly 1 By: Serkan Toto http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/08/15/new-technology-turns-heat-into-electricity-for-cars-saves-fuel/comment-page-1/#comment-831646 Serkan Toto Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:45:36 +0000 http://www.crunchgear.com/?p=34664#comment-831646 Thanks for your insightful comments. More information can now be found here: http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20080821/156657/ (free, in English) Thanks for your insightful comments.

More information can now be found here:
http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20080821/156657/
(free, in English)

]]> By: Chuck http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/08/15/new-technology-turns-heat-into-electricity-for-cars-saves-fuel/comment-page-1/#comment-814222 Chuck Fri, 15 Aug 2008 22:33:54 +0000 http://www.crunchgear.com/?p=34664#comment-814222 Internal combustion engines (ICE)are about 30% efficent. 60% of the fuel energy is wasted in heating the engine and what goes out the exhaust. It's nice that they are trying to recover some of that energy, but the real solution is to dump the ICE altogether. Electric's probably more like 60 to 80% eff. Internal combustion engines (ICE)are about 30% efficent. 60% of the fuel energy is wasted in heating the engine and what goes out the exhaust. It’s nice that they are trying to recover some of that energy, but the real solution is to dump the ICE altogether. Electric’s probably more like 60 to 80% eff.

]]> By: FBuzin http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/08/15/new-technology-turns-heat-into-electricity-for-cars-saves-fuel/comment-page-1/#comment-813934 FBuzin Fri, 15 Aug 2008 20:56:50 +0000 http://www.crunchgear.com/?p=34664#comment-813934 Ankit Gupta said: "the exhaust in itself could generate power from more things than just differences in heat. The air is moving, just like water in a stream, what if you had something it rotated and generated power" What a "turbocharged" idea there. :-) Ankit Gupta said: “the exhaust in itself could generate power from more things than just differences in heat. The air is moving, just like water in a stream, what if you had something it rotated and generated power”

What a “turbocharged” idea there. :-)

]]> By: FBuzin http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/08/15/new-technology-turns-heat-into-electricity-for-cars-saves-fuel/comment-page-1/#comment-813933 FBuzin Fri, 15 Aug 2008 20:56:50 +0000 http://www.crunchgear.com/?p=34664#comment-813933 Ankit Gupta said: "the exhaust in itself could generate power from more things than just differences in heat. The air is moving, just like water in a stream, what if you had something it rotated and generated power" What a "turbocharged" idea there. :-) Ankit Gupta said: “the exhaust in itself could generate power from more things than just differences in heat. The air is moving, just like water in a stream, what if you had something it rotated and generated power”

What a “turbocharged” idea there. :-)

]]> By: Ankit Gupta http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/08/15/new-technology-turns-heat-into-electricity-for-cars-saves-fuel/comment-page-1/#comment-813594 Ankit Gupta Fri, 15 Aug 2008 19:23:43 +0000 http://www.crunchgear.com/?p=34664#comment-813594 If this company or any other company is reading, this might be beneficial for you: Your goal: Save fuel How to accomplish: Take differences in heat and generate electricity Notice, I didn't say exhaust anywhere yet. Now, your goal is to find a difference in heat and use that to generate electricity, and in this case, it's for a car. Why did you pick the exhaust? What part of the car do we have to actively cool? The engine? Why not try to start there? What does the radiator do? It uses a liquid to cool the engine and lowers the temperature by having air blow over the radiator. If you ask me, the real innovation for this specific technology might be better near the front of the car, not necessarily the exhaust. Just as a side note, the exhaust in itself could generate power from more things than just differences in heat. The air is moving, just like water in a stream, what if you had something it rotated and generated power? Overall - without offending anyone, my thought is that you should take a higher level approach. I've thought about this a few times and it basically comes down to making sense or not, because things like the cost of a battery, inability to use the electricity on board, etc. get in the way of it being usable. If this company or any other company is reading, this might be beneficial for you:

Your goal: Save fuel
How to accomplish: Take differences in heat and generate electricity

Notice, I didn’t say exhaust anywhere yet. Now, your goal is to find a difference in heat and use that to generate electricity, and in this case, it’s for a car.

Why did you pick the exhaust? What part of the car do we have to actively cool? The engine? Why not try to start there?

What does the radiator do? It uses a liquid to cool the engine and lowers the temperature by having air blow over the radiator.

If you ask me, the real innovation for this specific technology might be better near the front of the car, not necessarily the exhaust.

Just as a side note, the exhaust in itself could generate power from more things than just differences in heat. The air is moving, just like water in a stream, what if you had something it rotated and generated power?

Overall – without offending anyone, my thought is that you should take a higher level approach. I’ve thought about this a few times and it basically comes down to making sense or not, because things like the cost of a battery, inability to use the electricity on board, etc. get in the way of it being usable.

]]> By: TheHoldSteady http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/08/15/new-technology-turns-heat-into-electricity-for-cars-saves-fuel/comment-page-1/#comment-813204 TheHoldSteady Fri, 15 Aug 2008 17:05:53 +0000 http://www.crunchgear.com/?p=34664#comment-813204 I'm pretty sure they stole this idea from the McDLT. I’m pretty sure they stole this idea from the McDLT.

]]> By: Ankit http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/08/15/new-technology-turns-heat-into-electricity-for-cars-saves-fuel/comment-page-1/#comment-812738 Ankit Fri, 15 Aug 2008 14:39:35 +0000 http://www.crunchgear.com/?p=34664#comment-812738 I forgot to include - even if you can capture this energy, what will people do unless they have an electric motor? As long as I'm understanding what they've said correctly, I don't see this being adopted by people. I forgot to include – even if you can capture this energy, what will people do unless they have an electric motor?

As long as I’m understanding what they’ve said correctly, I don’t see this being adopted by people.

]]> By: Ankit http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/08/15/new-technology-turns-heat-into-electricity-for-cars-saves-fuel/comment-page-1/#comment-812720 Ankit Fri, 15 Aug 2008 14:33:07 +0000 http://www.crunchgear.com/?p=34664#comment-812720 It's called a peltier unit, and inefficiencies and costs involved with using the power (battery), the increased weight from the devices, labor cost to install, etc. will make it not worth it. If they really want to improve gas mileage, there are better alternatives on what they can do. It’s called a peltier unit, and inefficiencies and costs involved with using the power (battery), the increased weight from the devices, labor cost to install, etc. will make it not worth it.

If they really want to improve gas mileage, there are better alternatives on what they can do.

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