- #7 of 14
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Re: Why are all ethanol cars in the US beasts? [lemming]
by markcincinnati
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Aug 19, 2006 (7:08 am)
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Replying to: lemming (Jul 14, 2006 12:51 pm)
Based on what I have read, an "ideal" car would be a diesel electric hybrid (which would run on bio diesel and dino diesel and blow E85 mileage figures and pollution figures and power figures and the associated economics away.)
Even plain old Mercedes, BMW or Audi TD engines if put into all kinds of cars would make most folks wonder "why bother with E85?"
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- #8 of 14
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Re: Why are all ethanol cars in the US beasts? [markcincinnati]
by fushigi
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Aug 23, 2006 (2:33 pm)
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Replying to: markcincinnati (Aug 19, 2006 7:08 am)
It's been discussed in other areas on Edmunds/CarSpace that a diesel/electric hybrid isn't a viable solution as diesel's take too much energy to start and the constant stop/start of the ICE that happens in a hybrid just wouldn't work well or wouldn't be as efficient.
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- #9 of 14
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Re: Why are all ethanol cars in the US beasts? [fushigi]
by markcincinnati
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Aug 24, 2006 (11:18 am)
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Replying to: fushigi (Aug 23, 2006 2:33 pm)
This seems to contradict what I've read recently. Around the URBAN areas the pure electric motivation has many advantages and one of them is fuel efficiency.
Even as one moves into suburban driving, electric motors are less efficient that diesel; and, once you move to higway driving both gasoline and diesel are far more efficient.
What are the reasons that would work against diesel electric hybrids.
This would seem to me -- in the face of better batteries -- to be an almost ideal solution.
As usual, I could be wrong.
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- #11 of 14
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Re: Why are all ethanol cars in the US beasts? [bemanix88]
by djm2
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Sep 20, 2006 (2:31 am)
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Replying to: bemanix88 (Apr 11, 2006 3:19 pm)
There is a "NEW" automotive fuel on the market that can replace gasoline directly. It is "Butanol", an alcohol compound with four carbon atoms. This could be better than "Ethanol", especially in the boating world, because it does not react with water.   
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- #12 of 14
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Re: Why are all ethanol cars in the US beasts? [djm2]
by w9cw
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Sep 20, 2006 (3:21 am)
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Replying to: djm2 (Sep 20, 2006 2:31 am)
One of the first FFV was the Ford Taurus, certainly not literally a beast by definition.
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- #14 of 14
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Re: Why are all ethanol cars in the US beasts? [bemanix88]
by blkbr0tha
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Dec 21, 2007 (11:44 am)
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Replying to: bemanix88 (Apr 11, 2006 3:19 pm)
Easy answer- it is all about $$$$. The auto climate for auto makers is not so good- esp domestics. Why not create your higher end GAS GUZZLING vehicles with hybrid capabilities. It makes the gov- and even those guilty minded SUV TANK owners feel better as well! lol Not to mention- the car mfr are selling their premier stock car at a very inflated rate! I was shocked to see that most of the E85 vehicles were trucks and SUV's as well- but makes perfect $$$ sense for the people that make the cars!!
I dont make em- I just drive em
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