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PBS Predicts the Car of the Future - With Tom and Ray
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While we think the car of the future will continue to be powered by gas, diesel and ethanol, a whole range of alternative fuel options are being studied in board rooms and laboratories around the world. And now, the Public Broadcasting System (PBS--yes, the home of Antiques Roadshow) is exploring the future of the car in a new special narrated by John Lithgow. The special, which airs on April 22, will delve deep into the worlds of hydrogen, electric, and ethanol-powered cars with the “Car Talk” brothers, Tom and Ray Magliozzi. PBS promises a light-hearted look at the topic--and yet we’re betting there won’t be any wicked fireballs or any guest spots by Vin Diesel. Set your TiVo for April 22, at 8 p.m. ET, or cruise over to the NOVA site at PBS.org for more information.
Responses (9 total)
By Ralph Paglia | Posted: Feb 14th 2008, 05:31:46 PM
Every developed nation that currently has heavy dependence on imported oil will either develop solutions that reduce their economy's exposure to oil related risk, or will suffer negative economic impact that becomes more severe over time. France has accomplished this by building an energy infrastructure that produces over 85% of their electricity with nuclear power plants... For the USA, our culture is an automotive one and the American solution to petroleum based economic terrorism will be to evolve our vehicle fuel of choice to something that is not oil based... It will happen, because it has to happen! Personally, I think this article poses many of the right questions, but in my opinion, America's evolution away from oil based vehicles will not initially (in our lifetimes) be limited to one format that beats out all others, but will include a wide range of fuel solutions that our franchised dealer network will get good at selling... Obviously hybrids will be big up front in this evolutionary process, followed by plug-in hybrids, then full electric based vehicles that take advantage of the efficiencies available in electric power distribution versus moving liquid based fuels such as E85 around.
By Harley Ferguson | Posted: Feb 12th 2008, 02:23:10 AM
If Tom and Ray are involved, it is going to be interesting at least.
By DonYan | Posted: Feb 11th 2008, 11:15:23 PM
John Lithgow goes back into Horror fiction...
DonYan
By Al | Posted: Feb 11th 2008, 09:58:47 PM
The majority of electric power produced in America comes from burning fossil fuels. Therefore, more electric cars mean more emissions at point of origin, not in the cities, so I guess that's OK. I think the auto industry is being used as a scapegoat for the worlds ills. The trucking industry criss crosses the highways and byways of America and abroad running for days without shutting down, using the oldest diesel technology engines, spewing tons of pollutants into the atmosphere, yet they are relatively unregulated. What about the airline industry spewing tons of pollutants into the upper atmosphere all over the planet? Why are these industries not targeted as I'm sure they produce more pollutants that all cars combined. Seems to me, the reason the auto industry is the targeted is there's money to be made at it. Don't meet company regulation, pay a fine. Besides, these other industries, if regulated excessively, could cripple the economy. Oh well, guess whatever comes next in the auto industry will be lugged on the backs of the consumer as usual.
By Jonesridge | Posted: Feb 11th 2008, 08:34:35 PM
Bio anything will not help. Right now the only reason Ethanol is produced is that the Gov. is subsidizing it. Add in the fact that whatever percent Ethanol is added, that is the amount less milage you'll get. Now it's been realized that with all these farmers and corporations jumping on the band wagon, there are less food crops being planted, thus raising prices. The final nail is that it's now determined that the carbon footprint of using Bio is staggering. Loss of rain-forest and grasslands will make a large, irreparable damage to the Eco system. Forest and grasslands are being burned to clear and plant food or bio crops and this produces a large net loss.
Solar is free and the only answer, but even that will produce lots of CO in making the collecting apparatus. There is no free lunch, and most just don't think it thru. As in, make the cars electric and just plug them in. No thought about the fact that the total US elec grid is working at 95-99% of what it can deliver now, and where is all te extra power coming from? And what gonna be used to produce it?
By Mark Meachen | Posted: Feb 10th 2008, 02:37:28 PM
Biodiesel is sold short by the media in the US. We have a HUGE trucking industry, as well as a large heating oil market which can make use of it. That's just a start. The car industry, which is about to expand to diesel in America will take biodiesel further. Tom and Ray know this, but bury it. Funny. I wonder why?
By William J Toensing | Posted: Feb 9th 2008, 09:29:04 AM
The type of fuel system depends on how far in the future you go. Eventualy they will be electric, powered by hydrogen fuel cells & eventually, batteries, but I don't expect to see either in my remaining lifetime, as I am now 74 years old. First, I expect an expansion in diesels, as is the case now in Europe. Next, will be plug in hybrids with flex fuel gas engines & or diesel. I hope the GM Chevrolet Volt plug in hybrid makes it to market in 2010, but I'm not holding my breath. This type of driveline holds the best bet for cutting petroleum consumption as 80% of drivers drive less than 40 miles per day, 80% of the time. I expect we will see in the near future, improvement in solar voltaic cells to the point where most of our roofs are covered with them. We will then recharge our plug in hybrids from the sun. When hydrogen powered fuel cells become economically feasable, we will generate hydrogen with electricity generated by solar power, unless a break thru in battery technology occurrs earlier. What is needed is a battery range of 250 to 300 miles between recharges & the ability to recharge batteries in less than 5 minutes at "filling stations".
By mike | Posted: Feb 8th 2008, 09:40:27 PM
Totally agree.
Battery technology has improved dramatically and I am sure can be improved much more given the proper incentive and resources. A typical drive can be done with a plug in, but a simply diesel (bio-diesel) engine in conjunction with the electric motor can serve as both a back-up (for longer range trips) or as a generator or both.
Electric infrastcuture already exists. But in the medium-long term, our powerplants will need to be upgraded and new ones built to cope with the excess electricity demand that an "all electric" fleet of automobiles would put on the power grid.
By Jim | Posted: Feb 8th 2008, 06:15:05 PM
This should be interesting. Hydrogen will not work because the infrastructure to deliver it would be too costly; pure electric is currently limited by the physics of batteries; ethanol is a political hoax - less efficient, costly to produce, can be delivered by trucks due to its corrosive qualities, etc. , just a ruse to subsidize farmers or commercial corporate farmers. Realistically, it would seem that diesel/electric will be the real future... just like locomotives!!!!
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