[freezin4]

Range anxiety has stopped me from buying a Leaf... although work just sent out a survey that asked if we would buy a EV if they put in charging stations :fingerscrossed:



It's 30 miles to work and 30 back... plus traffic, plus using the electric heater in winter... and going out to lunch some days and running errands on the way home... I'd need at least a 40Kwh pack to feel comfortable... unless I could recharge at work

My commute was 42 miles each way (82 total), mostly on energy sapping interstate, and I managed with the smart ED in the summer just by charging at home AND with level 1 charging only!
In the winter, I had to supplement by charging at work on a ChargePoint level two charger.
Even without using the cabin heater, winter daylight hours forces use of headlights, and cold weather forced the energy sapping parasitic battery heater to lower SOC.
Knock on wood, I never got stuck anywhere! It's definitely a paradigm shift from driving an ICE vehicle, because of the planning game. But it's a fun plunge, I believe most people who do their research, do not regret taking.

 

[Aaron Cake]

Hmmmm... Hard to believe a 200 year old engine concept is now being used. It makes me wonder if mankind is really "technologically advancing" as much as we believe we are. We're still trying to figure out how the pyramids were constructed......

Stirling engines are in widespread use where appropriate. Problem is they tend to be huge, heavy and slow turning. Not really ideal for use on a moving vehicle. One very common use for a Stirling engine is to turn is to spin a circulating fan on a wood burning appliance like a wood stove.

I question everything about the article posted. Until this person's claims have been validated by an independent testing authority, and the vehicle has run for 100,000 KM of trouble free use, it's a cool curiosity, not a breakthrough. The Stirling engine use in the vehicle with is otherwise a fairly typical hybrid is a red herring. Especially when claimed that the vehicle is "Stirling engine powered" but what generates the heat for the Stirling...a gasoline engine.

Who cares how the pyramids are built? We have better constructions techniques in every way today. Not knowing how the pyramids were built exactly is not a lack of understanding, it's a lack of documentation. There are loads of acceptable theories. Just we don't know which one fits.

 

[Harborman]

Knock on wood, I never got stuck anywhere! It's definitely a paradigm shift from driving an ICE vehicle, because of the planning game. But it's a fun plunge, I believe most people who do their research, do not regret taking.

That's why I can't understand why the Volt hasn't been a better selling vehicle. No range anxiety.

 

[S Keith]

"Stirling engine powered" but what generates the heat for the Stirling...a gasoline engine.

That's not the case as it would be absurdly inefficient. Stirlings need a heat source. That heat source can be any practical combustible. Running the combustible through an ICE to produce heat for powering the stirling is silly when the heat of combustion can be directly applied by a burner or similar means.

 

[S Keith]

That's why I can't understand why the Volt hasn't been a better selling vehicle. No range anxiety.

It says "Chevy" on it, and it was in the $40K price range. Nobody's paying that much for a Chevy unless it's a fully loaded pickup.

 

[Harborman]

It says "Chevy" on it, and it was in the $40K price range. Nobody's paying that much for a Chevy unless it's a fully loaded pickup.

Oh well... We always bought Ford's. Our two Volts were our first GM products. Swore we'd never buy "foreign" - but then I bought the Honda Insight because it was so well engineered from the bottom up. I understand those who can't forget the GM bailout. I have friends who won't EVER buy another GM product. As far as the Volt sticker price, we leased our first Volt for $299 / mo. Prices have come down - plus the $7500 fed. rebate helps. Check out used Volts... Prices are quite affordable.

 

[olrowdy01]

That's not the case as it would be absurdly inefficient. Stirlings need a heat source. That heat source can be any practical combustible. Running the combustible through an ICE to produce heat for powering the stirling is silly when the heat of combustion can be directly applied by a burner or similar means.

Exactly.
Quite awhile ago I had an older friend who had a Stanley Steamer, a 1899? Locomobile, other odd cars AND a ~6' tall very old Stirling engine.

The Stirling had a burner like a gas stove that ran on propane and it took quite awhile for the engine to start turning over at a very slow speed with the burner running full blast. You could follow the ~4 foot dia flywheel around with your eyes. But it had an amazing amount of torque! We tried to stop it by holding a 2x4 on the edge of the flat edge of the flywheel. We hardly slowed it down. At one point the 2x4 was smoking where it contacted the flywheel.

The linked 100 mpg video mentioned his Stirling engine runs at 6 rpm. What isn't mentioned is the losses stepping up the rpm to run an alternator at an efficient speed and the losses in charging the batteries etc. His truck certainly isn't designed for a low Cd either.

When he gets all done a MT Insight ought to still get better mpg.

All you ever probably want to know about Stirling engines,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stirling_engine

 

[GreenMonster]

It says "Chevy" on it, and it was in the $40K price range. Nobody's paying that much for a Chevy unless it's a fully loaded pickup.

Yeah... it'll be interesting to see how the new Bolt will do since it's burdened w/ the same chevy badge.

 

[GreenMonster]

But it's a fun plunge, I believe most people who do their research, do not regret taking.

The way the tech is progressing, I'll definitely have an EV by 2020

 

[S Keith]

Yeah... it'll be interesting to see how the new Bolt will do since it's burdened w/ the same chevy badge.

****ty at $37,500.

 

[Harborman]

The way the tech is progressing, I'll definitely have an EV by 2020

Maybe a Tesla.

 

[husamia]

why doesn't Honda build one of those cars with stirling engine?

 

[Harborman]

why doesn't Honda build one of those cars with stirling engine?

Mudder: Please add the Sterling Engine to your Linsight retrofit project...
"SterLinsight" maybe?? Ha (Hopefully you've been able to update your password!!)

 

[GreenMonster]

why doesn't Honda build one of those cars with stirling engine?

I'd be happy if they brought over the s660 roadster...

 

[freezin4]

...Make that S1500

 

[samwichse]

I'd be happy if they brought over the s660 roadster...

If only Honda corporate could have seen people fawning all over the sole imported Honda Beat at Carlisle.

That car had people all around it all day and sold for its ridiculous ask.

I miss Soichiro Honda's guiding hand.