Hybrid technology, since its inception has been designed to reduce the impact of the combustion engine on the environment. However, the brand new generation of supercars from McLaren, Ferrari and Porsche has exploited the powerful aspects of the electric motor to enhance the capabilities of the internal combustion engine. Since the first glimpse of the Porsche 918 at the Geneva motor show in 2010 [Top Gear Australia, 2010], Porsche has endlessly continued to further research and develop the system to maximise the potential of the hybrid system. With a 4.6 litre V8 producing 608 bhp and two electric motors the 918 produces an astounding 887 bhp resulting in an extremely impressive top speed of 340 km/h [Porsche Automobil Holding SE, 2014]. But, lets no dwell on the irreverent top speed as the engineering behind the 918 is dedicated to the track. That is, how it converts this power and torque into angular acceleration. How it does this? A traditional petrol powered engine delivers a small amount of torque at low rpms, resulting in a lower angular acceleration, by utilising the electric motors, the 918 can generate 680 Nm of torque at 800 rpm. By employing the electric motors when the petrol motor is least efficient, the ability of these supercars has reached a new level.
Although a 4.6 Litre V8 supercar may seem to be a tool of the past, the Porsche 918 demonstrates the potential of the hybrid engine producing only 70g/km of Carbon dioxide to the Toyota Prius’ (the face of efficiency) 89g/km and similarly with fuel consumption 3.3L/100km compared to 3.9/100km [Toyota, 2014]. Which means that the joy of driving can be preserved as humanity source of oil is reaching a point where cars are becoming less viable as an option. Until so...
... middle of paper ...
...ring. But in today’s modern society, the problems we face are more evolved than those face by engineers thousands of years ago. By reaching a peak in raw ability of automobiles, the necessity these days is to refine the efficiency in order to maintain our way of life, whilst preserving it for future generations.
The principal goals of the Porsche 918 is to develop a supercar that embraces all the technological evolutions in the past couple of years, while making it as efficient as possible. Why does this matter? To the normal person, sure it may be interesting, but to those who appreciate driving, the Porsche 918 and other cars alike, the LaFerrari, McLaren P1 and the Lexus LF-LC, conserve the thrills of driving, while making it possible to do so without compromising the already strained fuel source that is available to us at the moment and into the future.
Increasing environmental awareness, coupled with a responsible American government and improved technology, have all contributed to the comeback of low-and zero-emissions vehicles in the US. It remains to be seen whether the automakers and oil companies will once again work to halt this progress, or embrace it as the technology of a more responsible future.
Driven in large part by global initiatives and the potential for stringent regulations, the past decade or two has seen a marked increase in the importance of improvements with respect to environmental standards, including emissions and increases in fuel economy. In 2002, Cummins Emissions Solutions was launched after the need was identified for an emission solution that would help engines meet future regulations. In 2006, Cummins pioneered a hybrid diesel-electric bus which reduced fuel consumption and greenhouse gasses by more than 30 percent and me...
According to Cars Direct website, hybrid cars can reach 51 MPG wish destroy all gasoline and diesel efficiency expectations. This high efficiency yield to two main reasons: hybrid car tend to be lightweight, and the cooperating between the gasoline engine and the electric motor. ” According to consumer reports tests, most hybrid cars have better fuel economy than their gas-only counterparts “ (Barett, “The Difference Between Gas and Hybrid Vehicles”). This is obvious if we compare between a hybrid and gasoline cars which have the same name: the hybrid Honda civic average efficiency is 40 MPG while the standard Honda civic average efficiency is 29 MPG, the hybrid Hyundai sonata average efficiency is 33 MPG while the standard Hyundai sonata average efficiency is 27 MPG, and the hybrid Ford fusion average efficiency is 34 MPG while the standard Ford fusion average efficiency is 24 MPG (Barett) [average efficiency is the average between the car efficiency in city and its efficiency in highway
The world of technology is ever changing and advancing. With the automotive industry in play technology is constantly surpassing what is available today with what can be done for tomorrow. Technology and the automotive industry go hand in hand with constant improvement to components of cars. Due to technology advancement there is competition within the car industry, especially between American car companies and European car companies. European car companies provide their buyers with innovative variety and revolutionary luxuries. European car technology is superior to American car technology due to their safety, entertainment, and luxury features.
Over time, there have been several technological advancements that have shaped the world in which we live and are familiar with today, and one advancement, in particular, that has influenced American society significantly is the automobile. Since the automobile’s beginning, it has continuously been improved and modified pushing the rest of technology to keep up with its rapid pace of innovation. Americans have frequently taken advantage of the automobile’s many benefits, but what they often fail to realize is that the automobile has given American society more than just the luxury of driving. In fact, the automobile has influenced this nation and the people within it both historically and culturally
Most American cars are not hybrids or fuel-efficient, they are usually big SUV’s or trucks that get eighteen to ten miles per gallon. Most of Hondas, Toyotas, and Hyundai’s get around 20 to 30 miles per gallon, and hybrids get 50 miles per gallon. Peoples demand fuel-efficient cars because oil is i...
Being a member of the future generation of innovators and leaders, I feel that this research combined with my fascination of automobiles could lead to a clearer understanding of how I can help improve the automobile. In a world that is highly connected by roads, if the problem of using petroleum-based fuels is not solved, the entire gas-guzzling world could come to a standstill. This apocalyptic halt would cease all travel and we would be thrown back to a more primitive standing. However, if we research and find an alternative ahead of time, we would be able to transiti...
The majority of people, especially in America, cannot go about their daily lives without a car. Automobiles have instilled themselves in peoples’ lives and shown their usefulness since their debut in 1769. Since then, humans have redesigned and refined the automobile thousands of times, each time making the vehicle more efficient and economical than before. Now as the world approaches an ethical decision to dwarf all others, many people look toward automotives for yet another change. The emergence of the hypercar due to ecological turmoil exemplifies the change the world has demanded. Hypercars alter everything people know about automotives, modern ecology, and fuel efficiency. Not only do hypercars offer a solution to many ecological problems humans are faced with now, they also represent the only logical area for the automotive industry, and by some stretch American society, to expand.
With a gasoline-fueled vehicle, buying gas to operate your car is a never-ending process. With the high price change of gasoline and oil, operating a gasoline-fueled vehicle tends to be very costly. While there are some types of small gasoline vehicles that get much better gas mileage than larger vehicles, even the most powerful gasoline cars will normally desire a contribution every month. According to some experts the only way a mainstream market for green vehicles wills materlize is with a pronounced and prolonged rise in fuel prices. (Buss, 4)
Hybrid cars use both gas and electric. The gasoline engine is the primary source of power, while the electric motor is used at low speeds. Emissions levels are reduced because the gasoline engine shuts off at low speeds. An additional benefit of the parallel configuration is that no outside source of electric power is required because the engine itself generates the required electricity. A Hybrid Electric Vehicle known as HEV have several advantages over traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles: Regenerative braking capability, which helps minimize the energy lost when driving. Engine is sized to average load, not peak load, which reduces the weight of the engine. Fuel efficiency is greatly increased, while emissions are greatly decreased. HEVs can be operated using alternative fuels; therefore they need not be depended on fossil fuels (http://www.ott.doe.gov/hev/what.html#hev). Another great thing about these machines is the mpg; on the average, a hybrid car gets anywhere from 55-70mpg on the hwy. This is what makes the car all worth having. Now all this sounds good, but there are some issues that must be addressed.
Today, people use their own personal vehicles to travel more than ever before. Personal transportation is no longer considered a luxury; it is now considered a necessity. The number of cars in the United States has been growing steadily since the 1970s. The number of miles traveled by cars has risen nearly 150 percent, yet the United States population has only grown roughly 40 percent during that time (hybridcars.com, Driving Trends). Although it may seem like we are advancing into the future, in reality, we are moving backwards from the effects these vehicles have on our bodies and the environment. The pollution produced by these vehicles has brought us to the day where we must find other modes of transportation that cause less harm to the world in which we live. Advances in technology have developed hybrid vehicles to try and slow down the amount of pollution. Driving a hybrid vehicle, instead of a conventional gas powered vehicle, can reduce the amount of pollution that affects our lives and the environment around us.
Hybrid and electric vehicles are the future of our world. They won’t be replacing every single gas vehicle in the United States but hybrids and electric vehicles will certainly become more prevalent in everyday life. Electric and hybrid vehicles have actually been around for a quite a while with electric cars dating all the way back to 1828. Hybrid vehicles have evolved a tremendous amount in the past 100 years leading to improved fuel economy and lower cost of the vehicle itself. Hybrid and electric vehicles come in many different sizes such as a large SUV to a small car. However even though there are a lot of benefits to an electric or hybrid vehicle there are still some cons to the design and practicality. Moving toward hybrid and electric
Porsche came out with the models of 914 and 944 because they take the consumers with lower income into account during the recession of 1970s. They redesign, reposition and reprice the vehicles so that it is allow the consumers to purchase the product for the purpose of social class, family needs or status. With this, Porsche still able to create loyal customers even if the economic situation did affected their business when they have considered their customers’ personal income, savings and interest
Cars are the ultimate symbol of independence and individualism. They offer more than freedom. No other man made creation but car fulfills a man’s ego. Technology has been the evidence of how cars have evolved for about more than a century now. From a first car packing a single cylinder 958cc, 0.75hp engine to today’s most powerful 8000cc W16, 1300bhp Veyron. We live in such an engineering savvy era where even an increase of few grams in a vehicle’s weight means going back to the drawing board to get unerring dynamic performance. And for these exuberant reasons, mechanical engineering was a mere choice rather than a chance for me.
Vehicles in this day and time are nothing like what they used to be. Over half of the car manufacturers are now trying to build new cars and trucks to be as fuel efficient as they can be. Although hybrids conserve more gas than standard vehicles do, they use gas, also. Hybrids do not use as much gas as the ol...