Helium Powered Car?
By Lance Winslow

Ever wonder what they will think of next? We are all about ready to go out and put our names on one of those lists to get a Hybrid Car due to the these fuel prices at the pump and then someone comes along and yells; “Wait, have you heard of Thermoacoustic Propulsion?” No, as a matter of fact most of us haven’t thank you very much as we hang up the gas pump and look at that total and cringe as we get our automated receipt from the Kiosk pump at the station. My gosh that hurts. That much just to put gas in my vehicle; “I hate OPEC,” you say and think to yourself the unthinkable; “Let’s just Nuke the Middle East and Take the G-Damn Oil!”

Well it may in fact be a ways off and never get to market, but there is a new engine being tested now, which could power cars, and it has no moving parts. It runs by “thermoacoustics” it works by applying external heat to a cylinder or tank with Helium gas inside, as the gas heats up it from the acoustic waves it makes enough heat to make steam and then it is used to generate electricity.

The resulting pressure fluctuations works off vibrations at about 80 Hz. This sound is converted into electricity, thru steam. A microphone like devise, electo-acoustic transducer produces the sound waves. A 700 watt prototype works great, and can be used to power cars without batteries, therefore no need to discard old batteries which cannot be charged, therefore electric cars without residual pollution later. We may never see it due to strong lobby efforts in the Oil and Auto Industry but I think it’s a pretty cool idea.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

Save money on gas, drive hybrid cars.

What Is a Hybrid?
By Larry E. Hall of MSN autos

In genetics, a hybrid is the result of combining elements from different species. When it comes to cars and trucks, a hybrid refers to a vehicle whose powertrain combines the aspects of different technologies (i.e. gasoline and electric) to improve efficiency and reduce emissions.

In automotive terms, hybridization is nothing new. Hybrid cars and trucks that combined an electric motor with a gasoline engine date back to the turn of the 20th century (see Back to the Past). Hybrid diesel-electric locomotives have been in operation for years, and diesel-electric buses began to appear in the 1970s.

These days, automotive choices that combine two or more sources of power are known as hybrid vehicles. The most common is the electric hybrid, which melds a gasoline engine with an electric setup (electric motor, charging system, and a battery/storage system).

Parallel vs. Series
Due to the inherent complexity of the technology involved, and the numerous options engineers have in employing hybrid systems, we're forced to speak in some general terms here. That said, the two most popular forms of hybrids available today are called "series" or "parallel" hybrids. Series hybrids are also called "mild" or "partial" hybrids, while parallel hybrids are often referred to as "full" hybrids.

In a series hybrid, an electric motor assists the gasoline engine when needed, such as during acceleration or times of heavy load, but it can't power the car on its own. The batteries that power the electric motor can be recharged by the engine, or during deceleration (called regenerative braking). The Saturn Vue Green Line and Honda Civic Hybrid are examples of series hybrids.

Parallel hybrids can use similar recharging scenarios, but can be powered by the gasoline engine only, the electric motor only, or both at the same time. The Toyota Prius, Ford Escape Hybrid, Nissan Altima Hybrid, and GM's new Tahoe/Yukon hybrid SUVs are examples of parallel hybrids.

How Hybrid Cars Works?
by Karim Nice and Julia Layton

Have you pulled your car up to the gas pump lately and been shocked by the high price of gasoline? As the pump clicked past $20, $30, $40 or even $50, maybe you thought about trading in your car for something that gets better mileage. Or maybe you're worried that your car is contributing to the greenhouse effect.

The auto industry has the technology to address these concerns. It's the hybrid car. There are a lot of hybrid models on the market these days, and most automobile manufacturers have announced plans to manufacture their own versions.

How does a hybrid automobile work? What goes on under the hood to give you 20 or 30 more miles per gallon than the standard automobile? And does it pollute less just because it gets better gas mileage? In this article, we'll help you understand how this technology works, and we'll even give you some tips on how to drive a hybrid car for maximum efficiency.

Article Source: http://www.howstuffworks.com/hybrid-car.htm