Steam Hybrid Car from BMW

RMX writes "BMW is unveiling its turbosteamer hybrid engine, which uses the excess heat in the exhaust system and reclaims 80% of it by powering a steam engine that assists the gas engine. Overall, this gives a 15% more efficient engine; and significant additional performance (power and torque) with practically no downside. "This project resolves the apparent contradiction between consumption and emission reductions on one hand, and performance and agility on the other," commented Professor Burkhard Göschel. Are steam engines the future of environmental-friendly hybrid vehicles?"

Comments

Downsite?

[Short Circuit]

...with practically no downside.

Additional moving parts, and servicability? How many modern garages know how to service a steam engine?

Real world value ...

[LazyBoyWrangler]

Although the idea seems nice on the surface, how much more energy goes into refining the metal for the additional engine? How much weight is added? How much cost is added? Although many of these schemes seem beneficial, when evaluated over the lifespan of the product it may be a net zero or net loss from the existing technology. If people would stop buying new cars every two years, we would be better off than everyone buying the newest, latest greatest enviro-trendmobile constantly.

Repairs...

[pedestrian crossing]

How many modern garages know how to service a steam engine?

I would think that BMW dealerships would be able to service BMW autos, no? Yes, I understand the rush to FP, but do you think maybe they'll have this covered by the time they go into production?

I am glad to see some innovation to the standard IC engine.

But I guess it's just easier to sit in your armchair and criticize real engineering...

Re:Repairs...

[Short Circuit]

I would think that BMW dealerships would be able to service BMW autos, no?

Sure, the dealership will know how to service it, but that wasn't what I was referring to by "garages". I was referring to those independent garages where you can often get cheaper, better service. I don't take my 1991 Plymouth Voyager to a Chrysler dealership; They're booked solid and will want to replace half the car. I take it to a small guy on the outskirts of the city who comes up with cheaper solutions .

Oh, and fooey on FP. I really don't give a damn; it just happens more often because I'm a subscriber.

Re:Repairs...

[MindStalker]

I know a few people who work in garages, and here is how it goes. Lets take the new hybrids for example. The first hybrid models came out about 5 years ago. At that time the garages did not worry about learning them as they all had warrenties and nobody is going to take a new under warrenty car into a garage. About 2 years ago this local garage realized that eventually they would need to be able to service these new cars, so they sent a few guys to some classes to learn. I believe the garage is now certified to work on these cars, right as the cars are starting to come out of warrenty. Many smaller garages are waiting a bit longer though untill there is enough demand for service as such cars would only account for a very small percentage of their buisness (not many hybrids were sold in the first couple years, so it will still be a while before you see many hybrids out of warrenty)

New every 2 isn't such a problem...

[Myself]

The used cars don't get crushed as soon as the first owner is done with them, they go onto the used market and hopefully allow less enviro-trendy people, who just want a new car, to replace the old gas-guzzler they'd been driving. The new green-mobile will be sipping less gas throughout its entire lifespan, no matter who's at the wheel.

The trouble is when people buy new cars that are NOT environmentally friendly, those cars also continue to guzzle for as long as they're on the road. If the average vehicle coming off the assembly line were more efficient, then we'd be pushing out the older crap with newer, better stuff. But the average fuel economy of ALL manufactured vehicles has actually DROPPED since the 1990s:

... availability of four-wheel drive. The increasing market share of these vehicles, combined with their lower average fuel economy, has contributed to a lowering in overall average fuel economy since the mid-1980s.

from Automobile and Light Truck Fuel Economy

Re:You Hydrogen People

[flyinwhitey]

"The only thing hydrogen is good for is to reduce emissions from the vehicles themselves, but you only end up pushing the pollution to power generating stations, which we'll need a lot more of if the 'hydrogen economy' takes off."

And which are signifcantly more efficient than masses of cars spewing less refined emissions, especially nuclear plants.

Essentially your post says "punish auto owners, and reward mass transit users" while completely ignoring the fact that mass transit is impractical in many places and always will be.