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Hybrid Cars No Better than 'Intelligent' Cars
eldavojohn writes "There's no doubt been a lot of analysis done recently on energy consumption, especially on the road. Now, a study released today reveals that cars with traffic flow sensors built into them can perform just as efficiently as hybrids. The concept of an 'intelligent' car that communicates with the highway or other cars is an old idea, but the idea of them using sensors to anticipate braking could vastly reduce fossil fuel consumption. From the article, 'Under the US and European cycles, hybrid-matching fuel economy was reached with a look-ahead predictability of less than 60 seconds. If the predictability was boosted to 180 seconds, the newly-intelligent car was 33 percent more fuel-efficient than when it was unconverted.' Now, the real question will be whether or not you can convince consumers that the three minutes of coasting up to a red light or halted traffic is worth the 33 percent less gas and replacing your brake pads/cylinders less often."
Well wouldn't smart hybrid cars be even MORE efficient?
I have a '00 TransAm WS/6
Do you have a mullet too?
OK, but if we are talking about congested traffic (I'm envisioning city rush hour), I don't think it makes a difference if you are approaching a red or green. Lets say the light turns green and the waiting cars are bumper to bumper. There is a maximum amount of cars that can be in that holding pattern. Even with the max amount of cars bumpers touching, all those cars can get through the green if they go fast enough. Lets say people coast to the red leaving lots of space as they slow. The max amount of cars you have waiting for the next green is less, thus you are not getting as many cars to their destination, thus congestion. Coasting means cars behind you that could have made the light might not depending how far back they are.