Ford Focus Hated. Who did not see this coming?

[SPYDERLK]

"Cruise, no gain at all". Not trying to nitpick just clarifying that the hybrid system (even if not the battery powered part of it) is in fact more efficient than a regular gas engine at cruising speeds. Not disagreeing with the fact that stop and go is where they excel.

I mentioned computer control/tuning. This can be done several times per heartbeat, and optimizes tuning in every condition on all new cars. The only gain available in hybrid cruise is due to the use of a smaller lighter engine since theres electric to pick up the slack when the computer cant get it efficiently from the engine. But every batt depletion is then parasitic to the new period of steady cruise. This, and counting the added weight of everything else, the gain, in cruise, over a moderately larger/heavier engine is essentially zero.
larry

 

[Davestc29]

I've been looking into buying a cheap ranger or s10 and tossing a 4 cyl 65hp Perkins engine from a stand alone generator that that my buddy replaced the engine on. I already rebuilt it and started it on an engine stand and the idea has been eating my my brain. I'm sure it'll beat the mpg off my f350 any day and is great to drive to go do errands grabs parts etc..

 

[Redneck in training]

We could get cars with 50 mpg. Just get rid of all that safety and luxury stuff put in them. It will drop their mass at least 30% so they could maintain the same dynamic with much smaller engine. Many cars of similar size twenty years ago had better mileage than today. You just didn't want to be in them when crashed.

There are electric airpalnes too:
Sonex and AeroConversions E-Flight Initiative

 

[houstonscott]

Volkswagen’s Clean-Diesel, 70-mpg Polo May Head Stateside: Test Drive - Popular Mechanics

Read carefully the Lupo gets 90mpg. See why EU is not real excited about buying pricy hybrids, they don't really compare with HP diesel, and are way more expensive. 60mpg and 90mpg is everyday stuff for VW. Just let them bring them in....
For those not familiar with these models, the polo is just a bit smaller than a Golf, and the Lupo is smaller yet like a Fiat 500.
HS

 

[LD1]

Volkswagenç—´ Clean-Diesel, 70-mpg Polo May Head Stateside: Test Drive - Popular Mechanics

Read carefully the Lupo gets 90mpg. See why EU is not real excited about buying pricy hybrids, they don't really compare with HP diesel, and are way more expensive. 60mpg and 90mpg is everyday stuff for VW. Just let them bring them in....
For those not familiar with these models, the polo is just a bit smaller than a Golf, and the Lupo is smaller yet like a Fiat 500.
HS

Now one of them I'd probabally buy:thumbsup:

Anyone know how much the shipping cost is for ~2000lbs across the atlantic???

 

[two_bit_score]

Now one of them I'd probabally buy:thumbsup:

Anyone know how much the shipping cost is for ~2000lbs across the atlantic???

Do you recall when people used to self import BMW And Mercedes from Germany? the big problems started when they git here and had to clear DOT requirements. Remember "grey market" cars?

These new ones may be different but a lot f people got stung on "great deals on grey markets".



.

 

[powerpace]

I mentioned computer control/tuning. This can be done several times per heartbeat, and optimizes tuning in every condition on all new cars. The only gain available in hybrid cruise is due to the use of a smaller lighter engine since theres electric to pick up the slack when the computer cant get it efficiently from the engine. But every batt depletion is then parasitic to the new period of steady cruise. This, and counting the added weight of everything else, the gain, in cruise, over a moderately larger/heavier engine is essentially zero.
larry

On the 2008 Prius. The battery pack is 120 pounds. Not much bigger than a Deep Cycle RV or Marine battery, just flatter.
When cruising even at high speed the battery is regenerating when the engine doesn't need full power. Rolling country side is actually the best mpg. Engine and battery use up the hill and battery regeneration down the hill. It may take longer to get to the 45-50 mpg but by the end of the tank it's always 45-50 mpg. In town it may go to 60-65 mpg right after a fill up for about 2 miles. By the end of the tank it is always 45-50 mpg. The Prius has a bar gauge that shows how much regeneration has been produced per five minutes previous. It also has a real time mpg usage readout. And a display showing the Power coming from the engine or battery or reneneration or combination

 

[Diamondpilot]

I've been looking into buying a cheap ranger or s10 and tossing a 4 cyl 65hp Perkins engine from a stand alone generator that that my buddy replaced the engine on. I already rebuilt it and started it on an engine stand and the idea has been eating my my brain. I'm sure it'll beat the mpg off my f350 any day and is great to drive to go do errands grabs parts etc..

There is a guy on here that bought a Jinma 28 HP surplus engine from the same tractor I have, a Jinma 284. Anyway he put it in a Mazda B2200, basically a Ranger, and its done very well. He pulls a trailer with round bales, ect.

His biggest obstacle was adapting the bell house of the Mazda tranny to the Jinma 28HP motor and then getting the AC working properly.

Do a search with the keywords Jinma Mazda and you will get some idea what is involved.

Chris

 

[powerpace]

There is a guy on here that bought a Jinma 28 HP surplus engine from the same tractor I have, a Jinma 284. Anyway he put it in a Mazda B2200, basically a Ranger, and its done very well. He pulls a trailer with round bales, ect.

His biggest obstacle was adapting the bell house of the Mazda tranny to the Jinma 28HP motor and then getting the AC working properly.

Do a search with the keywords Jinma Mazda and you will get some idea what is involved.

Chris

There is a business in the Midwest that converts tractor engines to pickup trucks. I don't believe this is the business I saw but it may lead you to it.

FARM SHOW - Pickups Powered By Tractor Engines Get 40 Mpg

 

[arrow]

There is technology that we do not know about. What is worse is the technology that has been ignored because of political reasons. If anyone thinks we need electronic computers to run an engine at top efficiency, that person has been brainwashed. If GM did their best to distract the buying public from buying diesels back in the late 70's by building an engine that they knew would self destruct, I hope no one thinks that they wouldn't do their best to ruin other developments if it meant using less gasoline back then. It is most unfortunate that Smokey Yunicks idea of hot vapor burn technology never saw the light of day. Our cars would have gotten 50 miles per gallon from 35 years ago while producing 1.5 hp per cubic inch. So now they want to charge us $49,000 for an economy car but what a boost it gives their C.A.F.E figures to average in an alleged 90 mile per gallon car. As LD1 previously stated, mpg is a hoax and is not a proper barometer of efficiency. What does a car cost to run that includes its purchase price and its gallons per mile and you get a much truer representation of what any auto's true cost is.