What took so long? $$$$

[easyrider]

Gotta love this concept and finally the technology seems to be ready for mass production, but will it be able to out compete the futuristic electric motor cars.? Only time will tell but this should have been out there a long time ago. I remember reading about this concept ten years ago.. Not really feasible on a scooter as the price increase would not really make it feasible?? Anyway makes for good reading.. electric vs mechanical >>>

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/enthusi ... spartandhp

[Old Grinner]

Interesting concept. A round of applause to the engineers for trying to move the ball further down field to the goal.

The thing is we are in the zone where we need to drastically change our way of life and virtually eliminate the current rate of carbon being spewed into the atmosphere. No matter what way they spin the situation we've had it good for the last hundred years being able to jump in a car and go somewhere at our discretion. But like any good time the lights have been turned on and "last call" has been declared.

The way I see it. . .and a lot of people will disagree. . .is that we need to use the newer nuclear energy technology to produce electricity and upgrade the grids with a massive effort. This will hopefully reduce the need for people to heat there homes with coal, oil, or natural gas. Electric heat is the way to go.

Solar, hydro electric, and wind can all be supplemental to the nuclear reactor plants.

Add to the mix a restoration of trolley cars, street cars, trains, and use of more environmentally friendly modes of transportation like motorcycles, scooters, bicycles, and inland waterways/canals to further reduce environmental pollutants.

Sounds far out I know but the old saying "The more things change the more they stay the same" sometimes rings true.

[easyrider]

https://youtu.be/vp3YyFy4p8c

[iceman]

There are lots of alternatives for vehicles, most good working ideas bought out by large companies / governments to keep the oil coffers going as long as possible - world economies (employment, tax, profits) all rely on oil so to stop that for better cleaner alternatives is a slow process

[easyrider]

There are lots of alternatives for vehicles, most good working ideas bought out by large companies / governments to keep the oil coffers going as long as possible - world economies (employment, tax, profits) all rely on oil so to stop that for better cleaner alternatives is a slow process

X2... You got it my friend..Every gal of fuel is taxed!and on and on.

[Old Grinner]

At the end of the day you breathe what you burn.

With the slash and burn onslaught of the rain forest in South America our carbon absorbing oxygen producing friends are being cut to hell.

It's like how bad does it have to get before humanity realizes it is the plague of the planet.

Soylent Green is people. . ..

[Mel46]

Unfortunately we have several problems with using nuclear energy.

A nuclear power plant has a life expectancy of 60 yeas. Some have lasted longer than that at a cost. The concrete walls absorb radiation. That is why there are multiple layers of walls in a nuclear power plant. Eventually you must shut down the plant and bury it. The cost is almost as high as the cost of building a new plant.

The second problem is the spent fuel rods. Where Do you store them? Every answer is temporary right now. No one thought that one out when they started building the plants.

[Old Grinner]

X2... You got it my friend..Every gal of fuel is taxed!and on and on.

Unfortunately we have several problems with using nuclear energy.

A nuclear power plant has a life expectancy of 60 yeas. Some have lasted longer than that at a cost. The concrete walls absorb radiation. That is why there are multiple layers of walls in a nuclear power plant. Eventually you must shut down the plant and bury it. The cost is almost as high as the cost of building a new plant.

The second problem is the spent fuel rods. Where Do you store them? Every answer is temporary right now. No one thought that one out when they started building the plants.

Definitely worth reading this article. . .and there is also a video built into it. It may take a few seconds to load depending upon your machine.

The lady has brains and beauty!

I think I remember seeing a special on TV some time ago that featured her as an expert on nuclear energy.

https://news.nationalgeographic.com/201 ... ar-energy/

[Mel46]

I just read that article you provided the link to. Wow, I hope it works in large-scale format. It would answer many of our questions about spent rods, and could change the way we make power plants.

If it works well the only problem the government would have concerning it would be security. I would hope that they would solve that issue in advance of building the reactor though.

I once thought about using the spent rods to run a vehicle, but now that there are terrorists running around killing innocent people we would be putting weapons in their hands.

[Old Grinner]

I just read that article you provided the link to. Wow, I hope it works in large-scale format. It would answer many of our questions about spent rods, and could change the way we make power plants.

Yes. . .it could.

The nuclear power plants made in the '60s or '70s were kind of like the technology used in nuclear submarines. They needed a water source for cooling too. It was what was "in" at the time and the rest is history.

But the "molten salt reactor" idea seems to be a whole different animal and the scientists involved with it's development seem to be very concerned about the safety part of it as well if something goes haywire.

Time will tell but at the end of the day all the big energy lobby special interest groups will be competing with each other for the biggest share of the consumer market. It won't be just development of a new and much safer and sensible reactor but also the ability to get the public to accept it as the way to go and get everyone pulling in the same direction. The news folks will have a field day with it. . ..

The motorcycle and scooter industry will have to start incorporating noise makers on electric powered machines so as to let wild life know you are coming down the road and stay out of the way.

Here's some other opinions about electric motorcycles etc. . ..

[easyrider]

Some say however, that this would be a very costly venture and it would still produce a very hazardous waste that ecologists would have a coronary over. If one would spend the same amount of money on renewables technology the latter would have a far superior outcome. There has to be a reason this concept isn't out there kicking ass ?? I like it, but then again I never thought carbon fuels were all that terrible if made to burn efficiently ie natural gas.. Its the coal burning that can emit particles that will make your ass pucker over time as well as the fishies, acid lakes ,acid rain etc..and all that other sickening stuff it produces that will Make America Great again!

[Old Grinner]

Coal is nasty. . .the dust alone gets into everything.

Technology has bailed us out in the past and the planet has gone through several evolutions of warm to cold and back again.

As time marches on it will be interesting to see how successful those in charge of governments and business are to meet the needs required to maintain a healthy quality of life for us all.

[Mel46]

As much as any of us can point fingers when it comes to pollution, the one thing that will certainly kill us off quickly is clearing of forests, including the Amazon. Without trees, where does oxygen come from?

Saving our planet has to be a World wide effort, but it seems that every nation is trying so hard to get ahead that they forget about the future costs. You can't breath money.

[easyrider]

In reality most of the worlds oxygen and CO2 removal comes from our oceans and lakes.The trees are a contributor however its the photoplankton that lives in our oceans that produce microscopic oxygen molecules.Thats why its so vital to protect our seas and lakes..Coal for example produces toxic particulates that kills off lakes and diminishes ocean growth planktons.Same with industrial wastes going into rivers and lakes.If you want to protect our oxygen supply protect our waters .Howver when it comes to environmental protections the dollar will Trump any health or environmental concerns.I am not a tree hugger,but you dont shit in your back yard.Its a world affair for sure.

[you you]

What has got into you lot?

What happened to consume and pollute as it's your birthright


Homie!!

[NADman]

As much as any of us can point fingers when it comes to pollution, the one thing that will certainly kill us off quickly is clearing of forests, including the Amazon. Without trees, where does oxygen come from?

Saving our planet has to be a World wide effort, but it seems that every nation is trying so hard to get ahead that they forget about the future costs. You can't breath money.

Almost "Every Nation"? - Not yours IMHO.

[Eiron]

Gotta love this concept and finally the technology seems to be ready for mass production, but will it be able to out compete the futuristic electric motor cars.? Only time will tell but this should have been out there a long time ago. I remember reading about this concept ten years ago.. Not really feasible on a scooter as the price increase would not really make it feasible?? Anyway makes for good reading.. electric vs mechanical >>>

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/enthusi ... spartandhp

"A digital valvetrain is less complicated than an all-mechanical system ..." WHAT ??? Look at all of the parts they're adding!

Not only is it much more complicated, it's going to inherently have less reliability. Electronics don't like heat and vibration (anyone here had to deal with the VW/Audi/Porsche coil packs? And those things were just firing sparks!), so by all means let's mount a processor board and a bank of electric motors directly on top of an IC engine. Yes, the fuel efficiency gains are great, but the execution is going to need a lot of work to ensure reliability and longevity.

[you you]

As much as any of us can point fingers when it comes to pollution, the one thing that will certainly kill us off quickly is clearing of forests, including the Amazon. Without trees, where does oxygen come from?

Saving our planet has to be a World wide effort, but it seems that every nation is trying so hard to get ahead that they forget about the future costs. You can't breath money.

Almost "Every Nation"? - Not yours IMHO.

Or the rest of the worldsHO.

[easyrider]

Gotta love this concept and finally the technology seems to be ready for mass production, but will it be able to out compete the futuristic electric motor cars.? Only time will tell but this should have been out there a long time ago. I remember reading about this concept ten years ago.. Not really feasible on a scooter as the price increase would not really make it feasible?? Anyway makes for good reading.. electric vs mechanical >>>

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/enthusi ... spartandhp

"A digital valvetrain is less complicated than an all-mechanical system ..." WHAT ??? Look at all of the parts they're adding!

Not only is it much more complicated, it's going to inherently have less reliability. Electronics don't like heat and vibration (anyone here had to deal with the VW/Audi/Porsche coil packs? And those things were just firing sparks!), so by all means let's mount a processor board and a bank of electric motors directly on top of an IC engine. Yes, the fuel efficiency gains are great, but the execution is going to need a lot of work to ensure reliability and longevity.

Electric motors are pretty well perfected these days and most sensors are electric..ie throttle position sensore and IAC valves and a host of others that stand up to heat for many years. Lest not forget computers have been running our vehicles for decades. Dropping in a small motor could be a lot simpler than replacing double cam shafts , chains, tensioners, etc etc. Lots of work there, moreso ,perhaps than dropping in a servo motor.The cars computer will do all the timing and brain work necessary like they time the injectors, but these motors at the outset would sure be costly , but then again replacing chains , belts tensioners etc would also have a hefty labor cost.I remember when computers first came on cars all the mechanics raved how the heat will destroy them.. Matter of time for things to get perfected and the bugs worked out.Most engines are four cylinders so four little servo motors seems simpler to me than replacing cams and all the rest. The question is will electric engines beat that technology.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DD8X1_E0oRo

[Old Grinner]

Sorry, I can't help myself. . ..



Have a nice day!