I'm not completely sure and a little too lazy to look it up, but I think combustion engines actually have a pretty low efficiency, in the range of 20%. I have read that electric cars, hydrogen powered, and even natural gas vehiclkes have a much higher efficiency level. And Electric cars can provide much more torque through all ranges of acceleration becasue there is no chemical reaction -- it's just straight power. Our typical gasoline engines lose a lot of energy in the burning process.
20% efficiency? Efficiency of what? Power to the ground? Torque at the driveshaft? Please be more specific... There is a reason big construction/farm equipment uses diesel fuel. It produces much more horsepower and torque than any other method and the same is true with cars. You move fast and far with relatively little energy use. You must also consider what it takes to get "X amount of energy" from the source to the end-user. Again, petroleum is by far the cheapeast energy available.
I'm not an advocate of using more oil or anything... just in search of the facts. Let's all take off our environmentalist goggles and see the situation for what it is. $$$ vs. Pollution.
Unfortunately, the $$$ will always win, or at least that has been true since the Industrial Revolution. Maybe people can change their habits... but I hear a lot of talk and VERY LITTLE action.
the actual potential energy in gasoline. Of the total heat energy potential of gasoline, some 70-80% is lost or ejected in things like exhaust or friction of moving parts. I guess you'd call it power to the ground.. or the potentil energy of gasoline vs. the amount of power that is created propel the vehicle forward --You just have to google it I guess. it's all over the place. And yes, or course diesel is much more efficient.
you can google it or just read the OP
don't compete; coexist
what are you but my reflection? who am i to judge or strike you down?
"I will promise you this, that if we have not gotten our troops out by the time I am president, it is the first thing I will do. I will get our troops home. We will bring an end to this war. You can take that to the bank." - Barack Obama
when you told me 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em'
i was thinkin 'death before dishonor'
Comments
you can google it or just read the OP
what are you but my reflection? who am i to judge or strike you down?
"I will promise you this, that if we have not gotten our troops out by the time I am president, it is the first thing I will do. I will get our troops home. We will bring an end to this war. You can take that to the bank." - Barack Obama
when you told me 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em'
i was thinkin 'death before dishonor'