Greg, there really are a lot of innovations in internal combustion engines.
Until EVs become practical, improvements in the internal combustion engine will be key. The hybrid is really not a viable technology going forward. I say this becuase of the increased cost and comlexity for really little advantage. If you look at the Prius, for example, it is a very small car. I am not sure that if Toyota just put one of their newer high efficiency internal combustion engines in it that they wouldn't get close to the mileage the Prius gets. Of course, the Prius will do well in the city for lots of short trips, but that does not cover the majority of people I see driving them. When you look at the hybrids of existing designs, they do not get much better overall mileage than their conventional counterparts.
One of the interesting things about the slide show and the technologies that are highlighted there is that many of those technologies were originally developed for racing and high performance cars. Using hydralics and variable valve timing is key to Formula 1 engines. While living in England around the turn of the millenium, I had an Alfa Romeo that had variable valve timing (as well as two spark plugs per cylinder). It was light and got great power. I must admit, though, that I did not pay much attention to gas mileage back then.
Great slideshow which showcases new developments in combustion engine technology. After seeing this article, I am amazed at the innovations that continue to evolve and am starting to realize how I've been taking the technology of these engines for granted.
Perfect timing, Chuck. This slide show does wonders in illustrating the progress being made in combustion engine development. With all the industry focus on EV technology, it overshadows traditional engine development and as you've written pretty extensively, EV adoption will be a slow ramp. That said, it's encouraging to see that the auto makers have a dual strategy to address performance/fuel efficiency issues.
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A quick look into the merger of two powerhouse 3D printing OEMs and the new leader in rapid prototyping solutions, Stratasys. The industrial revolution is now led by 3D printing and engineers are given the opportunity to fully maximize their design capabilities, reduce their time-to-market and functionally test prototypes cheaper, faster and easier. Bruce Bradshaw, Director of Marketing in North America, will explore the large product offering and variety of materials that will help CAD designers articulate their product design with actual, physical prototypes. This broadcast will dive deep into technical information including application specific stories from real world customers and their experiences with 3D printing. 3D Printing is
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