The Magnetic Air Car: Another Perpetual Motion Machine, Or Real?

We wrote about the Tata motors air car and how it works a while ago. But now, another air car is getting some attention, the San Jose based Magnetic Air Car. The Magnetic Air Car supposedly uses the same compressed air technology as the Tata air car initially, but differs when it gets to the actual engine. Instead of a piston engine like the Tata has, the Magnetic Car is said to use three on-board air compressors to channel the air stream towards a magnetic motor.

I’m still a bit leery about the whole magnetic motor concept in general. I’ve seen too many “perpetual motion machines” that were powered by magnetic motors. There are very few specifics from the company website, but from my understanding, the magnetic motor works by harnessing the power of the magnets repelling each other.

If the Magnetic Air Car is real, it’ll be a really interesting technology for future cars. A prototype of the car is being built at Club Auto Sport in San Jose in the near future. Hopefully we’ll be able to see how it works before 2010.

Related posts:

• Toyota Set to Launch 10 New Hybrid Models by 2010
• Top 10 Least Expensive Cars to Own in 2008
• Cars Coming Soon -> Horsepower and Speed at the Frankfurt Auto Show
• The Ten Biggest Automotive Stories Of 2008 [Jalopnik 2008 Year In Review]
• Suzuki Kizashi 3 based mid-size sedan coming in 2009

Related posts:

• What Were the Top Ten Best-Selling Vehicles in 2008?
• Honda Freed - a minivan the size of a Civic that fits 8
• Acura is Recalling 273,000 Acura TL's Because of Potential Fire Issues
• 2009 Acura TSX Spy Photos...Finally More Power from the Smallest Acura
• U.S. auto sales take a big hit, everything sucks besides Honda

How Does a Supercharger Work? - Turbocharger vs Supercharger

A while back, I wrote a post about the effects of Nitrous Oxide on your car. I talked about how it basically just shoves oxygen into your combustion chamber. Well there’s an easier way to do that, without hilarious gas…forced induction systems.

The purpose of forced induction systems, aka superchargers and turbochargers, is to push more air/fuel mixture into the combustion chamber. The simplest way of visualizing them is as air compressors that just pump more air into the engine. More air and fuel means more power. That’s the primary goal of these devices: create more power. They both do this same job, although in slightly different ways.

Superchargers

A supercharger with part of the inside exposed

A supercharger is a belt driven device that forces air into an internal combustion engine. It consists of a drive belt, drive, the driven gears inside, and a centrifugal compressor wheel. The belt drives the gear and compressor wheel. The compressor wheel pumps air into the engine. In the picture above, the intake air comes in from the back, and goes out of the bottom, the belt drives the wheel in the front.

Supercharger are installed on top of the intake manifold on V-type engines and on the side of inline engines. Since they’re belt driven, supercharger speed is dependent on engine speed and is most efficient at higher engine speeds.

Turbochargers

A turbocharger with the inside exposed

A turbocharger is actually a type of supercharger. In fact turbos used to be called turbosuperchargers because they’re just superchargers that are run via a turbine wheel.

A turbocharger is an exhaust gas driven device that forces air into an internal combustion engine. Turbochargers use the exhaust gases from the engine to drive a turbine wheel. That turbine wheel is connected to the compressor wheel by a shaft. That shaft speed can get up to 150,000 RPMs, so it has to be supported by ball bearings or tapered roller bearings that are pressure lubricated and cooled by the engine oiling system.

Which one is better?

Turbochargers are appealing because they use waste exhaust to power the boost, while superchargers have to take power away from the engine itself via the belt. Still, superchargers are much easier to install and tune, and they give a broader powerband, meaning more power over a broader spectrum instead of a quick jump in power once you get to a certain threshold - like a turbocharger.

It’s difficult to say which is better flat out. Superchargers are easier to install, they don’t get nearly as hot as turbochargers, they’re more reliable, more low end power, etc. There are lots of benefits to superchargers, but turbos have that one big one…they run off of wasted kinetic energy. Turbos address the one main disadvantage of using a supercharger, the fact that it has to take power from the engine to spin.

This is an age old question, both turbo and superchargers have been around for a while, and the debate still isn’t settled. I gave you the information, it’s up to you to make the informed decision.

Related posts:

• Video: Dodge Challenger SRT8 vs Ford Mustang Bullitt
• Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger face bad timing
• Top 10 Least Expensive Cars to Own in 2008
• Ford developing smaller pickup to fit under F-150
• Video: 2009 Subaru Forester ad features sexy sumos

Related posts:

• Top 10 Best Luxury Cars Costing $50,000 or Less
• Forget Toyota and GM for a sec and look at Ford and Toyota
• Video: BMW drives the new 335d from San Francisco to LA
• Lamborghini Murcielago SV with rwd and 680-hp coming later this year
• More info on the Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG Black Series

Solazyme’s Algae-Derived BioDiesel Passes Defense Departments Cold Weather Testing

In a recent news release from Solazyme and as reported at this years Worldwide Energy and Trade Show yesterday, their algae-derived biodiesel has passed its Department of Defense cold weather testing. To demonstrate the performance and readiness of their product an unmodified Ford F-450 diesel was driven to the conference fueled by Solazyme’s biodiesel by former Director of the CIA, James Woolsey.

Testing of Solazyme’s biodiesel was ordered by the Department of Defense and performed by the Southwest Research Institute (SWRI). Their conclusion proved that Solazyme’s product performed much better than any other biodiesel that has been tested in cold climates. That is good news for a military force with bases all over the world in all climates who is under a directive to substantially decrease its own dependency on foreign petroleum. Not only is the Algae BioDiesel usable in the F-450, but also in all military diesel fueled engines and can also be converted into Jet Fuel.

…Check out Solazyme’s video after the leap… (more…)

Related posts:

• Why Cash for Clunkers Could Devastate Auto Sales
• Look Mom, No Gas: 100% BioEthanol Saab Concept
• 2008 Nissan GT-R - Godzilla Awakes On Steroids
• Formula One May Be Coming Back To America, Eventually [Racing News]
• Ray Giovannoni’s ‘36 Ford

Related posts:

• What Should Ford Improve in the Current Generation of Mustangs?
• Don’t fear collapse
• FinalGear Meet: October 3rd/4th at Garrettsville, Ohio (LeMons)
• From the looks to the exhaust note of the new Maserati Quattroporte Sport ...
• The world’s oldest running car up for auction

ACEEE Releases their Top 12 Lists of the ‘Meanest’ and ‘Greenest’ Vehicles

The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has released its 11th annual Top 10 listing of the Meanest and Greenest vehicles for 2008. Basing their rankings on results derived from what ACEEE calls a “Green Score”, “a singular measure that incorporates unhealthy tailpipe emissions, fuel consumption, and the emissions of gases that cause global warming.” Coming out on top of 2008’s Green list for the second year in a row is the limited production Honda Civic GX. Running on natural gas, which burns cleaners than gasoline, and averaging 39 mpg the Honda Civic GX is surely clean, but virtually impossible to buy.

Running the dubious honor of being #1 as 2008’s Meanest car is the VW Touareg. With fuel ratings at or below 20 mpg from all 3 engine variants (the diesel is rated at 20 mpg highway), yet still in the mid-to-high teens, there would seem meaner vehicles on the market. Part of what brought down the score for the VW Touareg would be its diesel engine’s emissions results. With higher nitrogen oxides and particulate matter being emitted from the tailpipe the VW Touareg TDI is a top ranked polluter according to ACEEE.    …Full Top 10 Lists and Press Release after the link… (more…)

Related posts:

• Honda Confirms that the Acura NSX will Return by 2010
• VIDEO: Richard Hammond’s Honda Fireblade vs… a rocket and a golf ball?
• Hybrids Not as Environmentally Friendly as Thought
• Detroit Auto Show: Toyota A-Bat Concept… a Copy of a Copy?
• Four Will Enter, One Will Leave: The Final Two

Related posts:

• 2009 Honda Civic Hatchback Lineup Reveals Minor Facelift We Won't Get [2009 Honda Civic]
• Spoon Honda NSX-R GT, First Drive [Jalopnik Reviews]
• LA 2008: Honda shows off Insight's Eco Assist dashboard
• Honda Civic HFP Concept Sits Efficiently On SEMA Show Floor [Sema]
• Honda Gets A New Life [Honda Life]

Project Better Place: Israel Targets 2011 for Electric Vehicle Infrastrutures Integration

As the rest of the world grows stymied over the multiple alternatives to oil that are combating for a market share the Israeli government in a cooperative effort with Project Better Place and Renault-Nissan is preparing for the future. …The very near future. The plan calls for the mass marketing of an electric vehicle (EV) with an inter-changeable battery system and a series of battery recharging/swapping stations through-out Israel by 2011. What appears like an overly ambitious plan with a short time-table is potentially a daring adventure based on a working model: the mobil phone.

Just as cell phone towers span the land to spread each cellular companies signals to all areas, so to will the refueling stations for the battery powered cars. The cars on-board computer will calculate the amount of charge remaining in the battery and will also calculate the distance to the nearest recharging station.

Related posts:

• The Chevy Vega: Motor Trend’s Car of the Year?
• Ferrari 430 Spider Bio Fuel Concept Revealed in Detroit
• 2008 Nissan GT-R - Godzilla Awakes On Steroids
• A fine day at the 2009 Sports and Exotic Car Show

Related posts:

• Nissan reportedly considering entry into the sporty hybrid market
• Renault announces new NOx trap features in new diesel catalytic converter
• In addition to the remote-controlled locking system, New Laguna offers ...
• Zero to 60 before you die
• Renault Laguna Black Edition

Move over Bugatti Veyron, the SSC Ultimate Aero TT is looking to pass

Once you have a record you are most certain to have some challengers looking to detrone you. That is precisely the case as the Bugatti Veyron’s record of 253-mph is looking to be broken by the SSC Ultimate Aero TT. The Ultimate Aero has been testing its components and running test runs, and so far the greatest obstacle to making a record breaking run is finding a suitable location.

In the test runs that have been performed the 1183-hp Ultimate Aero has reached 241-mph. Ofcourse SSC (Shelby SuperCars) is quick to note that their best test so far was only utilizing 71% of the throttle. There must be a certain amount of drool building up as they can almost taste that record run.

Related posts:

• BMW announced yesterday plans to produce 100 hydrogen-powered 7 Series ...
• 2010 Acura NSX Caught Testing in Germany?
• How to Purchase at The End of Your Lease
• If You’re Gonna be Dumb…
• Hybrids Not as Environmentally Friendly as Thought

Related posts:

• ExxonMobil Posts Largest Profit In US History, Makes $1,865.69 A Second [News]
• With rumors such as these, we'll be hard pressed to wait until its expected ...
• Mini E - Electric Car 2009
• Tesla's WhiteStar will be called the Model S - more info soon
• Did you think the VW-Porsche deal was done? Nein.