Again, I don’t disagree. I think we just see the potential in this project differently: I see as more conceptual, a means of raising awareness about the kinds of issues that are popping up on these posts. Would it have made more sense for him to start with a more rational vehicle? From an engineering standpoint, certainly. But would it have been written up in “Fast Company” and posted on this blog if he had? Probably not.

And, I know where you are going with your Hummer comments. I’m not advocating being a game-changer by cajoling people into all driving microcars. But so-called “light duty trucks” (which includes the H2) in the US are way way overweight. There has never really been much attention paid to getting their weight down. If you want to have sweet fuel economy and performance, neglecting the chassis mass is a major oversight. The guy is dreaming up a magic powertrain. As a powertrain engineer, I wish it was that easy. Gotta work on the whole system. Take a look at a Honda Insight. Yeah, it’s a hybrid with a funky powertrain, but they also worked like hell to get the mass down AND reduce the rolling resistance AND reduce aerodynamic drag. The guy should work on a truck that’s a real full sized truck, but acknowledges these as well. Lot’s of (relatively) low hanging fruit in terms of mass. He’s still thinking Monster Garage engine swaps. Ain’t gonna happen.

I think I do disagree with your statement that it’s “dumb” to start with a Hummer. I think it’s actually quite brilliant, because it demonstrates the power of the technology without alienating people who love their big, ridiculous truckzillas. Changing people’s perceived “need” for massive, overly powerful vehicles isn’t his game, which is fine. He’s doing what he’s interested in, and good at, and that’s a net gain all around.

If you read the article, GM isn’t doing ANYTHING based on this guy’s work. The closest it comes is 2 guys (and who knows what kind of GM engineers they were– doorhandle release engineers?) at a hotel saying “nice job on the engine swap”. Whoopee. I’m pretty sure very few people in GM Powertrain or GM R&D have ever heard he stuffed a Duramax into a Hummer H2. And getting it to work on biodiesel is frankly no big deal. The U.S. auto industry has been already moving (too slowly in my opinion) towards diesels (especially for trucks) because it’s an instant sizable improvement in thermal efficiency and thus fuel economy. Additionally, the diesel combustion cycle is a whole lot less fussy than the Otto cycle regarding fuel specifications. As diesel carries an unfair public perception of high emissions (not true), touting up the “biofuel capability” is smart marketing. It’s the same with the whole “Live Green Go Yellow” GM ethanol campaign — everyone knows that very very few of those vehicles will ever see a drop of E85, but it’s good PR (and it gives the manufacturers huge CAFE fuel economy credits).

Don’t get me wrong – the guy can probably do very nice one-off engine transplants… quality Monster Garage type work. But his alternate engine statements are frankly goofy and anyone with knowledge in the industry will see that right away. As a lot of other folks have stated, if you want to “change the world” with good fuel economy and performance, starting with a way way too heavy Hummer is a dumb way to do it. That doesn’t mean you need to use a SMART or Honda Insight, but how about a pickup engineered to be large and utilitarian, but (relatively) *light weight*? Mass is the killer of fuel economy, emissions, and perfromance. Anybody who tries to solve these three without tackling mass is windmill jousting.

Straight talk from Sid.

You’re not getting my point: by your own logic, your claims that it won’t work are closer to being “fairytale bullsh**” than his are that it will – the difference being that you cite far less evidence than he does. He’s been successfully implementing his ideas for years, gaining support of industry professionals all along the way, and you… well, you just read an article in a magazine.

“Shenanigans” is exactly right.

J

An engine that hasn’t been built yet doesn’t have any horsepower, and it’s 0% fuel efficient because no matter how much fuel you put it, it’s all wasted. He could make any outrageous claims he wants. There’s no way to test them yet. But apparently some idiots will believe anything, because there isn’t any evidence it’s wrong.

The burden of proof is not upon me, but as long as you’re asking, the numbers are obviously inflated. I’m sure the engine will be more efficient than what he started with, but I guarantee it won’t come close to what he’s “conservatively” projected.

Besides, the biggest hazard of SUVs (in addition to their low efficiency and tearing up the wilderness) is their sheer size which leads to my having to get an even bigger car to see around them and their blind spots!

Meh. Pull another.

It’s an attractive bit of powerpoint engineering with technology culled from Popular Science tidbits, but his promised end numbers are SO ABSURDLY high, it’s evident he’s speaking from his rectum. As someone who has actually worked on gas-turbine hybrid vehicles, I think he’s gonna find the practical aspects a LOT tougher than he envisions. Good luck (but no investment money) to him from me.

Straight talk from Sid.

Don’t let the oil companies find out!