jadziasman

Saudis Try to Re-Invent the Internal Combustion Engine

The ICE will continue as the predominant propulsion force for the next 30 years. The price and type of its fuel will be the question.

ICE's can run on gasoline, diesel, ethanol, natural gas, and other less easy to store fuels such as hydrogen or wood chips - just kidding. Some even run on plain water (LOL!!!!).

CO2 emissions decrease as fuel economy increases (If I may be allowed to state the obvious and I will). However, achieving 50+ mpg currently requires certain sacrifices that many consumers aren't going to be willing to make (driving slower is one) - especially now that gasoline has become "affordable" once again (at least until early April 2009 anyway).

High fuel economy can only be achieved in the following progressively more expensive ways - small light vehicles with small gasoline or diesel ICEs, vehicles with turbo or supercharged gasoline or diesel ICEs, hybrid ICE vehicles (Prius), plug in hybrid with auxiliary ICE (Volt) or fully electric (Tesla).

The first on the list is the most likely choice for consumers in the progressively poorer first world industrialized nations and those in the up and coming emerging Asian powerhouses. The rich can buy whatever they want and will continue to do so no matter where they live.

So generally speaking, it will be tiny econoboxes or Ferrari's for everyone.