Students modify a hybrid.. 100 mpg.. (automakers "mildly" interested)

[SoCalDem]

DUH!!


MSNBC just did a story on these two kids.. cannot find a link yet

why would automakers be interested?

It cost these two KIDS about $3k to modify the hybrid, and said it was EAST to do, and they were surprised that automakers were not "impressed with the urgency"...


Gee whiz.. let's see..

collusion with the oil industry comes to mind..

if cars got, or could get 100mpg, people would buy LESS of their rip-off product and all those "commodity traders" would not be nearly as rich..

Yesterday on CNN, an "expert" said that about SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLARS of every barrel of oil is because of SPECULATIVE COMMODITY TRADING..

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Since my 1990 Prizm gets as good gas mileage as new cars

(30+ per gallon), I'd say that automakers still aren't really interested in improving their cars. In fact, I'm surprised they didn't slap the kids with a cease and desist order.

[DesertFlower]

2. i saw it.

maybe they'll have a link later.

[phantom power]

3. It's hard to say without a link, however...

to my knowledge every do-it-yourself backyard modification project involves filling the trunk of the car, and/or the back seat, with batteries.

That's quite likely why the auto makers aren't super excited.

[SoCalDem]

4. didn't look that way.. they modified the WAY the batteries re-charge

apparently that was the major difference..

[NickB79]

5. Uh oh, that might not be good for the lifespan of the batteries though

The computer system in the Prius doesn't allow the battery to drain below a set level, much less fully drain before recharging. Allowing the battery to drain too far too often can reduce the lifespan of the battery.

I could easily see them re-programming the computer to allow for deeper drainage of the battery to increase range, but the trade-off would be a potentially damaging situation to the battery pack's longevity.

I'd like to see more about what they did though, I could be completely off the mark here.

[SoCalDem]

6. I looked on MSNBC's site ....but no link yet..

Knowing the way they repeat and repeat and repeat, there shoule be something up soon..

[Fumesucker]

7. It's called the NIH factor..

Not Invented Here..

Extremely common both in business and academia..

What will happen is if these kids actually have a good idea, the automakers will steal it from them and not pay a penny in royalties.

Virtually all major corporations would rather spend ten million on lawyers to keep from paying you than to pay a hundred thousand for your idea.