Honda says making cheap electric vehicles is too hard, ends deal with GM::The platform was to use GM’s Ultium batteries.

  • @[email protected]
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    221 year ago

    Last I looked into it, Toyota was still supposed to have some of the most efficient combustion engines out there, with something crazy like 40%(?) thermal efficiency.

      • @[email protected]
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        41 year ago

        Wow, 56%, impressive, although they seem to be roughly in-line with the competition for MPG anyway.

          • @[email protected]
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            31 year ago

            It’s because fuel economy is heavily driven by vehicle weight, since start from a stop kills efficiency. Cruise effeciency is more about aerodynamics than weight (ask anyone who’s ever towed anything - you can really feel the drag above 45mph).

            And oddly enough, today’s cars aren’t really significantly lighter than 30 or 40 years ago. We’ve just moved the weight from the frame/body setup to unitized body/frame (lighter but safer… And cheaper to manufacture), more safety systems (airbags/computers) and things like heated seats, etc.

            Today’s 4+ seat SUV often weighs as much as a 1970’s 4+ seat station wagon…but with less space inside.

      • @[email protected]
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        11 year ago

        At a quick google steam locomotives generally top out at 10%, due to discarding the steam without recovering any of the heat.