BUDGET, ECONOMICS, TECHNOLOGY ALL AFFECT ALTERNATE PROPULSION SYSTEMS

The Department of Energy has been investigating alternate propulsion systems and alternate fuel systems in terms of research and development and vehicle integration. Proposed budget cuts may leave only R&D programs intact and it will be up to industry to prove the technologies to be commercially viable. All Stirling and gas turbine engine development work will be terminated if Congress agrees, which includes three or four major multi-year development contracts. Emphasis will be placed on R&D applications in vehicles, rather than on a systems approach of moving technology into testing and demonstration. The Electric Vehicle Demonstration Program will be dropped from the E&HV Program, testing programs reduced and R&D trimmed. Utilization of Alternative Fuels will be unchanged because the scope of the work is R&D. The article reviews ongoing research into such alternative automotive fuels as methanol, ethanol (in gasohol), methane (carried in liquefied state), and hydrogen and its storage. Alternative propulsion research reviewed includes research into diesel engines. Stirling engines, gas turbines, and electric vehicles and their storage batteries.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03605442
• Corporate Authors:

  Business Communications Company Incorporated

  P.O. Box 2070-C
  Stamford, CT  United States  06906
• Authors:
  • Greenberg, G
• Publication Date: 1981

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 6-8
• Serial:
  • Energy
  • Volume: 6
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0360-5442
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/03605442

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Automobiles; Demonstration projects; Development; Electric vehicles; Ethanol; Federal government; Financing; Fuels; Gas turbines; Gasohol; Methane; Methanol; Research; Stirling engines; Turbine engines
• Uncontrolled Terms: Research and development
• Geographic Terms: United States
• Subject Areas: Energy; Highways; Research; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety; I96: Vehicle Operating Costs;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00366832
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Engineering Index
• Report/Paper Numbers: Spring
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 30 1982 12:00AM