Researchers: Car exhaust may be used for power (AP/CNN)

[eppur_se_muova]

WARREN, Michigan (AP) -- The stinky, steaming air that escapes from a car's tailpipe could help us use less gas.

Researchers are competing to meet a challenge from the U.S. Department of Energy: Improve fuel economy 10 percent by converting wasted exhaust heat into energy that can help power the vehicle.

General Motors Corp. is close to reaching the goal, as is a BMW AG supplier working with Ohio State University. Their research into thermoelectrics -- the science of using temperature differences to create electricity -- couldn't come at a better time as high gas prices accelerate efforts to make vehicles as efficient as possible.

GM researcher Jihui Yang said a metal-plated device that surrounds an exhaust pipe could increase fuel economy in a Chevrolet Suburban by about 5 percent, a 1-mile-per-gallon improvement that would be even greater in a smaller vehicle.

Reaching the goal of a 10 percent improvement would save more than 100 million gallons of fuel per year in GM vehicles in the U.S. alone.
***
more: http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/08/10/tailpipe.power.ap/index.html

THIS (Bu**sh**) Dept. of Energy is doing something RIGHT? :wow: Technology first tested 12 yrs ago. Hmmmmm.

[madokie]

1. I often wonder why the heat from the exhaust is not used to power the air conditioner in autos

We have an old heat absorbion refrigerator that uses a small gas flame to keep the contents inside cold so the technology is there to do that so why haven't they done it yet?

[kristopher]

2. Rotry compressor probably more simple and efficient.

Possible weight load?