The Obama Administration mandated fuel economy to reach 54.5 miles to the gallon by 2025. In order to achieve these mandates, automakers are implementing new technologies as well as focusing on making more efficient engines and lighter bodied vehicles. The military  has been working closely with automanufacturers to obtain these goals. The most promising and useful innovation they working on is recapturing engine power that is wasted as exhaust heat and convert it into electricity that can recharge batteries.

One of the technologies that is proving to boost fuel efficiency is direct injection. Manufacturers are replacing carburetors with engine based fuel injection This process uses a computer to determine the amount of fuel to inject into the engine based on the speed and driver input of the car. Direct injection squirts fuel where it is needed in each cylinder instead of outside the cylinder. This allows the engine to deliver the same power but on less fuel.

Continuously variable transmission is another technology that is being implemented to increase fuel economy. This transmission keeps the engine working at optimum rpm and fuel economy at all times.

A major focus of car manufactures is to make lighter bodied vehicles to improve fuel efficiency. Carbon fiber and aluminum alloy are materials that are becoming more increasingly popular because of their durability and their light weight.

Many companies are using diesel engines to increase fuel economy. Companies such as Volkswagan and Audi are getting their vehicles in the 40 mpg range with this method. Diesel has a greater power density than gasoline, which means that a gallon of diesel fuel has about 15% more energy than a comparable amount of gas, and combusts more efficiently in the engine.

Bill Vlasic. “U.S. Sets Much Higher Fuel Efficiency” NY Times. August 2012

Audi Clean Diesel, Webpage. http://www.audiusa.com/innovation/efficiency/tdi?csref=92225155266327486

Hybrids Not the only Answer. BankRate, AutoGuide. http://www.bankrate.com/finance/auto/hybrids-not-the-only-answer-2.aspx

What is a smart grid?

The answer is simple. Think about what a smart phone is: a phone with a computer in it. Much like a smart phone a smart grid operates using a computer system. These grid systems are using electricity and integrating it with technology.

What is the smart grid capable of?

Smart grids can gather data, detect faults, and sense voltage. This allows for better energy efficiency and allows the utility to adjust and control each individual device or millions of devices from a central location. For example, during warmer months, an individual does not need his water heater on a high temperature. A smart grid can detect this and can turn down the temperature to save energy. This being done to multiples homes can aid in the reduction of energy consumption.

What are the benefits of smart grids?

Smart grids increase energy efficiency, and enhance cyber security. Smart grids can be monitored through computers instead of physical labor, and most of the times can fix problems from a computer as well.

Who uses smart grids?

Smart grids are used in power plants, and in windfarms, they are also found in homes and in businesses. Pretty much anything can upgrade its electrical system to be “smart”.

The US Energy Grid

The US energy grid is the biggest machine in the world. It consists of 3200 utilities. These power companies sell 400 billion dollars worth of electricity a year. The electricity is distributed over 2.7 million miles of power lines. Unfortunately the energy is most generated by burning fossil fuels.

Many believe that green energy will reduce the use and income of these utilities. David Crane, CEO of NRG Energy claims that “the grid will become increasingly irrelevant as customers move toward decentralized homegrown green energy” This is back by the fact that solar panels are increasingly turning home and businesses into power producers. It is projected that revenue from the installation of solar power systems will climb to 112 billion dollars a year. The move to greener energy is posing a serious threat to the utility grid and its distributors.

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-08-22/homegrown-green-energy-is-making-power-utilities-irrelevant

http://energy.gov/oe/technology-development/smart-grid

http://www.energybiz.com/article/13/09/microgrids-would-enhance-smart-grids

The term Energiewende translates to mean energy turnaround. This has been Germany’s and much of the European Union goal; to use more renewable energy. In 1997 the European Union including Germany agreed to the direction of achieving 12% renewable electricity by 2010. By 2010 Germany had not only achieved this, but was looking ahead to much greater aspirations. Germany targets being 35% renewable energy by 2020, 50% by 2030, 60% by 2040 and 80% by 2050; renewable energy at  18% by 2020, 30% by 2030, and 60% by 2050. Most importantly, after the Fukushimia disaster in Japan; Germany planned to phase out all nuclear energy by 2022.

Many argue that these targets are unattainable, and a waste of resources. Renewable energy is great for the environment, and is self sustaining, but that comes at a high price. Renewable energy is extremely expensive, and making room for these energy sources has impacted the environment negatively. Increasing electricity prices in the EU  are predicted to be 70% higher by 2025,
predicted by the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. That is just compounded by the expense of moving from nuclear energy to only renewable energy. Many approximate figures of total costs have been thrown around ranging from 1 trillion euros to 203 billion euros in the next 20 years. As to actual cost we will have to wait and see, but there is no argument that this endeavor isn’t costly.  These negatives are leaving the German people to question whether this move to renewables is completely beneficial.

Bell, Larry. “German Green Energy Bluster Running Out Of Wind” Forbes.com.  August 13, 2013

Russell, Walter. “Germans Re-Thinking “Turn” to Green Energy”. American Interest. July 13 2013

SPEIGEL Staff. “The Price of Green Energy: Is Germany Killing the Environment to Save It?” March 12, 2013

Welcome to Blogs.cas.suffolk.edu. This is your first post. Edit or delete it under Manage>Posts or make a new one under Write>Posts then start blogging! Be sure to visit the Design tab to choose a new look for your blog as well.

Also, for immediate “how-to’s” visit the Tutorials section, or the Getting Started section.