Researchers: Car exhaust may be used for power

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.
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bmwdrvr - 8/11/2008 12:13:58 PM

+1 Boost

i though BMW already had a system like this......

chewy - 8/11/2008 4:26:39 PM

0 Boost

Exhaust is no longer stinky, the latest regulations have made it quite clean.

BMW995 - 8/11/2008 5:36:19 PM

0 Boost

BMW has been working on a heat recovery system for at least a couple of years. It basically is a steam generating system powered by the heat of the exhaust system. This "steam engine" supplements the power of the internal combustion engine of the vehicle. It is a lot more efficient than the electrical system developed by GM.

TehShibbs - 8/11/2008 7:02:41 PM

+1 Boost

Exhaust is used to make energy. ITS CALLED A TURBO.