183 Future Technologies in 37 Years: What Became of the New Tech?

Issue Title Author New Technology presented What has become of the technology? 5/82-5/84 Answers to Readers’ technical questions Various None Jun-84 Multiple Valve Technology Ron Grable Radial valve arrangement In production then, Honda CBX motorcycle Jul-84 The Case for 4WD Ron Grable Explanation of benefits of all-wheel traction. Aug-84 CVT: A Farewell to Shifting Ron Grable Various designs explained, predicted Fiat or Subaru first to market. Subaru Justy was first to market in the U.S. in 1987. Sep-84 No title Ron Grable Tire/wheel upsizing, scrub radius, wheel offsets explained Oct-84 Pulling or Pushing? That is the Question Ron Grable Acedemic treatise on benefits/drawbacks of FWD vs RWD Nov-84 Taking the Panic out of Panic Stops Ron Grable ABS explained, prototype ’86 Corvette driven Dec-84 Variable Valve Timing: Taming the Wild Camshaft Ron Grable VVT Explained, camless valvetrain mentioned Renault, BMW, Fiat, Valeo, General Motors, Ricardo, Lotus Engineering, Ford, Jiangsu Gongda Power Technologies and Koenigsegg’s sister company FreeValve have worked to develop camless valvetrain, and China’s Quoros promises to introduce its Qamfree engine, but it is not yet in production Jan-85 Alternative Engine Cooling, or Who Needs Radiators? Ron Grable Covers prospective adiabatic or low-heat-rejection cooling system using a high-boiling-point fluid and condenser, with no radiator. Nothing is in production yet, though opposed-piston engines count low heat rejection among their benefits. Feb-85 Alternative Engine Fuels: What’ll We Do When the Tank Runs Dry? Ron Grable Discusses benefits of alternatives like propane, CNG, and alcohols By 2000, ethanol reached 1-percent penetration in the U.S. fuels market. Widespread adoption of E85 commenced as of legislation in 2004 and 2008; production Honda Civic GX CNG vehicles in 1996, otherwise very low adoption of CNG or other alternatives. Mar-85 Changing Tire Technology: They’re More Than “Round and Black” Ron Grable Run-flat wheel/tire design requiring new style wheels, tires, mounting equipment; tire sidewalls flex more than usual. Not  yet adopted Apr-85 Oil Analysis: The Petroleum Crystal Ball Ron Grable Spectroscopic oil analysis as a means of engine wear diagnosis Already implemented at the time May-85 Quartz-Halogen Lights: Driving (Slowly) Out of the Dark Ages Ron Grable Covered the recently legalized replaceable-bulb halogen headlamp First appeared on the 1984 Lincoln Mk VII Jun-85 Differentiation–A Difficult Task Ron Grable Explains differential function, introduces ball-ramp, viscous, and Torsen type limited-slip diffs Torsen was just appearing on the market at the time, others in production already. Jul-85 Intercooled Boost; Coldly Calculating the Hot Setup in Turbocharger Technology John Hanson Explains the value of cooling a compressed charge, discusses production systems from Mitsubishi and Ford SVO. Already implemented at the time Aug-85 Spark Plugs–Lighting the Fire Ron Grable Covers state of the spark-plug art. Sep-85 Drive-by-Wire: Deprogramming the Leadfoot John Hanson Covers technology already in use in fighters, etc. Proposes use in automotive accelerators, clutches, shifters, brakes, etc. 1988 BMW 7 Series introduced throttle-by-wire, brake-by-wire was featured on the rear brakes of the GM EV1, and widely adopted on the Prius and other hybrids. Infiniti was first to market with steer-by-wire on the 2014 Infiniti Q50. Oct-85 Saab SDI Ignition: What Happened to the Spark Plug Wires? Ron Grable Explains distributor-less ignition Already rolling out in Saab at the time Nov-85 Four-Wheel Steering John Hanson Explains benefits of 4WS, Mazda MX-02 concept car, prototype drive of Honda Prelude 4WS The 1988 Honda Prelude introduced the concept to the U.S. market, though Nissan’s Japan-market R31 Skyline introduced High-Capacity Active Steering (HICAS) in 1986. Dec-85 Construction Materials of the Future Ron Grable Explores composites, honeycomb sandwich, and carbon/kevlar fiber materials already in use in F1 racing. A carbon-fiber connecting rod was shown. Naimo, AWA Composites, are showing stranded and forged carbon con-rod concepts and Lamborghini has mentioned incorporating them in 2021 for the next V-12. Jan-86 Back to the Future with All-Aluminum Bodies John Hanson Covers the ALCOA-Audi partnership that built an aluminum Audi 100/5000 body that weighed 46.8% less than the steel one. Audi A8 featured all aluminum construction in 1994. Feb-86 In-Car Navigational and Intelligent Terminals Ron Grable Review of 1983 Toyota NavCom, mid-1985 Etak Navigator, and a forthcoming French Dialog nav system promised by 1989. 1995 Oldsmobile got the first true GPS-enabled nav system Mar-86 Dashboard Design Through Visual Perception John Hanson Presents results of GM R&D paper on human perception, suggesting changes in presentation of information and UI design and recommends verbal inputs. I first sampled in-car voice recognition in a Citroen XM with an aftermarket audio system in the mid-1990s. 2005 Honda vehicles offered voice-control of navigation input. Apr-86 Vehicle Anti-Theft System Ron Grable Describes the VATS equipment on the then new Corvette, with a resister chip in the ignition key. Already implemented at the time May-86 Lead Phasedown–Getting the Lead Out Ron Grable Outlined the costs, benefits, and challenges of phasing out leaded gas. Leaded gas phased out in 1988 as legislated. Jun-86 Alignment–A Question of Aim Rick Titus Explains terms and adjustments involved with suspension alignment Jul-86 Electronic Smog Control Ron Grable Explanation of early open-loop and new closed-loop emissions controls. Aug-86 Crash Barriers–Best Left Alone Rick Titus Discussion of K-Rail highway dividers being rolled out at the time. Sep-86 The Sinocam Engine Ron Grable Explanation of the Waller opposed-piston swashplate engine. Never happened, no trace of the Waller Research Center in Clearwater CA. Only web references are to people selling copies of this Motor Trend article. Oct-86 Keeping Your Cool Rick Titus Explanation of the Cool Suit by J&G Enterprises then entering production. Nov-86 Ceramic Engine Applications Ron Grable Another look at an adiabatic engine with ceramic insulation under development by Cummins and NASA, and of the possible application of ceramic parts to turbos, etc. Cummins was still engaged in research for aviation engines as late as 2008, but the idea has yet to see regular production. Dec-86 Driving Through the Air With the Greatest of Ease Rick Titus A look at vehicle aerodynamics with emphasis on underbody air management. Has been implemented over the decades Jan-87 Active Suspension Ron Grable Discussion of Lotus-developed active ride systems engineered for GM and Volvo Infiniti Q45a marked the first true active suspension system in 1991. Feb-87 4-Wheel Steering Ron Grable Closer look and test of Honda 4ws Prelude Mar-87 Pocket-Size Dragstrip Rick Titus Test of VC-200 g-force-based testing device Already on sale Apr-87 Pre-Lubrication Rick Titus Describes Preluber, a $300 product that develops oil pressure prior to startup and maintains it 3 minutes after shut-down of turbo engines Already on sale May-87 Developments: Coolant Recovery: Stage Two Rick Titus Describes sealed coolant recovery system. The concept was implemented shortly thereafter. Jun-87 Diesels–Do They Get Better Mileage? Ron Grable Explanation of the diesel cycle’s efficiency advantages. Already on sale Jul-87 Developments: Putting the Skids on Car Theft Rick Titus Description of a then new anti-theft system involving a check-valve that prevents brake fluid from returning to the master when activated, locking all four wheels. Already on sale Aug-87 Early Automotive Engines: How It Used To Be Ron Grable Extensive lesson on the history of combustion engines. Sep-87 Torque and Horsepower Ron Grable Explanation of the difference in these fundamental engine output measures. Jan-88 Developments: Designer Roof Racks Rick Titus Review of new roof racks for aero-style cars without drip rails Already on sale Mar-88 Suspension Unabridged: A Primer Ron Grable Explanation of suspension terms May-88 It Really Is Getting Better Ron Grable Outlining progress made in achieving the Clean Air Act of 1963’s goals. Jun-88 Developments: Electronic Pocket Protector Rick Titus CarFinder anti-theft/panic alarm system Already on sale Jul-88 Developments: The Practical, Portable Cellular Phone B.J. Hoffman Review of a bag phone Nov-88 Developments: Tuning in on Trouble B.J. Hoffman Review of a radar detector May-89 Developments: Sound Advice for the ’90s B.J. Hoffman Review of the Sony Disc Jockey 10-disc CD changer Jul-89 Variable Valve Timing Ron Grable Discussed Alfa racing VIVT, Corvette ZR-1 intake-runner throttling, forthcoming Honda VTEC VTEC went on sale in Japan in the 1989 Honta Integra XSi, the U.S. first saw it in the 1991 Acura NSX. Oct-89 The Demise of the MacPherson Strut Ron Grable Outlines handling weakness of the strut suspension relative to control arms or multilinks and concludes “Earle MacPherson’s brainchild is gasping its last breaths.” Nope. Strut front suspensions still dominate the market. Dec-90 Top Speed: An Exercise in Pedal to the Metal Ron Grable A treatise on the impact of aerodynamics, power, and gearing on top speed Jan-91 Stolen Car Retrieval Systems Ron Grable A rundown of LoJack and Intercept vehicle tracking systems. Already on sale Feb-92 Ignition Timing Ron Grable Explainer for electronic ignition systems coming into vogue at the time. Sep-93 Lincoln Mark VIII Engine Tech Ron Grable Rundown of the many virtues of this new DOHC 32-valve V-8 engine. Oct-93 Space-Shuttle Technology on the Race Track Ron Grable Telemetry used in Indy Car to broadcast driver heart-rate info, among other things like strain-gauge info about aerodynamic loading. Our own Kim Reynolds would introduce heart-rate monitoring as a gauge of “workload” in our 2014 Best Drivers Car competition. Apr-94 Cadillac’s Northstar Limp-Home System: The Ability to Operate Without Any Engine Coolant Ron Grable Explanation of Cadillac’s alternate-engine-bank “air cooling” limp-home system. Jul-94 Cornering: The Act of Rounding a Corner isn’t as Easy as it Seems Ron Grable Explanation of all the forces acting on vehicles while cornering, and the ways in which different suspension designs manage these forces. Aug-94 Acro-Tech’s Vented Valve Ron Grable An experimental valvetrain in which intake valves included a passively controlled valve-within-the-valve, which opened under high-demand situations for better airflow. U.S. patents rights applied for, granted (in 2001). No automotive production application. Oct-94 Anti-Skid Control: ABS Evolves for Improved Handling Ron Grable Description of electronic stability control systems then arriving on Mercedes-Benz S-Class and pending on BMW 7 Series. The Mercedes/Bosch system appeared first on the 1995 S 600 coupe, and by the 2012 model year NHTSA required ESC fitment to all new passenger vehicles. Sep-95 Multivalves (Over)Simplified Don Fuller Rundown of the 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, and even 6-valve/cylinder engines, plus VVT Oct-04 Perspective: The New Star Wars Frank Markus An introduction to Sirius, XM, DirecTV for vehicles via KVH TracVision antenna, as well as HD radio All technologies were already available or imminent at the time of publication Nov-04 Dubs Done Right Frank Markus A look at how GM develops its 20-inch wheels to meet all ride, handling, and safety criteria. Wheels were becoming available at the time of publication. Dec-04 Would you buy a hybrid with a cord…for $16,000? Frank Markus A look at an inexpensive plug-in hybrid concept (which we dubbed PIHEV) from a “mad scientist” who’d put a previous concept on our March 80 cover. The 1899 Lohner-Porsche Mixte Hybrid was first, GM’s XP-883 happened in 1969. Peugeot sold 500 PHEV Kangoos in 2003-2004, but Toyota’s mainstream Prius PHEV hit the (Japanese) roads in 2007 Jan-05 Riding on Electrons Frank Markus Explanation of radical new Bose electromagnetic suspension. With 24 years invested as of this report, it remained an active Bose program until after Dr. Bose’s 2013 death, and went into production for semi-tractor seats in 2014. Feb-05 Convert Your Car to Burn Hydrogen for Just $130! Frank Markus Aftermarket hokem introduces the science of a Plasma Fuel Reformer under development at Arvin-Meritor and MIT to dissociate H2 from gasoline to enable ultra-lean combustion. There are no internet hits on this technology after 2006. Mar-05 Coming soon, a race series I’d pay to watch Frank Markus Discussion of proposed racing series restricted only by energy use. Never really happened, though Formula E, introduced in 2014, is kind of in this vein. Apr-05 Euro-bureaucrats may be restyling your next car Frank Markus A look at how pedestrian-protection regulations will impact vehicle styling EU regulations went into effect in 2010. May-05 A Pininfarina of our very own? Frank Markus A look at the design and bespoke businesses at ASC Inc. Covered currently unveiled vehicles. Jun-05 Was every journalists really wrong about BMW’s 7 Series? Frank Markus Calling BMW on its insistence that iDrive was brilliant from the start. Covered currently unveiled iDrive revisions. Jul-05 Shifting paradigms while sideways on ice. Frank Markus Improvements in ESC and AWD systems coming to market. Tech was on sale imminently. Aug-05 You know SAE gross and SAE net, here comes SAE certified Frank Markus Discussion of new SAE Certified engine performance ratings. The certification was rolling out on 2006 cars at the time. Sep-05 Lights fantastic Frank Markus LED headlighting and the promise of adaptive front lighting. The first LED low-beam headlamps were fitted to the 2006 Lexus LS 600h. Oct-05 Do your civic duty—drive with a cell phone! Frank Markus Mining cell-phone position data to monitor traffic flow Began rolling out months after the story ran. Nov-05 Let’s get small–Why carry around more engine than you need? Frank Markus New turbo technologies: VCG and e-Turbos Can only find scholarly studies of VCG, electric superchargers were enabled by 48-volt systems (Valeo in 2016 on diesels in Europe), and in the 2018 Mercedes S 400. Still awaiting the first mainstream e-Turbo. Dec-05 Kars by Katrina–Can a hurricane reshape the automotive landscape? Frank Markus Energy shock prompted by Gulf refinery hurricane damage will promote E85, diesel trucks, reduced dependence on foreign oil In 2005 the U.S. became the world’s largest ethanol producer, but E85 use remains small; diesel power in trucks is growing, but for how much longer? America became a net oil exporter in 2018 Jan-06 Slime Me–Could the life form that helped give us our atmosphere now fuel our cars? Frank Markus Blue-green algae grown in tubes and fed CO2 will produce biodiesel Venture capitalists pumped hundreds of millions into the concept from 2005-2012, but most companies have since pivoted to cosmetics or other uses for the oils that are profitable. Feb-06 Talking Cars–Our cars may soon be talking to each other, but will they also be tattling on us? Frank Markus Vehicle-to-vehicle communications NHTSA issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking memorandum in January 2017 for legislation mandating V2V, manufacturers are all working on it, but the technology and spectrum have yet to be agreed upon. Implementation is still a few years off. Mar-06 Break-in, schmake-in–Spare the whip and spoil the engine? Frank Markus Web site advocating hard acceleration on brand new engines to set the rings and improve performance. Refuted by engine experts Apr-06 Crash Course–Risking life and limb boils down to a numbers game Frank Markus Discussion of the informedforlife.org saftet SCORE system of ranking vehicle safety based on test results weighted for frequency of occurance. Already in place at the time. May-06 Petroholics Anonymous–One gptm at a time… Frank Markus Explanation of EPA’s new 5-test fuel economy measuring system, recommendation that we switch from mpg to gal/1000 miles. Test plan was already rolling out, inversion to fuel consumption reporting never happened. Jun-06 Oddball Hybrids–Electrons can be expensive, but steam and air are free. Frank Markus Waste-energy recovery systems: Turbo-steamer from BMW (running steam cycle from waste exhaust heat), and Scuderi Split-Cycle engine with compressed air storage. BMW Turbo-Steamer was abandoned on cost/weight grounds. The Scuderi operation has been beset by lawsuits from investors and appears unlikely to reach production. Jul-06 Pod People–Can radio survive the MP3-player revolution? Frank Markus Radio responds to the iPod generation with HD AM and FM broadcasting, as XM and Sirius add traffic, weather, 5.1 surround, and video. HD radio was rolling out at the time and was installed in most new cars by 2012. The satellite radio advances happened in 2007. Aug-06 Car Cannibalism–Run your new car on the shredded remains of your old one. Frank Markus Description of Changing World Technologies’ “thermal depolymerization” procedure for turning shredder-residue (and other organic waste) into fuel already up and running. The Carthage, MO plant described in the column was sued for foul odors, shut down, reopened, then shut down again after complications of CWT’s bankruptcy following afailed IPO in 2009. It was re-opened after Canadian firm Ridgeline Energy Services acquired it. No shredder-residue-to-oil plant is known to be operational using this procedure. Sep-06 NuVinci Code–At last, a tranny with some balls Frank Markus New friction-drive CVT concept. The concept did go into production on bikes in 2007, and subsequently became available for accessory drives and wind turbines as expected. Oct-06 Pop This Pill–If it seems too good to be true… Frank Markus A rundown of various bogus fuel-saving pills and gizmos. All were available and various attorneys general were busy shutting them down. Nov-06 Blast this–SUV Buyers Guide for Very Important Afghans and Iraqis Frank Markus A look at vehicle armoring by Centigon Already available. Dec-06 Inside Beltways–Is the lowly seatbelt poised for a glamorous makeover? Frank Markus Inflatable seatbelts and two four-point belt concepts to reduce injuries even further than current seat belts do. Ford put the inflatable seatbelt into production on the 2011 Explorer. No four-point belt has hit the mainstream yet (or been provided for in NHTSA regulation). Jan-07 Rushin’ Technology–Beating H-bomb swords into fuel-cell plowshares Frank Markus Hope on the hydrogen fuel-cell front: 1) new ways of producing hydrogen more efficiently; 2) metal-hydride hydrogen storage; 3) fuel cell chemistries that don’t require water 1) Catalytic, plasma-chemical, and thermal techniques of producing hydrogen remain largely on the drawing board; 2) Metal-hydride research continues today, still falling short of gravimetric and cost goals; 3) Nothing commercial here yet either. Feb-07 Fountain of eYouth?–Why your next new car may not become an electronic geezer in two years. Frank Markus Upgradable vehicle electronic architectures enabled by MOST network, and forthcoming USB and Bluetooth tech. Video screen capable of showing different images to left and right viewers. iPod Out technology first appeared on BMWs in 2011 with CarPlay introduced in 2014. Bluetooth integration was already underway. Mercedes introduced its SPLITVIEW screen on the S-Class in 2009 Mar-07 Hooking Up–Soon even econoboxes will chat with satellites Frank Markus Discussed Hughes Telematics’ “OnStar for all” system powered by two geostationary satellites. Hughes Telematics began providing telematics services to Chrysler and Mercedes-Benz in 2009, and was purchased by Verizon in 2012 which made the tech available in the aftermarket Apr-07 Up ‘n Away–Cars may never fly, but Hondas will in 2010. Frank Markus A look at the tech highlights of the HondaJet. The first flight of the Honda HA-420 HondaJet was on December 20, 2010; the first production HondaJet flew on June 27, 2014. May-07 Hard NOx–Conjuring a diesel that’s nearly as clean as a fuel cell… Frank Markus Honda was exploring the possibility of regenerating a NOx trap using diesel fuel, not urea. The idea was abandoned by Honda, and VW demonstrated why, when it put the idea into production on the 2009 Jetta TDI and spawned Dieselgate. Jun-07 Morph-Mobiles–GM’s materials engineers are shape-changing the automobile Frank Markus Utilizing shape-changing alloys and polymers to control items on a car, perhaps as early as 2010. It took a bit longer to hit production, but the 2014 Corvette used this technology to open and close a vent that allowed air to escape when closing the rear hatch. Jul-07 Running on Fumes–Ford makes a big stink over its latest fuel cell Frank Markus New technology for converting paint fumes to energy at Ford’s Oakville Ontario plant just then coming online. The system has since been implemented at Michigan Truck in Dearborn. Many other plants have different systems that emit fewer volatile organic compounds. Aug-07 Air Apparent–The wackiest hybrid yet hails from France via India. Frank Markus Discussion of an inexpensive car for the developing world that promised 60-90 miles of city driving range from a 100L tank of air compressed to 4,350 psi. Development continued for years, but in 2017 Tata declared definitively that it would not be putting the technology into production, probably due to infrastructure and energy concerns about delivering air at such high pressure. Sep-07 Good Greed–Forget CAFE, venture capitalism will deliver energy independence. Frank Markus Venture capitalists kick around energy independence ideas: 1) Liquify half our coal reserves using Fischer-Tropsch, 2) ramp up concentrated solar power production, 3) mass-cultivation of miscanthus grass for ethanol, 4) establish an oil-price floor of $38-$40 to foster new technologies. 1) Hasn’t happened; 2) Global CSP power generation took off in 2014-’15 and has increased 10-fold since 2007, with domestic generation hitting 1.74 megawatts in 2017; 3) there are as yet no great tracts of land planted in miscanthus, though research continues on planting it on reclaimed mine lands; 4) Nope. Never. Not gonna happen. Oct-07 Time Capsules–The future ain’t what it used to be. Frank Markus On the occasion of the unearthing of Tulsa’s 50-year time capsule, we project what will really happen to cars over the next 50 years: 1) Self-driving cars, if only on the highway 2) Chassis electronics that make pros of ordinary drivers, 3) Widespread adoption of air spring/dampers, 4) e-corner brakes replacing hydraulics 1) Let’s call Cadillac’s SuperCruise of 2018 a win here, 2) Systems like the Corvette Stabilitrak performance modes, BMW M adjustable dynamics, and more proved this one out, 3) These were already in the market and have proliferated in the  years since, 4) electric parking brakes are becoming increasingly ubiquitous, but EV-1 and RAV4 EV remain among the few production vehicles to use a fully electric brake (in the rear only). Nov-07 Oceans: four–If we could just burn salt water, we’d never run out of fuel… Frank Markus A cancer researcher discovered that 13.56-MHz-frequency radio waves bombarding salt water could electrolyze water on the cheap. Dr. Kanzius died of pneumonia in 2009, his patent application was abandoned in 2014, and research at Penn State apparently stopped because energy out was less than energy in. Dec-07 Love Child–Driving the ultimate bastard engine Frank Markus My first crack at Homogeneous-Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI), driving a  prototype of GM’s diesel-cycle gas-powered engine. Mercedes-Benz, VW, and GM were all cited as working on the concept; all have abandoned it. Jan-08 Head Games–No rest for the whiplash-protected noggin. Frank Markus New NHTSA head-restraint standards for whiplash protection to force pricier active headrests or less comfortable fixed ones. The standard phased in on schedule in 2010, and most cars found ways of complying without forcing heads uncomforably forward. Feb-08 H2 Go–“The fuel of the future” may not always be. Frank Markus Promising palladium catalyst from Power+Energy capable of separating hydrogen directly from gas, diesel, or ethanol for use in fuel cells. Power+Energy delivered the diesel hydrogen-separator APUs on schedule, and still sells hydrogen separators, but only advertises gaseous feedstock separators now. The price is likely “military grade. “ Mar-08 Blessing & KERS–The next big powertrain advance in Formula One revs to 64,500 rpm. Frank Markus Flywheel hybrid kinetic-energy recovery sytsems were then coming to F1, and might one day end up on passenger cars. Flywheels were indeed used in various racing series, but have never made the leap to passenger cars. Apr-08 Booze Clues–Cheap hooch may soon arrive at your corner filling station. Frank Markus Biofuels startup Coskata had a process it claimed could make cellulosic ethanol for $1/gal. Never happened. Cellulosic ethanol appears to be a perennial “fuel of the future. “ May-08 $ound $cience–Turning silence into gold. Frank Markus Materials Science Corporation testing methods for NVH abatement, and Quiet Steel sandwich product being marketed for firewalls. Quiet Steel was rolling out on Ford F-150 and other vehicles at the time Jun-08 Dehydrated Hydrogen–Just add water! (…to elemental aluminum) Frank Markus Purdue research spin-off AlGalCo plan to produce hydrogen on demand, onboard via a catalytic reaction involving aluminum-galium pellets and water. AlGalCo attempted to bust into the auxiliary power unit business, launched an Indiegogo campaign that closed after raising $221 of a $150,000 flexible goal. Jul-08 Reusing CO2–Driving a mile in someone else’s carbon footprint. Frank Markus Two methods explored for scrubbing CO2 out of the atmosphere and turning it into methanol or other fuels. Carbon Engineering in British Columbia, Canada has a pilot plant up and running and is reportedly at work on a larger 200 bbl/day plant due to open in 2020 (see October 2018). Aug-08 First, K.I.S.S.–Keeping It (our refueling infrastructure) Simple… Frank Markus Running vehicles on pure methanol, either combusting it (perhaps doped with hydrogen gas dissociated from the methanol onboard via catalyst), or via solid-oxide fuel cell. The EPA converted a VW diesel to spark-ignited methanol and measured 43 percent efficiency, but nothing has come of it to date. And solid-oxide fuel cells operate at too high a temperature to be practical in cars. Sep-08 Dyno Onboard–Young tuner irked by chassis dyno cost, inconvenience builds a better mousetrap. Frank Markus A 16-year-old entrepreneur invents a driveshaft strain-gauge method of measuring torque directly via the pins of a universal joint. The Blackwood family applied for and was granted a patent (US7603918B2) in 2009, but it was allowed to expire. Googling reveals no such product on the market. Oct-08 Coppin’ Attitude–An innovative, fast, efficient new American car you can’t buy. Frank Markus Carbon Motors dedicated and police-optimized cruiser/interceptor, with a  lease-and-recycle business plan. Carbon Motors filed for bankruptcy in June 2013, and the running prototype was later sold at auction along with marketing materials for $87,320 including commission. Nov-08 Stinky Clean–A pungent kitchen and bath cleaner takes on the atmosphere. Frank Markus Burning ammonia as a vehicle fuel primarily in farm equipment. Tech was in development by the Hydrogen Engine Center (nee Ford Industrial Engines). Devised to meet 2011 off-highway equipment emissions regs pending in California, the concept apparently didn’t progress past the prototype phase. Dec-08 Whiter Lightening–Cellulosic ethanol arrives to save the tattered reputation of the corn-mash hooch. Frank Markus Genetically engineered cellulosic-ethanol-optimized crops requiring minimal cultivation energy, and biotech engineered microbes promising to convert plant sugars directly to hydrocarbons. Ceres, Inc. perfected the switchgrass and sorghum seeds, but oil prices continue to conspire against cellulosic ethanol production. Similarly, Amyris has perfected its sugars-to-biofuels recipe, but can’t produce the product price-competitively. Jan-09 Flying Hybrids!–What the next-gen Boeing 737 jet-fuel/electric airplane portends for highway hybrids. Frank Markus Chorus Motors develops a mesh-connected AC-induction electric motor strong enough to taxi a Boeing 737 aircraft from its nose gear. Chorus received FAA go-ahead for its Airplane E-Taxi system certification plans in January 2017 and is currently signing airlines. Feb-09 Energizing Detroit–A word in President Obama’s ear. Frank Markus A hate-mail-inciting suggestion that the government establish a 10-year oil-price floor of $100/barrel to stabilize consumer demand and encourage alt-fuels investment. Never happened. Never will… Mar-09 Whacking Moles–Beware the quest to bop the energy boogiem. Frank Markus Promising lithium-ion replacement technologies, including zinc-air and vanadium-boron-air batteries or fuel cells. All are still on drawing boards. Apr-09 Crystal Power–Newest-age crystals will energize engines, seats, discos, cell phones, and boudoirs. Frank Markus Advances in piezo-electronics. Fuel injectors had been around for a while, but wearables, piezo dance-floor generators, and even a piezo condom are new. Most were available at the time or imminently after the column was published. May-09 Inner-planetary Travel–Better driving through cheap, simple ingenuity. Frank Markus Novel new parallel-shaft planetary transmission proposed for emerging market cars and also for accessory drives. Following a flurry of articles touting license agreements around the time of the column, I find no evidence of production. This year there are still reports of prototype projects. Jun-09 Program VCR–It’s Beta-vs-VHS in the variable compression ratio game. Frank Markus A look at several variable-compression-ratio engines, including Nissan’s design. The VC-Turbo finally hit the market in the 2019 Infiniti QX50 and Nissan Altima. Jul-09 Catom & Eve–Behold the Genesis of pario, claytronics, and synthetic reality. Frank Markus Carnegie Melon research involving small autonomous pixel-like spheres that can communicate with and adhere to one another to make 3D forms. CMU research is still ongoing, with the current status of the micro-bots still incapable of forming the “solid holograms” promised by the concept. Aug-09 Steppin’ Out–Honda prepares for the ultimate implosion of the car market. Frank Markus A test-walk/ride of three Honda personal mobility assist devices. The Honda Walking Assist Device became available for lease in 2015; the U3-X unicycle was featured in an Okay Go video, but never offered for sale. The Bodyweight Support Assist is also not on saleyet. Sep-09 Shock d’Amping–Getting a charge out of life’s bumpy roads. Frank Markus Shock absorbers capable of harvesting energy, by Levant Power (GenShocks) and Physics Lab (Regen-EV Shocks). After a tie-up with ZF that never produced a damper, Levant became ClearMotion and is nearing production. Regen-EV is attempting to market an aftermarket Wattshock, but it’s unclear if that product is for sale yet. Oct-09 CAFE olé!–Peering into the milky murk of plug-in hybrid fuel economy Frank Markus A discussion of the process that NHTSA and EPA were undertaking at the time to determine a fuel-economy-rating system for PHEV vehicles. The ruling eventually came out after the usual slow wheels of government process finished turning. Nov-09 Light fantastic–Ford lasers will shoot first, ask questions later. Frank Markus Lasers to replace spark plugs in Otto-cycle engines. A car was successfully driven with laser ignition in April 2013, and a six-cylinder stationary engine has been demonstrated, but cost currently stymies production development. Dec-09 Aero Blows–Beating the wind by joining it. Frank Markus Georgia Tech Research Institute plan to use compressed air to improve aerodynamics, especially of semi-trailers. Patent granted 7/6/10, but I can find no evidence of production as yet. Jan-10 Add Venture–Rubbing elbows with venture capitalists and entrepreneurs for a glimpse of the future. Frank Markus Six emerging technologies discovered at a venture capital event. EcoMotors, creator of the OPOC engine went defunct in 2017; Transonic Combustion closed its doors in 2015; Hybra-Drive built some prototypes, but can find no recent mentions of the company; Tula Technology Dynamic Skip Fire hit production in the 2019 GM full-size pickups; Calera is still up and running in the CO2 sequestration business; there’s no sign of the Zajac V-6. Feb-10 Power4free–Generating hot-watts and jolt-volts. Frank Markus Two energy-harvesting schemes, one using heat and shape-memory alloy and another using piezo materials to harvest vibration. Duke Engineering’s Flutter Power vibration energy program is still active. I can find no evidence of the NiTiNol generator Mar-10 Coolth Pump–Chill your car out for free. Frank Markus Materials breakthrough that promised to make adsorption cooling (using amonia and catalytic chemicals) scalable to automobiles. Active prototype research is still ongoing, and Sorption Energy LTD–the U of Warwickshire tech spun off to commercialize the technology is still operational. Apr-10 Cloud Cars–Redefining what it means to “ride on air. “ Frank Markus An explanation of cloud services then rolling in to Ford Sync vehicles and via aftermarket devices like the Telenav Shotgun Entering production at the time of publication. May-10 Shell Game–Fighting funk with garbage. Frank Markus Anti-microbial effects of chitosan, found in crustacean exoskeletons for use as odor-control in seat fabrics. The internet is filled with research projects and numerous listed suppliers of carboxymethyl chitosan, though I find no evidence of its use in car seat fabric as yet. Jun-10 Hot hybrids–Green technology lets its hair down. Frank Markus Three hybrid concepts at the Geneva show: Lotus 414E series hybrid, Porsche 918 and GT3 R flywheel Hybrid, and Ferrari’s 599 Hy-KERS. The Lotus was recently sold for $200,000, and led to a partnership with Williams; 918 hit production in 2013; GT3 R raced in ’10-’11; and the 599 Hy-KERS led to the 2013 LaFerrari. Jul-10 Getting personal–Pod-shaped citycars of the future won’t fly, they’ll be fly-sized. Frank Markus Introduction to General Motors’ EN-V (Electric Networked-Vehicle) is a 2-seat urban electric concept car jointly developed by Segway Inc. and General Motors that can be driven normally or operated autonomously. Apart from starring in the Disney film Tomorrowland, and in the queue for the Epcot pavillion Test Track at Disney World, it never hit production. Aug-10 Electric iron–The fuel cell bulks up for some heavy lifting. Frank Markus The combination of a solid-oxide fuel cell and a gas turbine promising great efficiency and low CO2. A long-shot for cars, showed promise for ships/planes Still a lot of research ongoing but I find no evidence of production in cars, ships, or plane. Sep-10 Auto avatar–The bathtub Porsche reimagined in Cameron-grade HD/3D/CGI brilliance. Frank Markus A look at the engineering and manufacture by Intermeccanica of Porsche 356 replicas already in production Oct-10 Hot lap(belt)s–Racing improves the brood. Frank Markus CG-Lock racing belt technology improving safety of child booster seatbelts. Already in production at the time. Nov-10 Greenhouse Gasp–Greening the way you cool your own personal greenhouse. Frank Markus Handicapping the front-running A/C refrigerants to replace R134a: CO2, aka R-744, and HFC-152a VW has announced plans to use CO2 in its ID series. HFC-152 has been found to be a low-cost alternative to HFC-134, but is not yet in production in an automotive AC system. Dec-10 E-REV Disambiguation–Unbolting Chevy’s Volt to see how it ticks Frank Markus Explanation of the powertrain in the original COTY-winning Chevrolet Volt Coming into production at the time. Jan-11 Road smarts–Shrinking the carbon-footprint of our highways themselves Frank Markus New recipes for higher-strength, lower-CO2 concrete featuring silica fume particles or magnesium, and a self-healing concrete featuring sodium silicate capsules. Silica fume and magnesium were already in limited use. Self-healing concrete is still in the research phase, though with robust activity in the space. Feb-11 Automotive Electioneering–A simple engineer trouble-shoots the car-biz’s political predicament Frank Markus A windmill-tilting treatise on campaign-finance reform as a means of improving the auto industry’s lot in our lives. Never. Ever. Gonna. Happen. Mar-11 Going viral–Forget Ziebart or Scotchgard. Your next car needs McAfee or Norton protection. Frank Markus A discussion of the relative vulnerabilities of today’s onboard electronics systems and what is being done to harden them from cyber attacks. CarShark software developed by the University of Washington and UC San Diego at the time of publication helps expose vulnerabilities and countermeasures. Apr-11 Getting tanked–Introducing a smarter booze for your car. Frank Markus Introducing Butanol (butyl alcohol) as a potential renewable drop-in replacement for gasoline. Still being produced in research volumes, the constant threat of cheap oil prevents all these designer biofuels from taking off. May-11 Sharing is ‘car’ing–Own today, but join the mesh and you can borrow tomorrow. Frank Markus An introduction to car-sharing services like ZipCar and the UK’s Whip Car just entering the market. Both are still going and have been joined by Turo among others. Jun-11 Mille borne–All hail the 1000-mph car. Frank Markus An introduction to the Bloodhound SSC land-speed record car gunning for 1,000 mph The sliding-schedule for making the record attempt in South Africa’s Hakskeen Pan has slid to late 2019. Until it slides again. Jul-11 Showin’ Backbone–A rolling chassis concept that could kick-start the American coachbuilding trade. Frank Markus COTY guest judge Chris Theodore’s patented rolling backbone chassis/powertrain concept. Theodore is finishing up his rolling prototype and has had to defend his patent against an infringing automaker, but no production plans have been announced. Aug-11 Crystal brawl–A troubling look at the mean streets of the hot, flat, crowded future. Frank Markus Predictions of the 2046 automotive landscape shared at a Michelin program: tiny robo-pods. Thankfully this grim future has yet to come to pass. Sep-11 Perverse polarity–Is Porsche ready to do right by the Cayman? Frank Markus Discussion of polar moment of inertia and the inherent advantage a Cayman holds over the 911 plus a drive in a tuned Ruf Cayman. Porsche will never give the Cayman 911 power or engineering resources. Oct-11 Rolling Fat–Is our auto-centric lifestyle making us obese? Frank Markus University of Illinois study suggests correlation between car driving and obesity; recommends reducing car use. Not terribly likely to happen. Nov-11 Pillars of salt–Imagine roof pillars small enough to see around that inflate to full strength when needed. Frank Markus Inflatable metal tubes to add strength to roof pillars, door side-impact structures, even front-end crush structure. Extensive Googling reveals no current production of this technology. Dec-11 Robo-tires–Technology provides yet another enabler for today’s dumber, more distracted driver. Frank Markus Goodyear and Coda Development patented self-inflating tire designs that pump themselves up to replace normal leakage. This promising technology is ready for prime-time but as of Feb 2019 a legal battle for patent infringement between Coda and Goodyear rages on. Jan-12 Atomobile–Is the age of the nuclear car upon us? Frank Markus Debunking the “thorium-laser-powered” car myth that was lighting up the internet, while positing that thorium molten-salt reactors could serve as a safer nuclear power option for recharging EVs. In late 2017, a team from the Nuclear Research and Consultancy Group (NRG) the Netherlands has built the first molten salt reactor powered by thorium in decades. Feb-12 Storm cloud–Traffic ticketing via the cloud could be on its way—but there may be a silver lining. Frank Markus New cloud-based photo-radar units being deployed, and a new cloud-based Escort radar detector countermeasure, SmartCord Live. SmartCord Live was deploying at the time and is still in business. Mar-12 Pump the Sky–Drill the atmosphere, baby. Frank Markus A more efficient CO2 scrubbing tech using an ionic fluid running in a solid-oxide fuel cell running backwards for 80% efficiency (up from earlier methods at 60%). Gasoline made this way would cost $5-8/gal at grid electric rates; less than pump gas using surplus wind energy. Saudi Arabian Oil Company was granted a patent for a solar-powered version of this tech in January 2016. Dioxide Materials started up a CO2 electrolyzer in January 2018 that is still running and the company is selling these devices. Apr-12 Photon Torpedoes–Coming soon to a dealer near you: Solar-powered commuter EVs. Frank Markus Home solar arrays for carbon-free operation of EVs being rolled out by Ford, GM, and (in Japan) Honda using new photovoltaic technology. Hitting the market at the time of publication. May-12 Aftermarket Leapfrog–Is accessory product technology getting ahead of the OE manufacturers? Frank Markus Camera-based aftermarket ADAS warning system just becoming available on the aftermarket for $749-$849 promising FCW, LDW, etc. Hitting the market at the time of publication. Jun-12 Li-ion’s Roar–Is the affordable long-haul electric car almost at hand? Frank Markus Envia lithium-ion tech promising 400 W-hr/kg at $125/kW-hr; PolyPlus lithium-air battery using a titanium-phosphate ceramic membrane promising even better density. PolyPlus and SK entered agreement to produce lithium-air batteries for mobile devices in Feb 2019; With investment from GM, Envia is at 350 W-hr/kg and 750 W-hr/l and still working on productionizing its technology. Jul-12 Plane Dealing–Is the era of the flying car upon us? Frank Markus Discussion of the Terrafugia Transition roadable airplane, with deliveries promised for 2013. A 2017 acquisition by Geely Holding Group injected much-needed cash and has spurred promises of flight testing at the end of 2019. Aug-12 Better Mousetraps–Inventors never tire of reimagining the engine. Frank Markus Introduction to two riffs on the Gnome rotary aircraft engine, one from Lonny Doyle and one from Grail Engine Technologies. The internet trail for both concepts goes cold after about 2013. Sep-12 Rubber match–What happens if the rubber for our tires stops growing on trees? Frank Markus Researchers at Michigan State University isolated a kudzu enzyme that, in the presence of CO2 and sunlight gives off isoprene–a building block of natural rubber. Texas-based GlycosBio collaborated with Malaysia’s Bio-XCell(May 2010)  to build a bio-refinery that has produced bio-isoprene for commercial rubber applications in 2014. Oct-12 STEM sell–F1 and SAE team to make science cool for generation-next. Frank Markus Introduction to an all-female STEM team competing in an F1 in Schools race engineering challenge. Team Shift won the American competition, went to Abu Dhabi for the finals but did not finish on the podium. Nov-12 Balloon payment–Science offers a potential fix to our broken CO2 situation. Frank Markus A bold initiative to solve global warming with glitter! Titanium dioxide dust dispersed into the atmosphere to reflect sunlight. The world is still considering Davidson Technologies consulting’s proposal to loft high-altitude baloons at five locations around the equator and pumping 87,000psi TiO2 up to them for $4.8B/yr an emergency back-up plan. Dec-12 Road trip!–Insights gleaned driving 740 electric miles in three days, with a stop in Sin City. Frank Markus Discussion of my pioneering LA-Vegas run in an EV without stopping to recharge. Our Tesla Model S P85 made the 197-mile journey with 74 miles to spare. Jan-13 Crowdsorcerers–Did you help design the perfect pizza delivery vehicle? You certainly could have. Frank Markus Local Motors crowdsourcing the design of vehicles, starting with the Dominoes Pizza delivery car. Anej Kostrevic of Slovenia penned the design he referred to as “Pack by Extreme,” but then Dominos decided to have Penske modify Chevy Sparks instead, as the 2015 Domino’s DXP. Feb-13 Highvolt age–Remember the ’90s push for 42-volt electrical systems? The idea is back—maybe for good. Frank Markus The switch to 48-volt electrical architecture appears inevitable due to its benefits for mild hybrids and other technologies. The first 48-volt electrical architecture appeared on the VW Group’s MLB platform powering an e-supercharger on the Audi SQ7 and the anti-roll bar system of the Bentley Bentayga. More have and will follow quickly. Mar-13 Re-tiring green–How NHTSA hopes to help you pick tires that’ll preserve or improve your fuel economy. Frank Markus New tire-labeling system NHTSA was due to roll out in 2016 to educate consumers about rolling resistance and energy consumption. Rolling out around the time of publication. Apr-13 40¢ solution batteries–Lowering EV prices by making cells work Cheap batteries that works smarter, not harder. Frank Markus Low-cost batteries from Flux Power use fewer, larger, cheaper batteries and monitor them closely to anticipate end-of-life, ease replacement of bad cells. Promised 40c/kW-hr. Flux Power put the technoloty into production for drayage trucks and forklifts around 2017. May-13 Dream Li-Ioning –Might self-healing batteries prevent the fires that have grounded Boeing’s Dreamliner? Frank Markus Self-healing batteries under development from the U of Illinois that coat the anode or separator with polyethylene and paraffin wax nanospheres that melt to prevent runaway fires. Professors White and Sottos appear to still be conducting research into this technology, suggesting it continues to show merit for eventual production Jun-13 A-gassed–In search of the long-distance natural-gas automobile. Frank Markus Three schemes to store natural gas onboard cars more efficiently: Otherlab’s ‘gas-trointestine;’ Pacific Northwest Lab’s metal air-mattress; and Ford porous adsorbing pellets. Otherlab’s “gas-trointestine” was developed by Volute and is poised to enter production by LinaMar as Flexform for hydrogen storage. The Pacific Northwest National Labs projects’ trail goes cold after 2016. The Ford adsorbant tank project was cancelled. Jul-13 Fireball fuel-bug–Meet the microbe that might soon munch CO2 to make bio-butanol. Frank Markus Biobutanol fuel production with help from genetically engineered bacteria (combining Pyrococcus furiosus and Metallosphaera sedula). Numerous scholarly article results from this year indicate that this is still an active area of research, but no production has yet begun. Aug-13 Dietary fiber–Once exotic carbon fiber inches toward the mainstream. Frank Markus Forged carbon-fiber developed by Lamborghini’s UW Seattle lab, and BMW’s dry-epoxy fired carbon fiber. Both were entering production at the time of publication–in the Aventador tub and in the I3 body structure. Sep-13 Forecast: cloudy–Might the ominous ‘big data’ clouds making headlines rain on the insurance parade? Frank Markus Leveraging telematics and cloud computing into the insurance industry via OE and aftermarket products to share onboard data. Already rolling out at the time of publication. Oct-13 Creative engineering for niche profitability. Frank Markus Cool economies of manufacturing in place at Mazda to lower the cost of producing smaller numbers of vehicles. Tech learned at the Mazda3 launch had actually rolled out in the Mazda6 and CX-5. Nov-13 The zealous pursuit of light, cheap, aero-slick design produces a cool suspension. Frank Markus Edison2’s Automotive X-Prize-winning Very Light Car, which achieved 129 mpg-e on ethanol. In-wheel control-arm suspension packaging lowers tire scrub and wear, reduces unsprung weight. Edison2 continued work on productionizing its design, but the trail goes cold after about 2017, when presumably the $5 Automotive X-Prize money dried up? Dec-13 Let’s update our cars as easily as we do our phones. Frank Markus Firmware-over-the-air enabled by a new vRapid Mobile FUSE product developed by Red Bend Software of Waltham MA Red Bend was acquired by Harman Intl in 2015 but still exists and appears to be marketing its many FOTA products Jan-14 Surrender! We’re leaving fuel-economy testing to the pros. Frank Markus Describing the Emissions Analytics Real MPG program rolling out in Motor Trend that month. Program went live as we went to press. Feb-14 I owe a lot to a couple of ratty Mustangs. Frank Markus Story of the genesis of my own car love, learned on two ’66 Mustangs. No new tech here. Mar-14 Harnessing the beautiful physics of the opal gemstone Frank Markus U of Illinois spinoff Xerion commercializing crystalline nickel and copper foam to allow batteries to behave like ultracaps; tungsten or a hafnium-diboride ceramics behaving like opals to improve solar-electric efficiency from silicon’s 20% to 50-80% Xerion Advanced Battery Corp continues to work toward production, having been granted two new patents in 2017 and 2018. Many scholarly article hits suggest work ongoing in the photovoltaic “opal” area as well. Apr-14 When deactivating cylinders, why stop at just half of them? Frank Markus A test-drive of the Tula Technologies total-engine cylinder deactivation system covered in January 2010. Went into production in 2019 Silverado/Tahoe/Suburban. May-14 All fuels are not created equal… Frank Markus A discussion of Top-Tier gasoline standards. Standards had already been instituted at the time. Jun-14 Putting the Mono in Monocoque. Frank Markus EDAG additive-manufacturing monocoque design inspired by a turtle’s carapace shown at the Geneva show, produced by Fused Metal Deposition. We won’t see a monocoque like this, perhaps ever, but Fused-Metal Deposition is an extremely active technology. Jul-14 Goin’ with the Flow Frank Markus NanoFlowcell’s flow-cell battery electric vehicle concept from Geneva. The NanoFLOWCELL web site claims the company has an order for 500 Quant 48-volt Evs and 25,000 QUANTino 48-volt small cars worth 3.1 billion Euros. None delivered yet. Aug-14 Driver Ed for autonomous vehicles… Frank Markus Nokia’s Here mapping center measuring real-time data about how human-driven cars behave in myriad circumstances to “teach” autonomous vehicles how to replicate human driving. Program was in place already. Sep-14 “NASCAR technology center” is not an oxymoron. Frank Markus A description of Ford’s NASCAR tech center in Charlotte NC and how learnings there improve production Fords. Current program up and running. Oct-14 Don’t think ‘carbon tax’—think ‘carbon deposit’ Frank Markus Onboard carbon sequetration for removal at refueling. Incredibly complicated, costly, and heavy systems highly unlikely to ever see production. Nov-14 Driving on Sunshine Frank Markus Solar Roadways proposed constructing roads of glass covered photovoltaic cells with LEDs for lane markings/warnings and internal heat for defrosting. Solar Roadways got the greenlight for several test sections of roadways, which proved prohibitively costly, fragile, and missed energy production targets. Dec-14 With Liberty and Electronic Dampers for All Frank Markus Tenneco DRiV aftermarket ride-control shock damping system using an innovative two-position valve requiring no energy to maintain either position. Tenneco rolled out its Monroe® Intelligent Suspension in 2016 using this technology and has since announced plans to spin DRiV off later in 2019. Jan-15 Lawyering up for Autonomy–Vehicle autonomy is now a question of when, not if. Frank Markus An examination of the legal pitfalls and hurdles to be surmounted, and the legal framework required for autonomy to procede No future tech described. Feb-15 You always remember your first… Frank Markus Remembering what was actually my second Technologue, about the Bose electromagnetic suspension. The technology was actually entering production at the time as a long-haul trucking driver seat suspension to reduce fatigue. Mar-15 Replacing precious metals with fake rubies. Frank Markus A discusion of industrially produced spinel (the crystal structure of ruby gems) that can grab the O2 molecules of NOx in a catalyst, replacing precious metals CDTi has obtained the necessary patents and is still in development of its Spinel catalyst materials. Apr-15 Bose for the Nose Frank Markus Researchers at the University of Illinois working with odor profiles discover ways to cancel objectionable odors for a “white smell” profile. After the research ran its course in 2015, the trail goes cold. But IBM’s pursuit of AI and “robots that smell” and patent activity suggest research is ongoing. May-15 Fuel Sell—fill ‘er up with room temperature hydrogen Frank Markus Discussion of Neah Power’s formic-acid fuel cell involving a simple onboard catalytic reformer to crack the hydrogen needed by the fuel cell. Neah Power released its Formira Hydrogen-on-Demand system with BASF as preferred formic-acid provider in late 2015. No cars have integrated the system as yet. Neah now develops direct-methanol-fueled fuel cells. Jun-15 Dissecting Chevy’s 2nd-gen Moonshot Frank Markus Description of the second-generation Chevy Volt drivetrain. Coming into production at the time. Jul-15 One Word For today’s graduate: “graphene” Frank Markus Two-dimensional carbon allotrope that conducts heat and electricity extremely well. Use as electrode makes battery 1/8 size and 1/10 weight. Shown on Spania GT concept car at Geneva, Graphenano Nanotechnologies’ Grabat subsidiary and China’s Chint company opened a battery plant in Yecla Spain in 2016 to productionize the tech. The news trail goes cold there, but the companies are still active. Aug-15 Mousetrap Betterment–Keeping combustion contemporary Frank Markus Two IC engine upgrades: FEV’s variable-compression-ratio eccentric rod bearing and Lugo Dev. Atkinson crankshaft. FEV solution (after two decades of research) is ready (and waiting) for OE adoption; Lugo had a patent granted in March 2015, but Lugo appears to have disbanded Sep-15 Ultra-High-Smallness-Steel Frank Markus NanoSteel approaches strength/mass of aluminum in vehicle body structures. NanoSteel is up and running with two commercial nanosteel products and is just spinning off Formetrix, an additive manufacturing steel company. Oct-15 Keep on Truckin’…at double-digit mpg. Frank Markus Achates Power opposed-piston two-stroke engine concept. Achates showed off a Ford F-150 at the 2018 Detroit auto show while publicizing a tie-in with the Saudi oil group Aramco. Still very much an active program. Nov-15 Safety Furst–You’re probably transporting your pooch all wrong. Frank Markus A discussion of pet-safety measures for car transporting of dogs and cats, in which the Gunnar Kennels safety cage proved safest. Gunnar was already in production. Dec-15 Mil-Spec Ute–Battle-ready, but needs a nickname. Frank Markus Introduction to the recently released Oshkosh L-ATV (light all-terrain vehicle), aka JLTV (joint light tactical vehicle) in US mil-speak. Oshkosh was taking and filling orders for the $400,000 vehicle at the time of publication. Jan-16 Smooth Alligator–Taming the tandem twin. Frank Markus Introduction to Dan Gurney’s counter-rotating-crankshafts two-cylinder motorcycle engine. Gurney had the patent protection at the time of publication, and prototype testing is believed to have occurred in 2017, but since Gurney’s death, no further progress has been reported. Feb-16 Watch the Trailer–Maybe it’s time to let the cart push the horse. Frank Markus Concept for hybridizing semi-trailer axles to improve fuel economy. Adgero, of Strasbourg proposed using a YASA motor and SkelCap ultracapacitors. The Adgero Ultraboost system has been successfully tested on both semi-trailer and non-articulated trucks. The company is still working with Skeleton Technologies. Mar-16 ePaint–Because flat, metallic, and pearlescent are for luddites. Frank Markus Explanation of the science behind LumiLor electroluminescent paint, showing at SEMA that year and entering production at the time. Already available. Apr-16 Head Game–Can the auto industry save football? Frank Markus Auto-industry engineering greats team to develop a “balance plate” for measuring concussion on the sidelines of a football game. Safety in Motion now offers the SiM-1000 Portable Balance Plate for sale. May-16 HUD Phones–New Bose system throws voices like a ventriloquist. Frank Markus Explanation of the new Bose Panaray system of virtual sound placement. Bose Panaray was just coming to market in the Cadillac CT6 Jun-16 Road Hard (If not put down wet)—Rethinking concrete science. Frank Markus A discussion of ancient concrete chemistries and how they may inform future road concretes. Celitement, as one example, uses 1/3 as much lime. Celitement has been in production since 2017. Jul-16 Low ‘n Slow–Tech helps precisely, profitably build low-volume cars. Frank Markus A look at the unique robots and processes that help automate extremely low-volume cars like the Bentley Mulsanne and Acura NSX. All processes discussed were in use at the time. Aug-16 Fourth Strike?–Another batter swings at the compression-ignition gas engine. Frank Markus Nautilus engineering’s dedicated HCCI engine concept featuring a small piston and prechamber above the main chamber. The Nautilus program is still very active in its development phase, with prototype engines running and nibbles from numerous OEs. Sep-16 Oily Bits–What I learned at Valvoline’s sesquicentennial. Frank Markus Technologies unveiled at Valvoline 150th anniversary: EasyGDI valve-deposit cleaner, GDI-optimized oil,  time-release nanoparticle additives, synthetic mineral-oil base-stocks, EasyGDI is available at Valvoline retailers now, the mineral-oil base stocks and GDI-optimized oils are also in use. Oct-16 Humanizing Cars–to make them ride and handle better. Frank Markus An explanation of Mazda’s G-Vectoring Control concept of minimizing the jerk perceived by passenters. The system was rolling out in the Mazda6 at the time of publication. Nov-16 Gorilla House–Smartphone tech will lighten your greenhouse. Frank Markus An explanation of the technology behind Gorilla Glass and its many potential automotive uses. Gorilla glass was already in production in the BMW i8 and Ford GT, and many other uses have followed. Dec-16 Noblesse Oblique–Privileged with federal government resources, NHTSA generously upgrades NCAP. Frank Markus Discussion of the new 15-degree oblique-offset crash test NHTSA was proposing as a voluntary-compliance test, and the challenges it presented to vehicle crash-safety engineers. NHTSA is supposed to start testing vehicles via the 15-degree sled impact later in 2019, and the Thor dummy is in production already. Nobody has put a 4-point belt into production yet in a passenger car. Jan-17 Drunk on CO2 –Drown your global-warming sorrows in ethanol. Frank Markus Innovative new carbon nanotube/copper catalyst capable of “reversing combustion,” turning CO2 into ethanol.  team, led by Dr. Adam Rondinone of ORNL’s Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences Feb-17 High Octane–The key to unlocking gas-engine efficiency? Frank Markus Discussion of the potential benefits–to global CO2 and vehicle performance–of higher (98 RON) octane gasoline. There are still scholarly articles popping up online to suggest research continues. Cheap gas definitely stunts the progress of technologies like this, though. Mar-17 3D Classes–Showing the industry a new way to design and build cars. Frank Markus Divergent Technology’s Blade concept car proposed modern-day “birdcage” structure of carbon fiber tubes and 69 metal-3D-printed nodes. Divergent attracted a strategic partnership with PSA group at the time of publication, and raised $65M in funding with an additional $40M option on Dec 15, 2017. Research is ongoing, though no carbon-tube/3D printed node vehicles are in production yet. Apr-17 Sump Pump–Your next car might change its own oil. Frank Markus Castrol’s Nexcel integrated oil filter, and oil sump reservoir to facilitate “plug-n-play” oil changes. Nexcel was already in “production” in the Aston Martin Vulcan racecar, and mainstream adoption was expected between 2020 and 2025. A Prius Prime PHEV prototype has been equipped with Nexcel. Research is ongoing. May-17 AI AI Oh!–Betting Old MacDonald’s farm on artificial intelligence. Frank Markus Artificial Intelligence technologies from CES: Yui (Toyota assistant), SAM (Nissan AI), Liberty Mutual crash-damage estimator AI, Liberty Mutual Safe Routing navigation aid. Toyota appears to be going to market with AI on a Clova AI platform; Nissan’s SAM is still under development as part of its “Invisible-to-Visible” (I2V) research; Liberty Mutual’s Apps are live. Jun-17 Queasy Street–Can we ride and read in autonomous cars without hurling? Frank Markus A discussion of kinetosis (car-sickness), and the degree to which driverless cars that lack windows or make people ride backwards will exacerbate it. Although virtual horizon glasses and screens or frames with horizon simulators were discussed, no technologies can really be rolled out until autonomous cars arrive. Jul-17 Ball Bearing–Might autonomobiles soon be borne on airless basketballs? Frank Markus A look at Goodyear’s spherical airless tire concept that concluded the idea was hopeless at a vehicle level, but several of the tire technologies show promise. Self-healing 3D printed tread technology is under development, as are various airless tire support technologies. Aug-17 Small Wonders–Two promising boosters for our ever-shrinking engines. Frank Markus Two engine-boost technologies: Torotrak toroidal CVT-driven centrifugal blower, and Hansen VDS Lysholm-type with variable inlet “window. “ Neither  has made production yet, but there appears to be active research/development on both. Sep-17 Electric Avenue–Smart roads may serve as off-board EV range-extenders. Frank Markus Qualcomm Halo-based concept for inductive-charging of EVs through the roadway, recently demonstrated outside Paris. The Qualcomm Halo business unit was aquired by WiTricity in February 2019. It is unknow whether WiTricity intends to further develop the dynamic charging function. Oct-17 Electric Omnivore–If the plug fits… Frank Markus Continental AllCharge concept onboard “omnivorous” charging via any AC or DC current charging rate, flowing AC through the motor; DC-DC onboard device maintains 800v throughout battery discharge cycle. Continental still lists AllCharge in the “Innovation Topics” section of its web site, though I find no evidence of a production application as yet. Nov-17 Pick Ur Poison–Recirculated CO2, or “fresh” pollution? Frank Markus Introduction of Emissions Analytics interior air-quality measurement system, discussion of CO2 buildup and exterior-air filtration issues. Emissions Analytics is busily building a database of vehicle interior air quality information. Dec-17 GTHO! Mazda gets the H out of HCCI. Frank Markus Explanation of Mazda’s SkyActiv X Spark-initiated, not quite HCCI, compression-ignition engine technology. SkyActiv X is entering production late this year (at a 25% price premium relative to SkyActiv G) in Japan, Europe, and elsewhere. It is not yet scheduled for U.S. sale. Jan-18 Patient Zero–Assessing the first case in a predicted autonomy epidemic. Frank Markus First drive of Audi Trafic-Jam Pilot in an A8, the first production Level 3 autonomy system. Audi has announced it TJP will NOT come to the U.S. any time soon. It is expected to be on sale in Germany by the end of this year. Feb-18 Power Chord–Borla pipe-organ tech gets your car riffing like AC/DC. Frank Markus Borla Polyphonic exhaust system pipes use pipe-organ technology to alter, enhance, and/or enrich en engine’s natural exhaust sound. The tech was already available in the aftermarket and on some production cars. Mar-18 Proactiv for Road Acne–A new cure for autonomous car-sickness? Frank Markus Elecrohydraulic active shock absorbers that can regenerate power. The technology made its debut on the 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class. Apr-18 Air Heads–Is the era of camless valvetrain finally upon us? Frank Markus Hydropneumatic cam-less valvetrain developed by a spinnoff of hypercar manufacturer Koenigsegg The technology is expected to make its debut under the name Qamfree on the Chinese-built Quoros 1.6L four cylinder in late 2019 May-18 Motoring Cortex–Nissan researches mind-over-motor technology. Frank Markus Far-out Nissan research technology that will use electroencephylographgs to allow brain waves to influence car behavior. This one was presented as a deep-future technology. Jun-18 Cool Runnings–Putting a chill on diesel consumption with liquid nitrogen. Frank Markus Ricardo technolgy that separates compression and combustion in different cylinders, using liquid nitrogen injection during compression to maintain ambient temperature, then heats the charge with exhaust gas. Still listed on the Ricardo web site as a technology ready for OE implementation. Jul-18 Reinventing the Wheel–…to include a motor with no unsprung weight penalty. Frank Markus Orbis Wheels offset in-wheel motor reduces torque requirement so cheaper lighter motor delivers big performance. Outboard brake disc helps reduce weight to roughly same as stock wheel/brake system Development has continued to the point that aftermarket sales are anticipated by November 2019. Aug-18 Sight-Feeling–Ford concept helps blind people “look” out the window. Frank Markus Ford research concept involving a clear window film with Braile vibration patterns that allow blind passengers to “see” what’s outside the car. Still in development. Sep-18 Wood-Be Weight Savior–The next big light/strong material grows on trees. Frank Markus University of Maryland technology for densifying wood to approach carbon-fiber strength and toughness at lower cost. Still in development. Oct-18 Stacked DAC–A direct air capture CO2-to-gasoline scheme that works? Frank Markus Direct-air capture method of converting CO2 to liquid fuels at a price that roughly approximates current carbon-offset credit pricing. Oxy Low Carbon Futures (of Oxidental Petroleum) and Chevron Technology Ventures took equity stakes in Carbon Engineering; plan to build plant on southern NM/TX border in 2021 Nov-18 Tales from the Crypt(o)–Blockchain goes mobile. Frank Markus A look at automotive applications of the technology behind cryptocurrency. Many ideas discussed were already in use, others are coming. Dec-18 Continuing Ed.–Old dog attempts to learn expert tricks. Frank Markus Learning to become a Harman International expert listener and a Tier IV high-performance driver at Ford. No new tech here. Jan-19 Feb-19 Autonomics–A study of some cool robo-car technologies Frank Markus Three cool robocar features: ZF Comfort maneuvering (4-wheel-steering that can put any passenger at the center of rotation), Bag in roof (for when passengers always ride looking at tablets), ContiAdapt wheel/tire (adjusts contact patch and pressure). All still under development. Mar-19 Weatherproofing Autonomy–WaveSense proposes ‘X-raying’ the roads. Frank Markus Ground-penetrating radar as an additional (weatherproof) point of reference for autonomous cars. Still very much in development Apr-19 Medi-Cars–Taking “onboard diagnostics” to a new level. Frank Markus Leveraging onboard sensor array to make preliminary accident injury assessment, dispatch correct medical attention after a wreck. Pilot programs up and running in several locations. No broad roll-out as yet. May-19 Cell Shock–New EV recharging tech lets electrons flow like gasoline. Frank Markus GBatteries pulsed EV charging system that promises to drastically lower charging times AND improve battery longevity. Still very much in development Jun-19 (Twin)Ster-Crazy–Technologies that improve driving fun and fuel savings. Frank Markus A look at several new riffs on the popular GKN twin-clutch “TwinSter” all-wheel drive system. Still very much in development Jul-19 Ultimate Off-Roader–Six-wheel Toyota will venture off-planet. Frank Markus A look at the six-wheeled lunar rover Toyota is developing in conjunction with JAXA (Japan’s NASA) for missions beginning in 2029. Still very much in development Aug-19 Kwid Pro Quo–Can India teach America to build a nice CUV for $7K? Frank Markus A discussion of “Frugal Engineering” as preached by Hinduja Tech, which recently developed the Renault Kwid for India for $3,818-$6,671. Already in production at the time.