You are here:

Automotive/Future Car Technology

Advertisement

Expert: - 4/28/2011


Question
Dear Mr. Deutschman,

I am working in a research project for Miller Middle School. I am wondering if I could interview you about future car technology.

Thank You,
Shikhar

Answer

1972 Plymouth Satellit
I tried to respond to your E-Mail, but the E-Mail bounced, so I'm sending it via this Website.

What I do know about future automotive safety technology, is that there seems to be a heavy reliance on electronics to sense distance between vehicles, and then use that data to override operator brake and throttle control, should one vehicle become too close to another. There has also been talk of automated roadways, where embedded sensors would interact with sending units on the vehicles traveling over them, and based on the data collected, automatically adjust each vehicle's speed to keep them a safe distance apart. Both systems in my view are wonderful, until that is there is a failure somewhere in the electronics. While mechanical systems are not perfect either, and allow for operator error, they are for the most part, more reliable long term, and far less expensive to maintain. At this point in time, there are already automatic braking control systems, or as they are more commonly called, collision avoidance systems on many high end vehicles, but they are not fool proof, and sometimes the fools driving the vehicles equipped with collision avoidance systems, over drive the system's ability to compensate for operator error.
       The best thing that can be done to save energy, is what I have done all along: 1. Shop as often as possible in and along my line of travel to and from work, 2. Keep one's vehicle maintenance up, including tire pressure, changing Air Filters on a regular schedule, 3 Replacing Spark Plugs at reasonable intervals (which can vary depending on the length of one's daily commute), 4. Not talk on Cell phones, Text, or do other things that take one's attention from the road, and if one is lucky, simply cause one to have to brake suddenly, or accelerate rapidly, in order to avoid a collision, 5. Change the vehicle's Fuel Filter regularly. Even race cars run more efficiently when maintained properly, so maintenance is a simple present day, and future tool, that can be used to make our vehicles perform at their optimum levels, and keep exhaust emissions at the lowest possible levels.
       Technology may reduce what are referred to as Greenhouse Gases, but unfortunately, unless we turn back the clock so-to-speak, and give up the conveniences of the Industrial Age, then we can only do what some of us have done all along, and that is minimize, as much as practical, what we contribute in the way of Greenhouse Gases, through simple common sense measures, such as proper vehicle maintenance. I have managed to get a completely stock 1972 Plymouth Station Wagon to pass at levels set for 1997 vehicles, through simple routine maintenance. If I can do that, so can anyone else.
       Beyond what I have done, there is talk of fuels made from biomass (any plant matter that can decay), and those fuels would burn much cleaner than those made from petroleum. There are also battery powered Electric Vehicles, but for now, they still have a very limited travel range, use bulky, expensive to replace batteries, which contain very toxic chemicals, use petro chemicals to make up the battery cases, and need to be recharged, using electricity generated mostly by Coal and Oil fired Generating Plants. If lighter, less toxic Batteries, with longer up times can be developed, than Electric vehicles may become a larger part of the national vehicle fleet, particularly for companies where the vehicles all return to the same place each night after their runs. Then of course finding other ways of producing the electricity used to charge the battery powered Electric Vehicle, would help immensely.
       I hope the above is useful to you, and you might also want to check with SEMA http://www.sema.org/ on what they may have in the way of materials that would be helpful to you.  

Ben Deutschman

Expertise

Questions ONLY related to Chrysler/Plymouth/Dodge Slant-Sixes from 1960-1975. You can ask me about Engine Timing, general specifications, do`s and don`ts, and details such as proper installation of `Spark Plugs` on the 1960-74 `Slant-Sixes.`

Experience

I own and work on a 1960 plymouth, powered by a 'Slant-Six', have also worked on a 1968 'Slant-Six', a 1975, a 1964, and and 1970 'Slant-Six'

Organizations
Ben Deutschman
POCI Legislative Liaison
President Of The NY/NJ Slant-Six Club Of America
http://www.poci.org
http://bencar.freeyellow.com/76TAPage.html
http://bencar.freeyellow.com/benscarpage.html
http://clubs.hemmings.com/frameset.cfm?club=nynjslant6 (NY/NJ Slant-Six Club Of America Website)


Publications
Smoke Signals (Pontiac-Oakland Club International)
Hemmings Motor News


Education/Credentials
B.A 'Labor Relations', 'Rutgers University' (Livingston College Campus)

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.