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185 Comments
- ASSASSYN360, on 07/15/2009, -2/+112Pew,pew,pew, Vrrrrroooommmm.
- DiggCommando, on 07/15/2009, -2/+80No more changing spark plugs = awesome
Lasers in my car = better than awesome - Yankees368, on 07/15/2009, -1/+62Yeah, uh....your laser beam is broken. That's gonna be like, $795 mam.
- absolutelytrue, on 07/14/2009, -2/+53This makes a lot of sense, both in improving engine reliability (who hasn't had to change spark plugs), and reducing emissions through a more efficient firing system.
- eesquared, on 07/14/2009, -0/+35What am I going to do with my collection of spark plug wrenches....? As it stands now, the new plugs are so good, they last 100,000 miles or about 8 years before needing changing. More time to work on my mountain bike I guess...Or read a good book :)
- lordmike, on 07/15/2009, -3/+38Ummm... Ford is the ONLY automaker to be **increasing** sales....
- DarkMatter911, on 07/15/2009, -1/+34Ford is the only major US Auto company that has not declared bankruptcy.
- lebruf, on 07/14/2009, -3/+34That totally impressed my inner 4th grader.
(lasers, ninjas, synthesizers and boobies were all sure-things to pique my interest, let's be honest) - cheezemunkey45, on 07/15/2009, -3/+32Great another thing you won't be able to fix yourself.
- Mothrog, on 07/15/2009, -1/+26So, they're going to replace something simple and cheap with something complicated and expensive? Yeah, that'll totally be worth it.
- dborgir, on 07/15/2009, -0/+254th grader? You just described all my interests as a 21 year old.
- akchrs, on 07/15/2009, -2/+26But now you'll have to buy a bunch a laser wrenches.
- etx313, on 07/15/2009, -2/+25Yeah man you know what ***** it, ***** research, ***** coming up with new ideas, ***** it we're good. Look how awesome everything is going in the world right now, who could want anything more!? Jackass.
- kamikazicondon, on 07/15/2009, -5/+27Once again Ford Europe owns Ford America
- sockpuppets, on 07/15/2009, -1/+22How is babby formed?
- chriswastaken, on 10/27/2009, -2/+20You have a way with words.
- marx2k, on 07/15/2009, -1/+19Spark plugs are easy and cheap to replace. Lasers.... probably not so much.
- chicaneuk, on 07/14/2009, -0/+16Little more information available here:
http://www.carbontrust.co.uk/NR/rdonlyres/9137FA10 ...
(PDF document btw!) - bigbangbuddha, on 07/15/2009, -3/+19..……………………….„~"¯¯¯”~„
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'|::::::-„.:;:;:;:”-„;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;ƒ:::::::„” IMMA FIRIN MAH LAZER!!!
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………………………..¯””^~~~~^” - kevlar21, on 07/15/2009, -1/+15wouldn't the lens get covered in soot or something? it seems like this might end up being more difficult to maintain than regular spark plugs. If that's not a problem though, or if they can solve it, this seems like an interesting technology.
- Wrathernaut, on 07/15/2009, -1/+15Apparently, you're using bargain-brand spark plugs, modern platinum/iridium plugs can go $15+ apiece, easily.
- 4321234, on 07/15/2009, -0/+14Get a CD player.
- Oronar, on 07/15/2009, -0/+13Or laser screwdrivers.
- TSK05, on 07/15/2009, -1/+14I've worked as a mechanic (for a bit, doing simple jobs) and where the hell are you getting 50 cent spark plugs and do they last longer then 5,000 miles? Hell, even for us decent spark plugs cost $2-$3 and those are regular NGKs. Your iridium and platinum plugs will cost ~$8 and up and those are all aftermarket prices.
- janjamm, on 07/14/2009, -3/+16Let's go! Let's go! Keep it positive, keep it moving!
- inactive, on 07/15/2009, -0/+13Yep, it's the corporate culture in America that sucks. Remember, it's better to save face then actually make real progress. Again, politics as usual getting in the way of progress. Oh well, once the economy really goes in the ***** we will pull our head out of our ass.... Or possibly not, politics may be the 800 pound gorilla that destroys us.
- zbeast, on 07/15/2009, -11/+23Spark plugs are cheap.. about 50 cents each..
Lasers with a enough output power to cause fuel to ignite, not cheap not reliable.
This is a research project in the end it will never get used.
- SoCalDissident, on 07/14/2009, -1/+12I have one simple request; a car with fricken laser beams int he headlights..
But, seriously, that sounds like a cool idea that opens up quite a few design options. I wonder what the power draw is compared to a conventional ignition system? - kolobcreek, on 07/15/2009, -0/+10So what your saying is there are going to be more parts and more expensive parts?
- grovest4life, on 07/15/2009, -1/+10If you have ever taken apart a carburetor you would see they are not simple and fuel injection is quite simple in comparison, three parts, fuel pump, injector, computer and sensors. fuel injection has made cars simpler and more reliable.
- JayBabs, on 07/15/2009, -1/+10that's a sweet picture accompanying the article.
- inactive, on 07/15/2009, -8/+17BUT WAIT, THERES MORE. IF YOU ORDER YOUR CAR LASER KIT NOW, WELL THROW IN A SHARK LASER KIT FOR FREE. NOT ONLY YOULL BE CRUISING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WITH LASERS SHOOTING THROUGH OUT YOUR CAR BUT YOU CAN ALSO ENJOY THE LUXURY OF HAVING SHARKS WITH LASER BEAMS ON THEIR HEADS PROTECTING YOUR FORT.
- CreateTheFuture, on 07/15/2009, -0/+9dugg down, you're ***** retarded for buying $3 plugs for $25 from the dealership; the BEST plugs cost $15 at any parts store
that, or you're just lying for lame one-uppance - NSResponder, on 07/15/2009, -2/+11I am so glad you're not in charge of allocating R&D resources.
-jcr - kubedawg, on 07/15/2009, -0/+9Hell I'm 23 and all those still interest me.
- TSK05, on 07/15/2009, -0/+9Considering the efficiency of a gas engine is like 25%, 5% gain is quite good..
- retral, on 07/15/2009, -0/+8Do you really think a laser would hold up as long as a spark plug (which consist of little more than a bit of ceramic and two electrodes) in such a hostile environment (engine compartment)?
Not only are there a lot more parts to a laser.. there's also a lot more energy required to create a pulse (a lot more waste energy too) hot enough to ignite fuel vapor. Also, what's going to keep the optics clean?
Enjoy your laser fired combustion. I'll stick with cheaper self-serviceable spark plugs until something actually FEASIBLE comes along.
Honestly, haven't these people ever heard of the saying "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" ? - askjeffro, on 07/15/2009, -1/+9So because we might be able to have all electric cars that run on solar in 30 years we should forgo advancement of ICE that can benefit us now?
- Sirlolalot, on 07/15/2009, -0/+6FTA "The laser ignition may also overcome a significant barrier to widespread adoption of biofuels -- starting the vehicle when the engine is cold."
- Majora26, on 07/15/2009, -0/+5A sparkplug firin its lazur!!
- retral, on 07/15/2009, -0/+5This seems pointless. I think there'd be a lot more wasted energy creating a laser pulse (hot enough to ignite a fuel/vapor mixture) than a spark with a spark plug. Also, there's a lot more crap to go wrong with a laser (which is fairly complex compared to a mere spark plug that consists of little more than an electrode and a bit of ceramic).
Could you imagine how much this would be to replace? A set of sparkplugs can be changed by pretty much anyone for less than $30. Now, think of a laser based system capable of instantly igniting fuel vapor.. and the cost of a professional installation. - diablozx9, on 07/15/2009, -0/+5Is it to much to ask for cars with frikkin Laser Beams ?
- bmcnally, on 07/15/2009, -0/+5This is one of those things that would be cool to have, even if it isn't practical.
Just to say that I have a laser in my car. - datagod, on 07/15/2009, -0/+5Up next, General Motors introduces their Light Saber powered car, the Metachlorian Delorian!
- koshythomas, on 07/15/2009, -0/+5What you say already exists: The diesel engine.
(A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber during the final stage of compression. This is in contrast to a petrol (gasoline) engine or gas engine, which uses the Otto cycle, in which a fuel/air mixture is ignited by a spark plug. - Wikipedia) - TheMachine1, on 07/15/2009, -0/+5I wonder how the optics deal with carbon buildup?
- TechnoRabbit, on 07/15/2009, -0/+5Or, we can do things exactly as we do today. You know, the smart way. Lots of people researching lots of things and sometimes accidents happen and we make a major breakthrough that changes the way we see the world.
Working on these 'useless' technologies that will hopefully be obsolete in a couple decades may in fact help future technologies. - LordByr0n, on 07/15/2009, -2/+7 ..……………………….„~"¯¯¯”~„
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………………………..¯””^~~~~^” - LaughingMan89, on 07/15/2009, -0/+4You only really need one laser per car since the beam is carried by optic cable, and it doesn't need to be as strong as you think it does: considering the application, it's obvious that it can be pulsed rather than continuous wave and there's a well known phenomenon that a laser will create a plasma if you focus it to a point (requiring a laser much less powerful than one which just ignites everything in its path.) Reliability could actually be improved, since a laser doesn't care whether the engine is hot or cold, unlike spark plugs.
Though, the point of the project isn't to reduce cost, but to improve engine performance. - awfl, on 07/15/2009, -0/+4130,000 mi. on my 99 3.8L Caravan - rock steady, quiet, idle, never a change of plugs - even water pump went first!. Steady idle comes with regular injector cleaner. Did have both hi-tech pulse sensors on transmission die within 3,000 miles of each other - will laser igniters be as finicky?
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