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Porsche's idea for a six-stroke internal combustion engine

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Re: Porsche's idea for a six-stroke internal combustion engine

#61
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Presumably as Porsche is not about efficient transportation; it is about emotion, driving as an experience, making a statement, etc. Chances are there will be - or, at least, Porsche appears to bet there will be - a sufficient number of well-heeled enthusiasts who prefer the sound, smell and vibration of an ICE to the quiet performance of an electric motor. I am really curious to see how this pans out in a generation…

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you must be european

Re: Porsche's idea for a six-stroke internal combustion engine

#62
post #2

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> Why waste R&D on a dead end? "There were an estimated 20 million horses in March 1915 in the United States" [1]. In 2023? Almost 7 million. Internal combustion engines will be around for a long time, in part because they're beautiful. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horses_in_the_United_States#St... [2] https://www.ppfas.com/pdf-docs/b-finance/cigar-butt.pdf

Pedantry: they aren't the same horses, though: in 1915 they were mostly draft horses, with a few sport/pleasure; in 2023 they're mostly sport/pleasure, with a few draft.

Re: Porsche's idea for a six-stroke internal combustion engine

#63
post #52
post #2

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ICEs have a lot of advantages that make them much better suited than EVs to certain tasks (extreme climates and remote locations, for example). They will likely stick around for niche use cases (at least) for quite a long time. As for why Porsche is spending money on ICE engines...well, no one really buys a Porsche because it's a "practical car", do they?

> As for why Porsche is spending money on ICE engines...well, no one really buys a Porsche because it's a "practical car", do they?

I don't know. I find my daily very practical: a Porsche Panamera MY2013, now nearing 125 000 miles and 12 y/o. Still under extended manufacturer warranty. I have it since more than five years now (bought it used). Next car is another used Panamera (probably a 2020 or something). Very sweet, comfy, luxurious ride and yet if you push the pedal to the metal, way funnier to drive than, say, a Mercedes Class S.

Re: Porsche's idea for a six-stroke internal combustion engine

#65
post #2

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I think many of people here live in US and assume that it everywhere things look similar. in my European country electric infrastructure is not ready for electric cars and with current energy prices this makes no financial sense.

I own plug in hybrid and I live in apartment meaning I have no possibility to charge at home. near me (about 10 min of walking there is public single phase allow charger with 2 plugs machine maxing 3.5kW total (for both)) and if I'm lucky I manage to find free slot one a week, but usually that's one every two weeks. This is only "free" charger in reasonable distance from me, and free means that I can use it when I have ticket for public transportation with I need to have anyways.

there are some normal chargers, but they cost 2x for slow charging or 3x for fast charging than energy prices here + you have to pay per minute of taking parking spot.

in summary when I calculated how much does it cost $/km it is very similar to gasoline but it's much trickier to recharge.

I would love to own fully electric but without also owning house with solar this makes no sense right now.

Re: Porsche's idea for a six-stroke internal combustion engine

#66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not the op but in NZ there has been a significant drop in demand due to removal of subsidies and introduction of a distance-based tax (road user charge) for EVs. https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/09/15/car-importers-stuck-with-... “In 2023 January through August, one in four new light passenger vehicles sold were EVs. Fast forward to 2024 and EVs make up just one in 11 new light passenger vehicles sold”

The original claim was for the “entire world” which is why I specifically used global stats.

Maybe not every single country, sure.

In the EU sales are sluggish.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/neilwinton/2024/05/19/europes-w...

“Current sales of EVs in Europe have stalled at just over 2 million a year, as early adopters and corporate purchasing peaked out. Schmidt Automotive Research said during the opening third of 2024 Western Europe EV market share stalled at 14.4% compared with the same period last year, according to its provisional data.”

Re: Porsche's idea for a six-stroke internal combustion engine

#67
post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> performance cars should have ICEs After driving a fast Tesla, stepping into an ICE performance car feels like going back to a steam engine. A very slow, unresponsive steam engine. When avid petrolheads try a fast EV and feel the instant torque it will be an epiphany for them. Only the most stubborn will stick with fossil cars.

Instant torque is cool, but goddamn it is soulless.

If you want instant torque with soul, try a horse.

(the catch: this instant is often one which you weren't expecting, and if you are lucky it will mostly have been applied along the craniocaudal axis)

Re: Porsche's idea for a six-stroke internal combustion engine

#68
post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm sure they said the same when they saw the first photographs and compared them with paintings.

you might note that people still paint.

Well that also needs to be heavily vilified and taxed.

Re: Porsche's idea for a six-stroke internal combustion engine

#69

But isn't the chamber full of exhaust at the beginning of the second power stroke? What will burn?

It says the goal is efficiency, so I assume the point is that if the first does say 80% combustion, then another cycle eeks out another 80% of 80% or whatever. (Brb, have an 8 stroke engine to patent.)

Re: Porsche's idea for a six-stroke internal combustion engine

#70
post #2

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> Why waste R&D on a dead end? "There were an estimated 20 million horses in March 1915 in the United States" [1]. In 2023? Almost 7 million. Internal combustion engines will be around for a long time, in part because they're beautiful. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horses_in_the_United_States#St... [2] https://www.ppfas.com/pdf-docs/b-finance/cigar-butt.pdf

In the meantime the human population quadrupled, so the actual demand for horses is not half, but closer to 1/8 of what it was.

They'll go the way of horses in the sense that you'll be hardly seeing any in cities.

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