Lasers Could Replace Spark Plugs In Car Engines

[oldschool327]

Check this out...Crazy

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-13160950

[Superperv23]

That would be brilliant if it works and you could drop them into any vehicle on the road and increase gas mileage, cant wait to see some numbers on the effects

[8.1HD/ALLISON]

+1 Sounds interesting. Want to hear some more on this one.

[oldschool327]

Says they are working with Denso, maybe something will come of it. Better gas mileage I assume.

[KMGZ400]

cant imagine they are gonna be to cheap when time comes for replacement. but its still cool to see all of the new technology that comes out. we are probably gonna start seeing A LOT more of this stuff in the next few years...

[rngr746]

Sounds very interesting, I just wonder how long it will be before all the bugs are worked out.

[thebandnerd03]

my question is what happens come replacement time. you have a bad plug you just get a rough running engine. will they slowly wear out with they just die and leave you on the side of the road with a dead cylinder?

[becker87]

Very interesting, can't wait to see what comes of it.

[Josh]

I'm thinking they could be designed to not wear at all... or at least much MUCH slower than a regular spark plug.

[thebandnerd03]

i understand they will last longer but as stated in the article its a powder that deteriorates over time and i guess the question is will you know when its going bad or will it just stop. the way a laser works is by using energy to intensify it and increase that energy into a beam. so will it just quit or will it give you warning. maybe im just old school but if you ask me there is a reason the general design hasnt changed for 150 years for a reason.

[Chief Smackaho]

My concern is with the power from a laser to ignite fuel, Would it eventually cause cylinder or major piston damage.. By slowly deteriorating the internals?

[Carder09]

My concern is with the power from a laser to ignite fuel, Would it eventually cause cylinder or major piston damage.. By slowly deteriorating the internals?

 

 

That was my initial thought exactly, lol I can see someone tryin to check to see if it would work, then losin their eyesight!

[MikeNH]

My concern is with the power from a laser to ignite fuel, Would it eventually cause cylinder or major piston damage.. By slowly deteriorating the internals?

It is a matter of tuning the laser so it can ignite the fuel without damaging the engine itself. Given how widely used lasers are today I'm sure that's the easy part. What's going to be tough will be making it compact.