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Tennessee researcher changing the face of fuel economyy

foxnews.com -- A group of Tennessee researchers and graduate students are changing the face of fuel economy. They are designing a unique, plug-in hybrid retrofit kit that works on any vehicle on the road, potentially saving those who make the investment 50-100 percent on in town fuel costs.

The system is compact using electromagnets which fit between the back wheels and the brakes. Dr. Charles Perry at Middle Tennessee State University has built a prototype from a decade-old Honda Accord which he has converted to a fuel-efficient hybrid vehicle.

“It's a relatively low powered solution -- just for use in town” Perry said.

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Submitted Nov 18, 2012 By: Timberline

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honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,650 Points:1,612,445 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Nov 23, 2012 4:08:02 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse Happy Black Friday.
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,650 Points:1,612,445 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 11:01:55 PM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse Happy Turkey Day, USA. Safe travels to all.
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,650 Points:1,612,445 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 11:01:12 PM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse I won't hold my breath just yet.
FEYSO Champion Author Jacksonville Posts:12,787 Points:2,322,475 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Nov 20, 2012 4:37:26 PM Ignore FEYSO Report Abuse I also heard this on the 700 Club News cast!!! Just them and Fox are the only true News you will hear this repoeted on!!! The (so called) networks are too busy cheerleading Obama! [Edited by: FEYSO at 11/20/2012 5:39:00 PM EST]
52MPG Champion Author Dayton Posts:7,277 Points:1,744,630 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 11:17:49 PM Ignore 52MPG Report Abuse Keep up the research.
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,650 Points:1,612,445 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 11:01:35 PM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse Faux Noise again... thought it's not a bad article nevertheless.
LetemEatCake Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:5,615 Points:1,207,555 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 8:36:34 PM Ignore LetemEatCake Report Abuse Great article...thanks for posting!
doctorindyj Champion Author Santa Fe Posts:3,463 Points:842,510 Joined:Nov 2009	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 10:10:34 AM Ignore doctorindyj Report Abuse Three words. Entropy always wins.
eschroth442 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:1,094 Points:335,670 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 8:50:59 AM Ignore eschroth442 Report Abuse our engineers are so creative.
AnObserver Champion Author New Jersey Posts:8,374 Points:2,261,680 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 8:19:32 AM Ignore AnObserver Report Abuse Sounds interesting - I hope that it is economically viable
EvergreenON All-Star Author Ontario Posts:952 Points:486,370 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 6:44:15 AM Ignore EvergreenON Report Abuse Excellent if no one stop the product marketing
7SPEEDY7 Champion Author Flint Posts:1,301 Points:608,375 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 4:52:33 AM Ignore 7SPEEDY7 Report Abuse WOW
NedW Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:5,630 Points:1,145,170 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 3:57:31 AM Ignore NedW Report Abuse Thank you for submitting this article, Timberline.
MAC48 Champion Author Dallas Posts:1,551 Points:768,795 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 3:55:23 AM Ignore MAC48 Report Abuse Wonder what the rest of the story is. Will this work on rear wheel or front wheel or 4/4 drive trains? Can the batteries be mounted underneath the vehicle and not use up truck or pickup bed space? How far can one go before the batteries are depleted? How long does it take to replenish the batteries? Do the magnets generate new power for the batteries or do they only "assist" in the propulsion of the vehicle? What size vehicle is this equipment economically justified for? So many questions and so few answers.
teafortwo Champion Author Washington Posts:22,141 Points:1,388,015 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 1:24:32 AM Ignore teafortwo Report Abuse Great to see this kind of innovation. Thanks for sharing Timberline.
UseLessGasFolks Champion Author Iowa Posts:5,461 Points:1,298,775 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 1:13:51 AM Ignore UseLessGasFolks Report Abuse 3k now and should drop as economy of scale ramps up.
GoGoGoodyear Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:2,060 Points:510,075 Joined:Mar 2010	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 1:04:44 AM Ignore GoGoGoodyear Report Abuse This might work to the extent that it only provides a small power boost when driving at lower speeds. A year or two ago there was an article here on GB about a company selling an electric add-on booster which was installed between the back of the driveshaft and rear differential. They were targeting the taxi, limo and small bus market and the retrofit was already in production. It worked by adding the boost from the electric motor when accelerating, then recharging the battery by turning the electric motor into a generator when coasting or stopping. This increased the MPG enough to pay for the system. I see this as another version of that kind of system but made for small sedans with front wheel drive and rear drum brakes where there is no center driveshaft that can be connected to an electric drive. If I had a front wheel drive car and I could increase my MPG by 50% with a 3,000 dollar kit that I can install over the weekend I would go for it.
FluffyDogAttack Champion Author Riverside Posts:1,088 Points:97,170 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 1:00:07 AM Ignore FluffyDogAttack Report Abuse LMAO!!! Magnets!!! Ok, you buy it first.
hotrod_brother Champion Author Tampa Posts:12,606 Points:2,232,195 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 12:57:13 AM Ignore hotrod_brother Report Abuse Doubt if it would fit with my racing axles and spool locker rear end. I would rather spend the 3k on a ProCharger...lol...
RENEGADEGAS Champion Author Missouri Posts:14,929 Points:1,594,150 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 12:48:35 AM Ignore RENEGADEGAS Report Abuse Yeah.... Im thinking this is another pipe dream.
Vette1967 Champion Author Albany Posts:5,982 Points:1,278,925 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 12:46:41 AM Ignore Vette1967 Report Abuse Lets see how far this will go.
wcp3rd All-Star Author New Jersey Posts:739 Points:364,100 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 12:40:24 AM Ignore wcp3rd Report Abuse ok
Bubba44612 Champion Author Ohio Posts:7,411 Points:1,880,005 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 12:39:49 AM Ignore Bubba44612 Report Abuse Bring on hydrogen power.
TheRedFez Veteran Author Las Vegas Posts:341 Points:115,155 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 12:39:17 AM Ignore TheRedFez Report Abuse It definitely could work, but will almost certainly change the handling.
jackson661 Champion Author Columbus Posts:3,774 Points:1,479,660 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 12:38:04 AM Ignore jackson661 Report Abuse Great idea.
rosyLI Champion Author Long Island Posts:5,650 Points:1,071,530 Joined:Apr 2010	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 12:37:00 AM Ignore rosyLI Report Abuse So much for pipe dreams.
TBONE3 Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:8,761 Points:1,979,575 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 12:36:54 AM Ignore TBONE3 Report Abuse Too limited in travel distance on electric power.
mcmonsta Champion Author Honolulu Posts:3,237 Points:821,245 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 12:36:23 AM Ignore mcmonsta Report Abuse technology is helping
rahcat Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:2,483 Points:665,875 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 12:34:02 AM Ignore rahcat Report Abuse Old News
wally52 Champion Author Little Rock Posts:27,490 Points:817,435 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 12:29:57 AM Ignore wally52 Report Abuse Having it for ( in town use) will not help much.
kgbellman Champion Author Ann Arbor Posts:2,728 Points:734,765 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 12:23:36 AM Ignore kgbellman Report Abuse Let's see how it proves out after tens (or hundreds) of people try iy out instead of just a prototype or two
comprof Champion Author Houston Posts:6,875 Points:1,359,675 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 12:22:26 AM Ignore comprof Report Abuse Hope it works.
ricebike Champion Author New Jersey Posts:10,043 Points:1,857,670 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 12:20:54 AM Ignore ricebike Report Abuse um, you forgot to finish that sentence...
vulcan96 Champion Author Ohio Posts:26,940 Points:3,106,600 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 12:20:04 AM Ignore vulcan96 Report Abuse sounds good , but.....
chyguy3 Champion Author Wyoming Posts:2,855 Points:859,990 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 12:19:46 AM Ignore chyguy3 Report Abuse After mass production proof it works, maybe.
kiss4afrog Veteran Author Twin Cities Posts:421 Points:173,960 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 12:17:40 AM Ignore kiss4afrog Report Abuse I searched some more sites and it's the colleges property. They are still trying to get the patents and investment and trying to find someone to mass manufacture and market it. I'm curious if it will fit over a disc brake set up.
SkooterG Champion Author Phoenix Posts:1,359 Points:330,085 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 12:17:15 AM Ignore SkooterG Report Abuse Interesting. And very cool. But $3,000? That's a lot. How long to recoup that cost in fuel savings? I would guess many years.
wshokie12 Champion Author Winston-Salem Posts:1,330 Points:219,260 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 12:17:07 AM Ignore wshokie12 Report Abuse I can't see it catching on.
nztyraider Champion Author Nevada Posts:2,273 Points:695,575 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 12:15:53 AM Ignore nztyraider Report Abuse It's okay but a feasible solution to our need for gas.
jorod55 Champion Author California Posts:1,485 Points:434,425 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 12:15:45 AM Ignore jorod55 Report Abuse Really?
hubcapLA Champion Author Louisiana Posts:3,905 Points:940,435 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 12:15:24 AM Ignore hubcapLA Report Abuse If it works, what effect does it have on breaking?
Dodge_Me Champion Author Atlanta Posts:2,214 Points:558,480 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 12:12:02 AM Ignore Dodge_Me Report Abuse Interesting
Buddy2264 Champion Author Tampa Posts:11,669 Points:2,362,895 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 12:09:42 AM Ignore Buddy2264 Report Abuse You begin to wonder how they can do it and the big 3 cannot. I am guess it is a good idea but will it reach the market or be bought up and shelved?
probedude2 Champion Author Akron Posts:12,568 Points:2,383,130 Joined:Jun 2003	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 12:08:27 AM Ignore probedude2 Report Abuse not good enough
Tigercat88 Champion Author North Carolina Posts:3,212 Points:619,790 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 12:06:41 AM Ignore Tigercat88 Report Abuse No way it will work.
BCM1 Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:1,864 Points:782,995 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 12:05:30 AM Ignore BCM1 Report Abuse Great if it works. lab results vary from real world.
millerin Champion Author Orlando Posts:2,322 Points:483,915 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Nov 18, 2012 11:56:17 PM Ignore millerin Report Abuse hmm...
millerin Champion Author Orlando Posts:2,322 Points:483,915 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Nov 18, 2012 11:56:07 PM Ignore millerin Report Abuse hmm...
RRBC Champion Author Victoria Posts:2,722 Points:532,155 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Nov 18, 2012 11:55:23 PM Ignore RRBC Report Abuse works on any vehicle? Just drive less and save on gas
Tiernan Champion Author Chicago Posts:3,495 Points:822,750 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Nov 18, 2012 11:55:01 PM Ignore Tiernan Report Abuse Where's the editor?