"CRANK IT UP!
While we’re on the topic of vintage cars, Cadillac is celebrating an important innovation. Today the electric starter turns 100. It debuted a century ago on a 1912 Cadillac Touring Edition. We all take it for granted, but at the time it was a huge innovation. It wasn’t just a convenience for drivers, it was a safety feature. It eliminated the need for a hand crank and the risk of a broken wrist or arm if the engine backfired."
http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/news ... ad_starter
It was the electric starter motor for the infernal combustion engine that changed paradigms and put the electric and steam-powered automobiles off of buyer's consideration lists.
Oh yeah, and let's not forget to consider the energy density of gasoline. If we were all forced to run our ICE vehicles on methanol, fuel mileage and driving range would be about half of what they are with gasoline. (Even so, BEV engineers would still have their work cut out for them in trying to match the range of methanol-fueled vehicles and their refuel times)
Y ICEs Rule the Roadways
-
- Master Standardshifter
- Posts: 11612
- Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2009 3:44 pm
- Cars: '08 Jeep Liberty
- Location: Greater Detroit Area
Y ICEs Rule the Roadways
'08 Jeep Liberty 6-Speed MT - "Last of the Mohicans"