Alternator Conversion
Why does my car waste so much energy at idle? What were the engineers thinking?
I've been told a typical 3 litre V-6 uses about 0.36 gallons per hour at idle. I pencil this out real quick and am shocked to learn that that this is a total waste of 15 horsepowers. What were the engineers thinking?
.36 gph
1 h equals 3600 seconds
.36 / 3600 = 36/100 /36 /100 = 1/10000 = 10e-4
so .36 gph equals 1/10000 gal per second.
.0001 gallons equals 13.1 k Joules
.0001 gal/s equals 13.1 kW equals 4/3 * 13.1 horsepower
~ 17 horsepower waste at idle
multiplying by 30% gasoline to mechanical energy conversion
engine efficiency that is still over 5 horse powers of wasted energy.
Why so wasteful?
How much of idle waste does a typical alternator recapture?
The engineers gave each car a starter, and a shut-off option. It is not their fault people are too stupid to shut the cars off when they are going to be sitting idle for any length of time, then re-started when it is time to drive. Idling is just plain a waste of fuel.
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Alternator Conversion Kit Ford 9N 2N 8N s n 263844 | US $176.00 | 1h 16m |
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Suzuki Samurai GM 12S Alternator 78 Amp Conversion | US $45.00 | 3h 56m |
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Corvette conversion alternator bracket LS1 LS2 LS3 LS7 | US $229.99 | 4h 40m |
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00 DEVILLE ALTERNATOR EXC HEARSE CONVERSION | US $70.00 | 5h 8m |
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vw alternator conversion kit sand dune rail woods beetle bug buggy | US $100.00 | 16h 16m |
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New Alternator Marine Application Delco 10SI Conversion | US $103.50 | 19h 51m |
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New Alternator Marine Delco Conversion from Motorola | US $103.50 | 19h 51m |
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New Alternator for Delco 10SI Type Conversion Motorola | US $103.50 | 19h 51m |
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New Ford 8N Tractor Alternator Conversion Kit 63 Amp | US $114.00 | 1d 1h 23m |
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New Ford 8N Tractor Generator to Alternator Kit | US $114.00 | 1d 1h 23m |
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New Ford 8N Tractor Alternator Generator Conversion Kit | US $114.00 | 1d 1h 23m |
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Alternator conversion for Y block or 55 57 Thunderbirds | US $140.00 | 1d 3h 34m |
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1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 FIREBIRD ALTERNATOR CONVERSION WIRING KIT | US $18.99 | 1d 9h 36m |
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Fan Belt for 9N 2N and 8N Ford Tractors with 12 Volt Alternator Conversion | US $9.95 | 1d 13h 13m |
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3 Alternator Brackets FORD 8N 9N 2N 12 volt conversion | US $45.00 | 1d 19h 44m |
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1955 CHEVY ALTERNATOR CONVERSION WIRE HARNESS ex NEW | US $34.90 | 2d 1h 26m |
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INTERNATIONAL TRACTOR ALTERNATOR CONVERSION KIT SUPER H | US $149.50 | 2d 3h 8m |
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3580728 Volvo Penta Alternator Conversion Kit | US $89.99 | 2d 4h 13m |
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1963 67 1972 BUICK ALTERNATOR CONVERSION WIRING KIT NEW | US $18.99 | 2d 16h 49m |
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LT 1 March pulley conversion kit with p s alternator air conditioning New | US $800.00 | 2d 19h 10m |
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63 64 65 66 67 68 69 IMPALA ALTERNATOR CONVERSION KIT | US $17.50 | 3d 20h 35m |
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Alternator generator conversion kit for ford tractor 8n 2n 9n | US $149.95 | 5d 8h 20m |
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1963 1964 65 1966 67 68 1969 72 CUTLASS 442 ALTERNATOR CONVERSION WIRING KIT | US $17.99 | 5d 17h 51m |
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New Massey TO20 TO30 Alternator Conversion kit | US $129.99 | 5d 21h 9m |
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FORD late 8N alternator 6V to 12V volt conversion kit | US $129.00 | 6d 2h 17m |
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FORD alternator 12V conversion kit 600 700 800 900 4000 | US $129.00 | 6d 2h 23m |
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New conversion alternator kit for ihc model m super m | US $139.99 | 6d 7h 42m |
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New 8N Ford Side Mount Alternator Conversion Kit | US $107.99 | 6d 20h 1m |
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FORD 600 4000 TRACTOR GEN to ALTERNATOR CONVERSION KIT | US $120.95 | 6d 20h 18m |
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Ford 600 4000 Tractor Alternator Generator Conversion Kit | US $120.95 | 6d 20h 18m |
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00 DEVILLE ALTERNATOR HEARSE CONVERSION | US $65.00 | 6d 22h 47m |
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New Alternator Conversion Kit 1939 1951 Ford 8N Tractor | US $599.99 | 7d 1h 9m |
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New Alternator Conversion Kit ADR0152 Ford Tractors | US $599.99 | 7d 1h 9m |
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New Ford 2N 8N 9N Tractor Alternator Conversion Kit | US $599.99 | 7d 1h 9m |
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New Alternator Conversion Kit for Ford 600 4000 Tractor | US $124.50 | 10d 15m |
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New Ford 8N 2N 9N Tractor Alternator Conversion Kit | US $599.99 | 10d 17h 5m |
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New Ford 8N Tractor Alternator Conversion Kit 1939 1940 | US $599.99 | 10d 17h 5m |
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