Laser Ignition. Vaporware or Real Deal?

and sharks with laser beams.

GA cuz I thought so.

$16,000 / year for conventional spark plug cost replacement? My Rx-8 uses F1 style plugs @ $40/ea. 80K miles changed once because I wanted to. Its a '04. $15,860 still in my spark plug fund...

I did read this wrong, right?

Yeah you did read that correctly. I suspect that both amounts must be either a typographic error or not in US dollars. This is why I dismiss the criticism of this being a design too expensive for production.

As the work is being done "at the US Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) in Morgantown, W.Va." why wouldn't the amounts be in US dollars? You can come to any conclusion if you make assumptions to suit.

Because $16,000 in the US is a nominal price for many economy vehicles where the spark plugs are a tiny fraction of the cost of the whole vehicle. So the original author's conclusion that a $10,000 laser ignition system is a bargain compared to the $16,000 cost for spark plugs is patently wrong somewhere. I agree that making an assumption to suit will lead one to any conclusion they wish. I am just trying to point out that dismissing this work for data that is obviously flawed is equally wrong.

OK thanks

Your attitude on this research development has everything to do with your ego. I do not have to present a fracking thing to you or anyone else to show if this uncompleted research will go anywhere. Even if I did provide more plausible reasons that this technology may be useful one day I see that my ideas will not be considered as providing anything to the debate.

No. The Luddites of CR4 have deemed this a worthless endeavor that is only worthy of ridicule.

Ronwagon: at one time CR4 was a place where novel technology and ideas were openly and fairly discussed. I'm sorry to say, it seems that those days are gone. I still think that this research will lead to valuable knowledge on ICE combustion. I'm not sure if this will become preferred to a spark plug, an exotic alternative to a spark plug or only a research platform on combustion. You brought a good question to the wrong forum.

Whatever.

I think this, "compared to approximately $10,000 for the laser diode array." will keep us Luddites from buying in, in my lifetime.

I have no problem with advancement of technology and basic research, but don't pee in my boot and tell me it's just rain.

This is an expensive solution looking for a problem.

To Redfred: I have developed a thick skin here on CR4. I have learned a lot, and don't think that I will be deterred from continuing to pick the brains here. I always appreciate remarks that encourage further exploration however. Thanks for your comment.

Redfred:

Ronwagon asked for our opinion on whether laser ignition was vaporware or the real deal...

To me that is a straight forward legitimate question.

The first 3 responses indicate opinions that fall in the 'vaporware' category. No slight to Ronwagon was intended and there isn't really any ambiguity....and you weren't in the discussion yet so no insult was headed your direction either...

.

SO far, just a question opening a topic of discussion, followed by 3 opinions related to the question. Nothing personal other than opinions.

But somehow you must have seen it differently...

Perhaps you viewed the original question as something less than straight forward?...perhaps a trick question with only one correct answer??

Or perhaps you think we are lying about our true opinions and you here to set the record straight? Perhaps those opinions are incorrect....anyone who isn't a supporter of laser plugs is against all progress!

Quick! Time for you to jump in with ad hominem attacks!.... And thanks to your quick action, another peevish dispute has been saved from the jaws of a enjoyable discussion!

Consider yourself fortunate: the last group who disagreed with him were compared favorably to Wade Michael Page.

We grow our own skinhead-neo nazi-pshycomanics here in Arizona. J.T. Ready was friends with many promiment politcos here in little Utah.

They distanced themselves from him after he murdered his girlfriend, her daughter and two others. At least he had the decency to kill himself, too.