[4FERRARI]

I have a problem that don't let me in peace some years: In modern world all of the Autobuilders try to solve the problem of future's fuel, and I think Ferrari isn't an exception, thats why I wanna ask you: How do U think which type of fuel, Xcept benzin, will choose Ferrari for it's high performans superEngines? (Hydrogen, Electroenergy, Gas, Hybrid engines or something else).
If Ferrari cares about its future, and I'm sure they care, they shood have some projects on alternative fuels. Maybe someone knows somethink about this. I really wanna know, because I care too about Ferrari's future.

 

[Dr. Bob]

I moved it to general because it will get a little more attention here, and it isn't about racing only. I think Ferrari does not investigates itself since there are a lot of projects going on. Maybe when everybody has decided what the best alternative fuel is that Ferrari starts to look into it.

 

[Lsportline43]

I think the worst case scenerio would be that Ferrari would go out of business. Though I don't think it would go that far. I don't think it would happen because many Ferrari owners are wealthy and I would think they would invest in Ferrari to keep them alive. If I were able to help I would definitely do so.

As for the fuel issue... I don't think it is that bad. If there were a really bad fuel shortage I believe it would first impact the majority of the public. Then it would cause problems to the racing world. Though the chain reaction may be so fast that it wouldn't matter which were affected first.

It would be a good idea for Ferrari to think about going in a different direction for fuel, but as of now I don't think it is a major priority. They are probably thinking about the idea just like any other automobile manufacture would, but I don't think they can do much about it. I think it would consume a lot of their capital. Either way I think they really will have to deal with this soon or later, but either way it will be tough on Ferrari finacally.

Who knows maybe Ferrari will decide to call it quits before they go bankrupt. Maybe Ferrari doesn't want to make any engines that consume a different fuel. Maybe they will resist the change and then go bankrupt. Who knows, but who really wants to imagine such a day. I just hope it doesn't happen in my life time.

 

[Andrew]

It is hard to say what will become of the entire automotive industry with respects to alternative fuels. You can bet it will be the Japanese car makers that lead the way (they already are).

My guess is once the new technology (whatever that maybe) matures then Ferrari will adapt it and do what they do now and that is give it lots of power. I don't see Ferrari developing its own or some kind of new alternative. The alternatives are already in place, it is just cost prohibitive (at least that is what the oil companies want you to think).

 

[Dr. Bob]

Somewhere in the next few years studies have to show what the best type of alternate fuel is. Untill then it isn't very smart to start studiing yourself. There has to a standard, like gas now. If everybody has something else it will be a mess.

 

[gougoul]

Future of cars----

Hi,

in a general matter, i really doubt electricity has such a big future. The idea is as old as gas engines (Think Camille Jenatski's record breaking La jamais contente), and the problems are still the same, too heavy batteries etc. Also, don't forget that one day one must recycle these lovely things, and that's not so easy as well (meaning over the real car's life cycle, including the electricity production etc, the advantage is not that big).
Also, with the current oil prices, many spots regarded as not profitable enough for drilling became very interesting (this being cyclic of course), meaning there is probably oil for the next 50 or 100 years, even if we count in China or so.
On the longer term, maybe cars will store 95 % of their exhaust in filters (like particle filters for diesel cars) that will be recycled (burnt at very high temperatures or whatever),and most probably will use hybrid technologies for city commuting cars.
For the far future, hydrogen will be a viable solution, but we'll need some more nuclear plants for that...

 

[Stradale]

It is hard to say what will become of the entire automotive industry with respects to alternative fuels. You can bet it will be the Japanese car makers that lead the way (they already are).

My guess is once the new technology (whatever that maybe) matures then Ferrari will adapt it and do what they do now and that is give it lots of power. I don't see Ferrari developing its own or some kind of new alternative. The alternatives are already in place, it is just cost prohibitive (at least that is what the oil companies want you to think).

I agree wth Andrew completely. Let the others develop the technology and once it's proved and widely used then Ferrari can adapt it for it's cars. Ferrari is so small that it just doesn't have the kind of R&D budget that Toyota, GM and Ford has. Buy the technology when the time comes and improve and improvise on them to suit Ferrari.

 

[Lsportline43]

Wouldn't the shortage of fossil fuels effect how cars are built too. Isn't plastic made from oil too? I think that can become a major problem too.

 

[backindauk]

Wouldn't the shortage of fossil fuels effect how cars are built too. Isn't plastic made from oil too? I think that can become a major problem too.

If you think about it, everything comes from the environment in one way or another. The leather in a Ferrari may not come from a bunch of black gunk, but an animal ceased to exist to make a highly aesthetic covering for your seats and dash.

What happens when we run out of cattle and buffalo to put inside our cars and to put on our dinner plates?

Probably in 150+ years when the oil supplies are getting a bit short, we maybe not even driving cars. I suppose you cannot really know what the future brings, you just have to wait!

And yes, plastic does come from fractioning and cracking of crude oil

I think by that time they will figure out how to convert all of those computer parts and old soft drink bottles into other things and other types of plastic.


I think hydrogen is a viable resource for fuel. It is practically the most 'environmentally friendly' fuel source for cars and you can use modified internal combustion rather than the hybrid engine/electric combination which still produces greenhouse and a lot of waste (lead, acid etc in batteries)

BMW made an Hydrogen fuel concept which produced only water vapour as the exhaust.