The reciprocating internal combustion engine is a device to convert fuel chemical energy into mechanical work. Even though combustion taking place inside the cylinder, it is equivalent to combustion taking place out side the cylinder and the converted heat being transferred to the gas inside the cylinder. The heat so transferred is denoted by Q+. The ensuing expansion process converts a part of the thermal energy into mechanical work. The remaining part of the thermal energy is rejected from the cylinder at the end of expansion process. The heat transferred from inside the cylinder to the outside by the exhaust gas is denoted by Q-. By definition, the thermal efficiency is equal to (Q+ - Q-)/Q+. Heat loss during the combustion process reduces Q+. Heat loss during expansion process increases reduces Q-. Thermodynamic analysis of a reciprocating engine performance can be limited to combustion and expansion processes. The rest of processes are for logistics to replenish cylinder with fresh charge.

The necessary equations of the state to relate working fluid state at point 2 to that at point 1 are derived from idea gas law. Gases have various properties including the gas pressure p, temperature T, mass m, and volume V that contains the gas. If any two of the properties are fixed, the nature of the relationship between the other two is determined as follows. If the pressure and temperature are held constant, the volume of the gas depends directly on the mass. If the mass and temperature are held constant, the product of the pressure and volume is a constant (Boyle’s Law). If the mass and pressure are held constant, the volume is directly proportional to the temperature (Charles’ law). By combining these two laws, pV/T is always a constant when work is done on or by the gas or heat is transferred into or from the gas, as the gas going through a thermodynamic process. Because pV/T is always a constant, the equation p2V2/T2 = p1V1/T1 is true in every instance including when all gas properties are in equilibrium. Therefore, the equation p2V2/T2 = p1V1/T1 is an equation of the state to relate the gas properties in equilibrium at point 2 to that in equilibrium at point 1. According to Dalton’s law, a gas mixture behaves in exactly the same fashion as a pure gas. Therefore, the equation of the state, p2V2/T2 = p1V1/T1, relates working fluid state at point 2 to that at point 1. The pressure reaches equilibrium quickly and thus p2/p1 = (V1/V2)k can be taken as another equation of the state of working fluid. These two equations of the state must be used for applying thermodynamics to the reciprocating internal combustion engines.

National Research Council reviewed yearly progress reports of PNGV project for a decade without realizing that 80 mpg goal was impossible to reach. After spent two billions of dollars, the demised PNGV project was replaced by FredomCar project which will also fail because for both projects, thermodynamics has not been properly applied. National Research Council should recommend further reciprocating engine research by applying thermodynamics before suggesting high-risk projects.

With all this money flying around, how long will it take for the big oil companies to dig their way in to the wood work, like the termites they are? Look at what they did with the EV1 batteries! They have monopolized on this and kept the American people from gaining any upper hand! I would gladly invite a car that could be produced for a reasonable price, that would help this planet. Especially if I can plug it in to my PV system that is being installed next month. And if the battery technology is produced, can the average American get this for their own DIY electric car build?

EV tech and Battery tech are quite good already. What the industry needs to work on is cost reduction.

Inductive charging automatically when the EV is parked at designated lots should also be developed and standardized into one national standard. Being able to charge your EV's everywhere you park, automatically, without the driver having to handle the plug, surely will boost consumer confidence in EV's and will prolong battery life, and reduce battery cost and vehicle weight, since a smaller battery can be used.

These type of grants surely will help optimize production and lower cost. There is hope for the USA, afterall!

All in all it looks a lot like the U.S. is leading the electrification of transport. The single best technology solution to lowering fossil use (besides biofuels.)

Roger, inductive charging is a convenience that may not be cost efficient. And drivers are thoroughly used to handling energy refills. A hose spilling volatile toxic liquid has been the only way to refuel for a hundred years. Plugging in a charge cable should not be too much of a burden.

Toppatom, the reason the EV1 did not succeed is that gas prices were so low.
If a gallon of gas, in 1996, had cost $3 the EV1 would have sold.
The best thing that could happen to EV's today is a gasoline price spike....the higher the better.

The PbA batteries in EV1 sucked. Bad in cold, short on mileage and long on cost to replace. It is probable that the Ovonics NiMH patent was thrown under the bus by the hardline petroleum guys running Chevron. Stupid? They could still be selling gas AND making fees on EV batteries if they hadn't panicked.

Lesson? With six billion critters, there's plenty to go around.

Yeah but German drivers pay for the up keep of those roads through higher fuel taxes; the German fuel tax was $6.50/gallon in 2006.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2006/12/17/INGT8MV4SM1.DTL

I think some of you don't understand the concept of "economic stimulus". They have spent massive amounts of money very rapidly, and it may well have saved us from economic disaster. I wouldn't quibble about whether or not these projects are perfect. A year ago the entire amount probably would have gone to the oil industry. Count your blessings.