So let’s assume we have two cars. One is a really eco-friendly family car sedan, and the other one is a lamborghini. Both drive at a speed of 100kmh (62mph), And lets say we load up the lighter of the cars with some weights, so that they weigh the same. So lambo would on average, consume more fuel.
My question is, where does this extra power vanish to? Since fuel makes an explosion and explosion drives the torque of the car, where does this explosion power vanish to in a lambo? Since it generates more explosion, but still drives at the same speed.
In: Engineering
Yes heat, but also realize that gearing and engine displacement are something to compare too. The civic might have a 1.8L spinning at 2800rpm to go that speed and the Lambo has a 5.2L engine doing 1500rpm. So, 4stroke math, says the civic is displacing ~2500L in a minute, and the Lambo is displacing ~3900L a minute. If all else was the same, the Lambo would be burning ~56% more gas at this speed.
Engine HP is measured with rpm*torque/constant. The civic has maybe 4k more till redline, but also not much more torque, so it might only only be using 1/2 it’s total HP the engine can make.
Once cars are at a cruising speed only elevation changes, wind resistance and tire weight/resistance will dramatically change how much gas is used in driving a distance.
The Lambo would have 6k+ more rpm and probably another 50% torque….so it’s probably only using like 20% of the engine’s peak HP.
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