Key context: thermodynamics dictates that heat engines waste a lot of energy.

Credit: Karin Kirk

A pickup truck belching a big cloud of black exhaust. Inside the cloud in white text: Wait, 80% of my gas money goes out the tailpipe? How come Exxon never told me that?
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[–] 22 points 2 years ago (6 children)

I think the 80% number is outdated (although most of the energy is still wasted)

F1 engines achieve a peak thermal efficiency above 50 percent, significantly higher than a modern passenger car's 35 percent thermal efficiency - https://www.motor1.com/news/655596/video-how-f1-engines-make-1000hp/

So more like 65% goes out the tailpipe...

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  • [+] 31 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (4 children)