This is what happens when you hit the gas - Shannon Odell

Explore the differences between how a car’s internal combustion engine and an electric vehicle’s induction motor use fuel.

--

In 2015, two men drove a Volkswagen across the US on just over 100 gallons of fuel. Their 81-mile-per-gallon performance doubled the car’s estimated fuel rating, and set the record for the lowest fuel consumption ride of a diesel car. The duo were experts in techniques that maximize fuel efficiency. So, how did their strategy save fuel? Shannon Odell explores what’s going on beneath a car’s hood.

Lesson by Shannon Odell, directed by Kevin Herrmann, AIM Creative Studios.

This video made possible in collaboration with Speed & Scale

A special thanks to Daniel Sperling and Shima Nazari who provided information and insights for the development of this video.

Support Our Non-Profit Mission
----------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------

Connect With Us
----------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------

Keep Learning
----------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------

Thank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible! Nathan Milford, Tomas Beckett, Alice Ice, Eric Berman, Kurt Paolo Sevillano, Jennifer Heald, Megulo Abebe, isolwi, Kate Sem, Ujjwal Dasu, Angel Alberici, Minh Quan Dinh, Sylvain, Terran Gimpel, Talia Sari, Katie McDowell, Allen, Mahina Knuckles, Charmaine Hanson, Thawsitt, Jezabel, Abdullah Abdulaziz, Xiao Yu, Melissa Suarez, Brian A. Dunn, Francisco Amaya, Daisuke Goto, Matt Switzler, Peng, Tzu-Hsiang, Bethany Connor, Jeremy Shimanek, Mark Byers, Avinash Amarnath, Xuebicoco, Rayo, Po Foon Kwong, Boffin, Jesse Jurman, Scott Markley, Elija Peterson, Ovidiu Mrd, paul g mohney, Steven Razey, Nathan Giusti, Helen Lee, Anthony Benedict, Karthik Balsubramanian, Annastasshia Ames, Amy Lopez and Vinh-Thuy Nguyen.

[manuelalejandrocuevasbecer]

For the rest of the non-US world, 100 gallons are 378 liters, and 81 miles per gallon means 34.4 km per liters.

[mohakapt]

1:37 Minor correction: The fuel-air mixture is specific to gasoline engines only. In diesel engines, air is compressed first, and then diesel is sprayed onto it. This method allows for greater air compression without the risk of the mixture self-igniting, resulting in more thermal efficiency which can yield more power from the same amount of fuel. This is one of the reasons diesel engines are more efficient than gasoline ones.

[EmmelynRedd]

Was not expecting this to turn into an ad for EVs

[macngeeseyt]

Short answer: engine go boom boom magic.

[hayden.A]

One concern that wasn't mentioned is that the manufacturing process of EVs itself is incredibly polluting (primarily the batteries), so depending on how long the EV is used for + where its energy comes from (i.e., renewable sources or not) EVs could end up being only slightly better (if at all) than a combustion engine. But hopefully we find solutions to those issues soon.

[arthurborges]

Most animations on this channel’s videos are very well made, but this one specially is just so fluid and charming! Thank you for making the amazing content you do free for everyone to see ❤

[rudrapratap]

another key point that i think was missed in this video
the EVs are usually powered by electricity thats said to be generated mostly by coal power plants..and people say thats equivalent to an internal combustion engine run car...what most people miss out is that the processes used to convert fuel in powerplants are much more efficient than an internal combustion engine

[Dreammwworld]

recently built my first engine, I am so fascinated by all of this I hope everyone learns to enjoy mechanical things like this as much as I do❤

[JimGamingTV]

Also, do a video on trains. We can’t just rely on just EV’s to diversify our modes of transportation and/or use of clean energy

[DragonGalvy]

nice to know my accelerating slowly and gliding-when-possible habit is actually validated by others' testing - also seeing opportunities to let gravity/friction slow you down instead of 100% using the brakes (eg approaching a turn at the top of a hill or seeing traffic lights turn red further away)

[WeArePharmers]

You should also mention how the "cruise control" function operates to keep the car in "glide and pulse" mode.

[NoSuffix]

This video forgot to mention one important aspect. The production of big lithium-ion batteries, which are commonly used in EVs, is resource-intensive and has very negative environmental impacts.

[terencelee]

That's why Electric car should be cheaper, right

[DavidGreeneMtgJudge]

This was not the kind of video I was expecting and I love it. I wish there were more Ted-Ed videos that just flat out explained how something works like this.

[kimmychuang]

This was one of my favorite TedEd videos ever. I find everything easy to understand and now I feel a little more knowledgeable about the things I drive every day!

[sirventarthur]

It’s very well explained. You just forgot to mention that, in electrical cars, it’s the construction of the batteries, solar panels, etc that releases lots of co2

[LuMe.Garage]

Idk, why this video started as a explanatory video for combustion engines and trailed off into a „propaganda“ video for electric mobility….😂

[LuqmanHakim-bjge]

As a technician, I watch this video with the same level of curiosity and wonder as i watch other TedEd's video about biology, history, mythology and riddles.

[STLeoTS]

Very informative and support the move to EV. But wish more videos expanded on pros and cons of production not just consumption of EV vs ICE.

[angrygoose]

“When you step on the brakes your life is in your foot’s hands.”

Five seconds in and my brain is already making system error noises