# The Internal Combustion Engine

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-internal-combustion-engine/313918>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [July 24, 2005, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-internal-combustion-engine/313918 "2005-07-24T13:35:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Sevastopol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@Sevastopol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevastopol)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-internal-combustion-engine/313918/1 "2005-07-24T13:35:44Z")

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What is its future?

Bio-Diesel, Hybrid, Hydrogen, electronic valves?

Where is it all headed?

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**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-internal-combustion-engine/313918/2 "2005-07-24T13:57:54Z")

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Somewhat off-debate, but I know that racecars often are the first to receive the newest improvements in engine technology. I don’t imagine that there are any alternate power source technologies advanced enough to start racing with against normal cars (hybrid would just add weight.) But are there any races which require all entries to use an alternate power technology?

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**Author:** ![Sevastopol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@Sevastopol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevastopol)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-internal-combustion-engine/313918/3 "2005-07-24T14:11:29Z")

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There’s at least one solar-powered race that I can think of.