Too good to be true?

[Ernesto]

"New ‘shock wave’ engine could revolutionize hybrid vehicles"
http://www.digitaltrends.com/green-technology/new-shock-wave-engine-could-revolutionize-hybrid-vehicles/

[TheWraith]

1. Possibly. Maybe even probably.

There are lots of scientific advances that never make it from the lab to the real world. Sometimes that's because they didn't work as well as advertised. Sometimes it's because they can't be cheaply mass produced.

For instance, a promising new drug may have adverse side effects. What's the good of curing the common cold if it ends up destroying your liver? Or a new engine may wear out too fast. Or your engine could work as promised, and deliver 200 miles to the gallon--but if every engine costs $100,000 to make, then you're better off just using your old gas fueled one.

This could work, or it could turn out to be impractical. Based on what I've heard, it does sound logical--four stroke engines were designed for other work, not generating electricity. So being able to make a different type of engine that is more effective at that isn't necessarily unreasonable, although it's anyone's guess whether this is the real deal.

Unfortunately, science reporting is almost never honest about these potential drawbacks, so people only see the headline about a revolutionary new... whatever. And then, when it doesn't materialize, it promotes conspiracy theories. Big Oil stole it and hid it away. GM killed the electric car. Big Pharma is covering up the cure for cancer. Whatever. Even though these companies would stand to profit in the billions by commercializing these inventions, if they're practical.