Re: 2-strokes not likely
You're right, at this time anyway. The concept of 'clean two-strokes' is out there, it's really just a matter of someone spending some time/money to put it together with a suitable 'marketing spin' to re-sell the public on the technology.
Some outboard motor company (Evinrude?) already makes clean 2-strokes that are right-there with 4-strokes emissions wise. My guess would be they smoke 'em (heh) power-to-weight wise.
The thing is that we -could- have the best of both worlds...gobs of "clean" power that is also very light and very simple. Since a 2-stroke has far fewer moving parts, they are (almost) always lighter and cheaper and simpler to make than a 4-stroke, even with whatever techno-gadgetry has to be added to make them clean (what amounts to fuel-injection). After the techno-bits are figured out, that cost is done... not unlike any new F.I. technology. Thereafter, it's down to refinement and so on... the big 'hit' is the first breakthrough/implementation.
Ever swap in new pistons/rings on your 4-stroke by yourself, in an afternoon? (or less?, you super-mechanics or pros notwithstanding...I'd expect you to do it.)... wish you never had to deal with a rip-off mechanic again (or nearly never again?)? They're not all rip-off artists, but sometimes it seems that way to me I guess... no offense to mechanics out there.
Anyway, learn how to spin just a few wrenches and you can do your own top-end jobs on a 2-stroke. Get a little more into it and you can rebuild the entire motor with hand-tools. Only guy you'll have to see to get the job done is a machinist, and they're good people in my experience. I like building motors though, so I guess that may not be as big a selling point to 'everyman' on the street.
I guess I'm just wishin' and hopin' though. The stinkin' EPA has made its mind up and won't be confused by facts it seems (unless I've missed a press release.... doubtful).
-James
P.S. if it seems like there's always a handful of 2-stroke "defenders of the faith" on this site, I guess there is!...(myself, Lincoln, some others that escape me). I'm beating this drum regardless of whether it's heard, sorry for the repeats on the soap-box to the long-timers!
