New Material That Could Improve Gas Mileage

With gasoline at high prices, it’s disheartening to know that up to three-quarters of the potential energy you are paying for is wasted. A good deal of it goes right out the tailpipe instead of powering your car. Now a Northwestern University-led research team has identified a promising new material that could transform a technology that currently cools and heats car seats — thermoelectrics — into one that also efficiently converts waste heat into electricity to help power the car.