Thread: Alternative fuel?/Oil Dependency

Originally Posted by Blakeman

Which is why we should be using more bio diesel. Diesel gets a bad rap because of all the rednecks and poorly maintained buses out there spewing out black clouds, which make folks assume it is terrible for the environment. Modern diesel is actually cut with bio diesel just as modern gasoline is cut with some ethanol. A well maintained diesel can have more horsepower and at or better fuel economy than most gasoline engines, yet we still stick with gasoline because of those evil black clouds.

Bio diesel doesn't jack up food prices if we make it out of non food products like saw grass and can make a whole new industry. The problem arises in the fact that bio diesel is easy to produce... why? If the major fuel and power companies cannot monopolize on it then they want no part of it, because they will have too much competition. Competition is risky. A person with a little know how and some land on their hands could produce their own fuel and cut the fuel companies out completely.... which is why we won't see it prosper unless a car company or the government get behind it.

That black cloud is still polluting. Diesel's are not as clean as gasoline engines. The ones that are getting closer are expensive.

Biodiesel has the same problems as ethanol. On a large scale many crops would be needed and the process uses a lot of fertilizer and pesticides.

Gasoline-hybrids are the best answer I believe right now to lean toward.

Originally Posted by ninja|oaklandr

Originally Posted by Blakeman

Which is why we should be using more bio diesel. Diesel gets a bad rap because of all the rednecks and poorly maintained buses out there spewing out black clouds, which make folks assume it is terrible for the environment. Modern diesel is actually cut with bio diesel just as modern gasoline is cut with some ethanol. A well maintained diesel can have more horsepower and at or better fuel economy than most gasoline engines, yet we still stick with gasoline because of those evil black clouds.

Bio diesel doesn't jack up food prices if we make it out of non food products like saw grass and can make a whole new industry. The problem arises in the fact that bio diesel is easy to produce... why? If the major fuel and power companies cannot monopolize on it then they want no part of it, because they will have too much competition. Competition is risky. A person with a little know how and some land on their hands could produce their own fuel and cut the fuel companies out completely.... which is why we won't see it prosper unless a car company or the government get behind it.

That black cloud is still polluting. Diesel's are not as clean as gasoline engines. The ones that are getting closer are expensive.

Biodiesel has the same problems as ethanol. On a large scale many crops would be needed and the process uses a lot of fertilizer and pesticides.

Gasoline-hybrids are the best answer I believe right now to lean toward.

Like I said, the black cloud comes from a poorly maintained engine that has too much diesel going into the cylinder to burn off. Some rednecks actually like it, even though it destroys their gas mileage. All the new diesel engine vehicles are around the same cost as their gasoline counterparts, so they aren't more expensive.

Diesel's are just as clean as gasoline.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/auto...s/4237945.html
Popular Mechanics on diesel engines of today vs yesterday.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/ar...l-comes-of-age
How new diesel engines are below EPA standards and on par with gasoline.

The thing with bio diesel is that a lot of organic waste products can be turned into it and the plants that can be turned into bio diesel are not all human food plants. I know here in Kentucky the big crop used to be Tobacco, but that is long since gone and a lot of farms have had nothing to turn to. Sawgrass and other bio diesel producers could be the answer to at least some of our energy problems. Bio diesel can be made out of corn, but doesn't have to be, unlike ethanol.

Combine the technology of the hybrid cars with the power of bio diesel instead of gasoline and you actually have trucks that can pull their weight in horsepower and still be a hybrid vehicle.

The new VW diesel-electric hybrid gets 70 miles per gallon.
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008...wagen_to_i.php

Combine this with biodiesel made from algae, and you get a much greener car than what is currently on the road.

Originally Posted by Blakeman

Originally Posted by ninja|oaklandr

Originally Posted by Blakeman

Which is why we should be using more bio diesel. Diesel gets a bad rap because of all the rednecks and poorly maintained buses out there spewing out black clouds, which make folks assume it is terrible for the environment. Modern diesel is actually cut with bio diesel just as modern gasoline is cut with some ethanol. A well maintained diesel can have more horsepower and at or better fuel economy than most gasoline engines, yet we still stick with gasoline because of those evil black clouds.

Bio diesel doesn't jack up food prices if we make it out of non food products like saw grass and can make a whole new industry. The problem arises in the fact that bio diesel is easy to produce... why? If the major fuel and power companies cannot monopolize on it then they want no part of it, because they will have too much competition. Competition is risky. A person with a little know how and some land on their hands could produce their own fuel and cut the fuel companies out completely.... which is why we won't see it prosper unless a car company or the government get behind it.

That black cloud is still polluting. Diesel's are not as clean as gasoline engines. The ones that are getting closer are expensive.

Biodiesel has the same problems as ethanol. On a large scale many crops would be needed and the process uses a lot of fertilizer and pesticides.

Gasoline-hybrids are the best answer I believe right now to lean toward.

Like I said, the black cloud comes from a poorly maintained engine that has too much diesel going into the cylinder to burn off. Some rednecks actually like it, even though it destroys their gas mileage. All the new diesel engine vehicles are around the same cost as their gasoline counterparts, so they aren't more expensive.

Diesel's are just as clean as gasoline.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/auto...s/4237945.html
Popular Mechanics on diesel engines of today vs yesterday.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/ar...l-comes-of-age
How new diesel engines are below EPA standards and on par with gasoline.

The thing with bio diesel is that a lot of organic waste products can be turned into it and the plants that can be turned into bio diesel are not all human food plants. I know here in Kentucky the big crop used to be Tobacco, but that is long since gone and a lot of farms have had nothing to turn to. Sawgrass and other bio diesel producers could be the answer to at least some of our energy problems. Bio diesel can be made out of corn, but doesn't have to be, unlike ethanol.

Combine the technology of the hybrid cars with the power of bio diesel instead of gasoline and you actually have trucks that can pull their weight in horsepower and still be a hybrid vehicle.

The new VW diesel-electric hybrid gets 70 miles per gallon.
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008...wagen_to_i.php

Combine this with biodiesel made from algae, and you get a much greener car than what is currently on the road.

There are 2 different categories, light duty (small trucks/cars) and heavy duty (18 wheelers/buses). The new heavy duty trucks/buses are on par with their gasoline counterparts which are few. The light duty only have a few that are comparable and they are more expensive. I think some are even subsidized so the real cost is higher. I will find models in a little bit.

While I didn't do any of the research the testing that was done in the second link was done in my building.

Originally Posted by ninja|oaklandr

Originally Posted by Blakeman

Originally Posted by ninja|oaklandr

Originally Posted by Blakeman

Which is why we should be using more bio diesel. Diesel gets a bad rap because of all the rednecks and poorly maintained buses out there spewing out black clouds, which make folks assume it is terrible for the environment. Modern diesel is actually cut with bio diesel just as modern gasoline is cut with some ethanol. A well maintained diesel can have more horsepower and at or better fuel economy than most gasoline engines, yet we still stick with gasoline because of those evil black clouds.

Bio diesel doesn't jack up food prices if we make it out of non food products like saw grass and can make a whole new industry. The problem arises in the fact that bio diesel is easy to produce... why? If the major fuel and power companies cannot monopolize on it then they want no part of it, because they will have too much competition. Competition is risky. A person with a little know how and some land on their hands could produce their own fuel and cut the fuel companies out completely.... which is why we won't see it prosper unless a car company or the government get behind it.

That black cloud is still polluting. Diesel's are not as clean as gasoline engines. The ones that are getting closer are expensive.

Biodiesel has the same problems as ethanol. On a large scale many crops would be needed and the process uses a lot of fertilizer and pesticides.

Gasoline-hybrids are the best answer I believe right now to lean toward.

Like I said, the black cloud comes from a poorly maintained engine that has too much diesel going into the cylinder to burn off. Some rednecks actually like it, even though it destroys their gas mileage. All the new diesel engine vehicles are around the same cost as their gasoline counterparts, so they aren't more expensive.

Diesel's are just as clean as gasoline.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/auto...s/4237945.html
Popular Mechanics on diesel engines of today vs yesterday.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/ar...l-comes-of-age
How new diesel engines are below EPA standards and on par with gasoline.

The thing with bio diesel is that a lot of organic waste products can be turned into it and the plants that can be turned into bio diesel are not all human food plants. I know here in Kentucky the big crop used to be Tobacco, but that is long since gone and a lot of farms have had nothing to turn to. Sawgrass and other bio diesel producers could be the answer to at least some of our energy problems. Bio diesel can be made out of corn, but doesn't have to be, unlike ethanol.

Combine the technology of the hybrid cars with the power of bio diesel instead of gasoline and you actually have trucks that can pull their weight in horsepower and still be a hybrid vehicle.

The new VW diesel-electric hybrid gets 70 miles per gallon.
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008...wagen_to_i.php

Combine this with biodiesel made from algae, and you get a much greener car than what is currently on the road.

There are 2 different categories, light duty (small trucks/cars) and heavy duty (18 wheelers/buses). The new heavy duty trucks/buses are on par with their gasoline counterparts which are few. The light duty only have a few that are comparable and they are more expensive. I think some are even subsidized so the real cost is higher. I will find models in a little bit.

While I didn't do any of the research the testing that was done in the second link was done in my building.

Heard anything on the mahindra light truck that is coming to the US next year or the year after? Supposed to be a very durable little thing with an efficient diesel engine.

Originally Posted by Blakeman

Heard anything on the mahindra light truck that is coming to the US next year or the year after? Supposed to be a very durable little thing with an efficient diesel engine.

I have heard of them, but not worked with them. Unfortunately one of my companies competitors in Germany is working on this.

Originally Posted by ninja|oaklandr

Originally Posted by Blakeman

Heard anything on the mahindra light truck that is coming to the US next year or the year after? Supposed to be a very durable little thing with an efficient diesel engine.

I have heard of them, but not worked with them. Unfortunately one of my companies competitors in Germany is working on this.

I'm thinking of driving to texas (it's supposed to arrive there first) and get one when they first start being produced. The thought of having a light truck in 4x4 that I can make my own fuel for intrigues me.

Originally Posted by Blakeman

Originally Posted by ninja|oaklandr

Originally Posted by Blakeman

Heard anything on the mahindra light truck that is coming to the US next year or the year after? Supposed to be a very durable little thing with an efficient diesel engine.

I have heard of them, but not worked with them. Unfortunately one of my companies competitors in Germany is working on this.

I'm thinking of driving to texas (it's supposed to arrive there first) and get one when they first start being produced. The thought of having a light truck in 4x4 that I can make my own fuel for intrigues me.

I was doing some reading on it (I don't claim to know anything about it except my internet reading ). It seems the current estimated selling price will be starting at $22,000. That's pretty high for a small truck that is new to the market. Yes it has way more towing power than comparable small trucks for $6000 more and higher gas prices. It will have a niche market that it will benefit and help, but like most trucks right now in Texas most are not even used to haul.

What do you mean by making your own fuel? It runs off off normal diesel from the pump.

Originally Posted by ninja|oaklandr

Originally Posted by Blakeman

Originally Posted by ninja|oaklandr

Originally Posted by Blakeman

Heard anything on the mahindra light truck that is coming to the US next year or the year after? Supposed to be a very durable little thing with an efficient diesel engine.

I have heard of them, but not worked with them. Unfortunately one of my companies competitors in Germany is working on this.

I'm thinking of driving to texas (it's supposed to arrive there first) and get one when they first start being produced. The thought of having a light truck in 4x4 that I can make my own fuel for intrigues me.

I was doing some reading on it (I don't claim to know anything about it except my internet reading ). It seems the current estimated selling price will be starting at $22,000. That's pretty high for a small truck that is new to the market. Yes it has way more towing power than comparable small trucks for $6000 more and higher gas prices. It will have a niche market that it will benefit and help, but like most trucks right now in Texas most are not even used to haul.

What do you mean by making your own fuel? It runs off off normal diesel from the pump.

Any diesel can be converted to run on bio diesel if you install hardened lines, different filters and a heated fuel tank. You can make bio diesel in your backyard with the right supplies, luckily I have a farm to use for that. I've been thinking of converting our tractor, so this would double up the usage and give me a reason. Right now it is just a pipe dream, but I have been contemplating it pretty hard.

It might be a niche, but find another light truck that runs on diesel? The low end torque is worth it for what I want/need.