BioDiesel... a real alternative?
#11
Re: BioDiesel... a real alternative?
Originally Posted by Schwa
It all comes down to:
a) can B100 production be operated on 100% renewable energy?
b) can enough B100 ever be produced to meet the demands of the entire nation?
c) are people going to choose diesel engines in the US?
Hard to say for sure, but it's an interesting and promosing alternative fuel that will be part of the renewable energy lineup.
a) can B100 production be operated on 100% renewable energy?
b) can enough B100 ever be produced to meet the demands of the entire nation?
c) are people going to choose diesel engines in the US?
Hard to say for sure, but it's an interesting and promosing alternative fuel that will be part of the renewable energy lineup.
a) according to the article, yes.
b) again, yes.
c) who cares, even if all the trucks go this route, it will be helpful.
#12
Re: BioDiesel... a real alternative?
BTW... I contacted the author of the article and he said that the most fustrating part about this whole thing is that this type of research has been cut from being funded by the U.S. gov. He went on to say that other countries such as China and Australia have been the ones funding the research. How pathetic is that. I suggest to all you readers in support of this kind of research should write to your Senators.
#13
Re: BioDiesel... a real alternative?
Originally Posted by livvie
c) who cares, even if all the trucks go this route, it will be helpful.
#14
Re: BioDiesel... a real alternative?
well, the reason i thought biodiesel didn't stand a chance was that I wasn't aware of a source that was roughly 50% fuel. this algae is 50% oil, which makes it the most likely canidate for mass volumes of biodiesel. Soy is up there but not as good, and everything else is just not worth it for mass volume. meaning the amount of land and energy going in, doesn't come close to standard fuel costs.
#16
Re: BioDiesel... a real alternative?
Soy is not the optimum feedstock, but its the one American farmers are promoting and growing. The armtwisting in Washington is due to American Soybean farmers and their lobby and without them the biodiesel alternative would have a much more difficult road. All I know is that I prefer paying my local farmer than a few of those strangers in the middle east???
Tax credit for alternatives isn't the best way to promote domestic, renewable and clean fuels, but its the way our political wheels are operating at the moment. (easier to pass I suppose?) I personally would prefer a Petroleum Aquisition Adjustment (PAA) which would place a bit of the burden in securing overseas oil. (currently that cost per barrel is hidden in our income taxes) If the income taxes were reduced and the cost to 'aquire' the import oil was included in the per barrel price, we would be much farther ahead in developing alternatives and adoption of hybrid vehicles. Keeping petroleum cheap by using income taxes in securing oil 'because of national security' and our economy, gives all alternatives a more challenging playing field. I hope we can keep things going, but I fear that oil will once again slip back to levels causing Americans to become 'slothful' again waiting for the next oil crisis. (perhaps this one isn't over yet?) I only hope we are bright enough to continue our multi-pronged approach toward smarter use of energy.
Tax credit for alternatives isn't the best way to promote domestic, renewable and clean fuels, but its the way our political wheels are operating at the moment. (easier to pass I suppose?) I personally would prefer a Petroleum Aquisition Adjustment (PAA) which would place a bit of the burden in securing overseas oil. (currently that cost per barrel is hidden in our income taxes) If the income taxes were reduced and the cost to 'aquire' the import oil was included in the per barrel price, we would be much farther ahead in developing alternatives and adoption of hybrid vehicles. Keeping petroleum cheap by using income taxes in securing oil 'because of national security' and our economy, gives all alternatives a more challenging playing field. I hope we can keep things going, but I fear that oil will once again slip back to levels causing Americans to become 'slothful' again waiting for the next oil crisis. (perhaps this one isn't over yet?) I only hope we are bright enough to continue our multi-pronged approach toward smarter use of energy.
#18
Re: BioDiesel... a real alternative?
Originally Posted by Bjaardker
Here's what I find interesting. Rudolf Diesel, the inventor of the Diesel engine originally intended for the engine to be run on Bio-matter fuel.
#19
Re: BioDiesel... a real alternative?
My preference would be a plug-in series hybrid biodiesel or straight vegetable oil car. That basically covers everything from shorter trips with clean grid power to long journeys with the biodiesel genset running at fixed peak efficiency RPM to charge the battery and run the car. It would be expensive, no doubt... but more "worth it" than paying so much more for so much more fuel consumption on something like an H2. The more HV batteries out there the cheaper and more reliable they will become due to the influx of R&D funds. The government could encourage such development by granting the same kind of huge tax break that the H2 got (some $15k) without the added costs of securing more foreign oil.
#20
Re: BioDiesel... a real alternative?
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlot...s/12683296.htm
Story about Ruth Miller of Durham's biodiesel/corn oil '85 Jetta, total cost for conversion $3,950. Her car was not that expensive either, I just wonder about the dependability of an 85 Jetta's engine.
Story about Ruth Miller of Durham's biodiesel/corn oil '85 Jetta, total cost for conversion $3,950. Her car was not that expensive either, I just wonder about the dependability of an 85 Jetta's engine.