Paul,

My thought was to invest heavily in hydrogen fuel-cell technology. I understand the current need to expend huge amounts of electricity to produce the necessary hydrogen, but I think that with additional investments in "renewable" electric systems (wind and solar) hydrogen can become a viable vehicle power source.

I will admit that I have not considered alcohol systems as highly as I should, but it seems as though production of "usable" alcohol (as a fuel system)is highly dependant on oil (ethanol). Please correct me if I'm wrong!

If we just lower the compression on our engines we could use white lightning in them ..................

You'll reduce production.

Only half of the "fuel" will make into the vehicle (If that!).

The problem with the alternative fuels is the cost. The spill is a terrible thing but accidents are going to happen in a "self regulated" program.

Wiersy,

Accidents will happen whether Uncle Sam, Uncle Wiersy, or Uncle Hunter Joe is overseeing the program. That's why they are called "accidents". A "Self Regulated" program is just an expedited accident.

Bio-Diesel !!!

D, Check your mileage the old fashion way......I bet you'll find a difference.
I've seen these readings off by as much as 3mpg.

Gentlemen..."Accidents" don't exist. Someone or a group of "someones" screwed up and this is what we have. "Cause and effect" gentlemen, "Cause and effect"...

hunterjoe21,

Bio-Fuel is unworkable, there was a Mechanical Engineer who was gunning for Republican Primaries (he got more votes in the Texas Straw poll then McCain even) who did the math based on farm land available in the US, the amount of fuel consumed in the US and the amount of bio-fuel you can produce per acre, and even with 100% of the production converted to produce Bio-fuel, there is not enough farm land to cut the need for crude oil based gasoline. I believe he is running for Congress now in Georgia, he is pro-gun by the way.

Hydrogen fuel cells are also not going to happen, 2 reasons, one the process of creating hydrogen on Earth involves breaking it down from water which is a very non-efficient process. And 2, AFAIK every developed country requires the transport of hydrogen to be done by a CDL/Commercial driver with a hazardous material validated license.

Best bet for our "fuel" problem, would in turn be electric cars for the vast majority of commuters, however, the issue with them stems from the high costs of battery changes (which outweigh the fuel cost savings) which would make the majority of cars "leased" instead of owned. As well, the ability to power millions of them, would require us to go to nuclear power, as solar/wind farms are way too expensive per kWh and they would not produce enough electricity to power the electric cars on the road.

chambered221,

Perhaps I should someday. Thanks.

Dimitri

I believe the facts have been distorted about Bio-Diesel !!!
It seems as though the oil advocates want to refer to it as Bio-Fuel and factor in gasoline powered engines as well.

Fact of the matter is, If we switched the diesel industry to Bio-Diesel there would have been no need for the new regulations in diesel fuels. Bio products burn cleaner, give more power, better mileage, and reduce emissions to almost nothing.
All this at a fraction of the cost. The only cost is to the oil industry that loses out.

Bio-Diesel actually is not the answer to the over regulation of the diesel industry. It creates about the same pollution levels as regular crude oil based diesel based on the additional consumption of bio-fuel due to it not having as much energy available so it makes the engines less fuel efficient especially when dealing with tractor trailers which consume the majority of the on road diesel fuel.

Diesel trucks (such as my 6.4L) are more fuel efficient then gas engines (such as my dads 5.4L), they produce considerably less harmful chemical emissions then gas engines, and now with the Diesel Particulate Filters, produce virtually no soot to effect peoples breathing.

Current EPA regulations have diesel engines held to a much stricter emissions standard then gas engines. This is part of the reason the fuel economy for diesels in the US have dropped over the last few years. It is also the reason European diesel powered cars which are regulated in Europe to the same emission standards as gas engines there are not allowed to be imported into the US as they fail EPA emission standards.

Dimitri

Why is nobody talking natural gas anymore??
We have huge deposits in the USA
Even at the Mines, many years ago, a good percentage or our trucks where powered by propane.
T. Boone has the right idea, but nobody seems to be listening.

Eric

ElyBoy who???

Welcome back..(I think)

From biodiesel.org :


How do biodiesel emissions compare to petroleum diesel?
Biodiesel is the only alternative fuel to have fully completed the health effects testing requirements of the Clean Air Act. The use of biodiesel in a conventional diesel engine results in substantial reduction of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter compared to emissions from diesel fuel. In addition, the exhaust emissions of sulfur oxides and sulfates (major components of acid rain) from biodiesel are essentially eliminated compared to diesel.

Of the major exhaust pollutants, both unburned hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides are ozone or smog forming precursors. The use of biodiesel results in a substantial reduction of unburned hydrocarbons. Emissions of nitrogen oxides are either slightly reduced or slightly increased depending on the duty cycle of the engine and testing methods used. Based on engine testing, using the most stringent emissions testing protocols
required by EPA for certification of fuels or fuel additives in the US, the overall ozone forming potential of the speciated hydrocarbon emissions from biodiesel was nearly 50 percent less than that measured for diesel fuel.


Most articles I've ever read pretty much say the same thing !!!

The energy level is based upon the refining process and materials used.

You "Think" Bushy???

I haven't been gone.
Been lurking, but not much to say when same things have been rehashed so many times.

But a post about GAS??

I have been an expert on gas my whole life

Eric

Ahhhhh .... "wrong gas" ElyBoy .......... !!!! They weren't talking about the gas that lifts the sheets at night.........