Author Topic: Diesel Future Sputtering ? (Read 27328 times)

jtanguay · « **Reply #30 on:** April 26, 2007, 06:00:35 pm »

the real future lies with hydrogen fuel cells.

dieselsnowmobile · « **Reply #31 on:** May 01, 2007, 07:55:24 am »

In "Popular Science" magazine (May 2007) has an article that is called the Green Fuel Giude (pg 76). For each car, they give an estimated market share of the vehicle in 2030. Here is what they say:

Hybrid Cars - 30%
Natural Gas Cars - 3%
Ethanol Cars - 6%
Diesel Cars (Go Diesel) - 20%
Biodiesel Cars - 4%
Hydrogen Cars - 2%

So diesel/biodiesel has 24% rating, the seconds highest. Here's the thing, they did not say that the Hybrid car has to be powered by gas, so it could be diesel. I still do not understand why VW has not made a diesel hybrid car. I guess with the extra expense of the diesel plus the extra expense of the hybrid system, it would not be marketable. Diesel in general needs minimal R&D, little investment, and good returns. Too many cars have too many unknowns about them. What is the impact on Ethanol and Biodiesel on food prices? The price of corn and soybeans rising will make other food cost to rise. Just something to think about anyway.

jtanguay · « **Reply #32 on:** May 01, 2007, 11:03:20 am »

the future in biodiesel is producing it from algae... it's something like 1 acre of corn field to produce 1 gallon of bio... that is simply ridiculous!!!

1 acre of land to produce algae could potentially produce 100 gallons if done correctly... thank you little green friends!!!

burn_your_money · « **Reply #33 on:** May 01, 2007, 08:09:07 pm »

Quote from: "dieselsnowmobile"

Hybrid Cars - 30%
Natural Gas Cars - 3%
Ethanol Cars - 6%
Diesel Cars (Go Diesel) - 20%
Biodiesel Cars - 4%
Hydrogen Cars - 2%

Where is the other 35%?

Where is another process for making biodiesel using wood scraps or something like that. I forget what it is called but there is a company making it in Southern Ontario.

I agree that algae farming is probably the best way to make biodiesel

jtanguay · « **Reply #34 on:** May 01, 2007, 08:24:01 pm »

supposedly there's a guy local to me that produces ethanol for his vehicles using old papers and his pool??? and sells it? lol... you don't want that crap anywhere near your mouth or eyes though... wood alcohol = blindness!!!

i can't see how you would get biodiesel from wood though...

burn_your_money · « **Reply #35 on:** May 01, 2007, 08:38:25 pm »

It was in my local newspaper... I cut it out. I'l try and find it

Ziptar · « **Reply #36 on:** May 03, 2007, 03:30:48 am »

The Problem with Bio-Diesel availability at this point is cost, even with last years Federal Government Tax cut of up to $.40 per gallon for B100 it was still more expensive than diesel most of the time.

I live in Florida and this year there was a state law passed that gives further incentives, Yet, still One Retail Pump in Tampa and it's $2.99 last i check, still $0.20 more than diesel.

http://www.dep.state.fl.us/secretary/news/2006/02/0202_03.htm

Also Big Soybean acting like Big Oil and trying to get a stranglehold on the market doesn't help either
http://www.dieselnet.com/news/2005/11efa.php

BTW: Diesel Hybrids are in the works:
Leave it to the Swedes....
http://jalopnik.com/cars/alternative-energy/electric-oil-burner-volvo-working-on-a-diesel-hybrid-c30-233435.php

To be honest on Hydrogen, while it's attractive it's a long way off in America I think just because of how we do things and how politicized everything is. No one ever mentions Norway, that are kicking Hydrogen A**! They have created a Hydrogen Fueling Station that can be setup at ANY current gas station by simpling hooking up to the city water and power supply. They have though things through enough that the power they provide for them will be "green" and are in the process of building a hydrogen Interstate across the country that will hit all their major cities and have Hydrogen fueling stations along it.

jtanguay · « **Reply #37 on:** May 03, 2007, 04:15:47 am »

well it's as easy as setting up windmills/solar panels/geothermal generators.

they could all work continuously producing small amounts of hydrogen that build up... eventually it will be the future for sure. total green energy. the concept of hydrogen fuel cells is pretty neat... it's almost like a battery that doesn't discharge. hydrogen & oxygen molecules come together and create energy... about the same as it took to seperate them!

the diesel hybrid car should have a link from the motor to the wheels on a clutch system that can disengage for that extra zoom.

too bad for us that we don't have some of the nice smaller cars that Europe has. 1L efficient diesel cars would be very nice!!! who cares about speed when you commute to work in congested traffic? :lol:

burn_your_money · « **Reply #38 on:** May 03, 2007, 07:55:13 am »

Quote from: "Ziptar"

I live in Florida and this year there was a state law passed that gives further incentives, Yet, still One Retail Pump in Tampa and it's $2.99 last i check, still $0.20 more than diesel.

All in all that is only $2.00 more for a fill up, $2.00 for for a better running engine and a greener engine. It doesn't seem that much more expensive.

Ozca · « **Reply #39 on:** May 06, 2007, 05:02:54 pm »

Hi Everyone,
I have been watching Ballard for years and wonder if this technology is the answer,

http://www.ballard.com/be_informed/fuel_cell_technology/demonstration_programs/VFCVP

What do you think ?

jtanguay · « **Reply #40 on:** May 06, 2007, 05:36:40 pm »

yes... fuel celled vehicles will be the future... problem being is making the hydrogen tank safe, yet light weight.

however, regular combustion engines will be more favourable in the meantime due to costs.

MaxHedrm · « **Reply #41 on:** May 07, 2007, 03:16:38 pm »

Quote from: "Ziptar"

TTo be honest on Hydrogen, while it's attractive it's a long way off in America I think just because of how we do things and how politicized everything is. No one ever mentions Norway, that are kicking Hydrogen A**! They have created a Hydrogen Fueling Station that can be setup at ANY current gas station by simpling hooking up to the city water and power supply. They have though things through enough that the power they provide for them will be "green" and are in the process of building a hydrogen Interstate across the country that will hit all their major cities and have Hydrogen fueling stations along it.

Except when you have water restrictions. Not only could you not wash your car, but you couldn't fill it up either. Everything comes from someplace.

BlackTieTD · « **Reply #42 on:** May 08, 2007, 06:25:21 am »

Quote from: "burn_your_money"

Quote from: "Ziptar"

I live in Florida and this year there was a state law passed that gives further incentives, Yet, still One Retail Pump in Tampa and it's $2.99 last i check, still $0.20 more than diesel.

All in all that is only $2.00 more for a fill up, $2.00 for for a better running engine and a greener engine. It doesn't seem that much more expensive.

i completely agree burn_your_money... but the problem is that a lot of people are not willing to pay that small amount more (whatever their reason).

Quote from: "MaxHedrm"

Government mandates rarely work and just piss everyone off. The way to do it is for people to actually pay attention to what they are buying & vote with your pocketbook. For instance, Jetta Fan gripes about driving his gas engined Jimmy, quit whining & replace it ... there are some on ebay that went for under $4k.

that's why i think maxhedrm, that some sort of government mandate or some factor making a change mandatory is required. the majority of people just won't do it themselves. i hope i'm wrong but i mean... 20 cents a litre is a big deal to some people... not worth the extra money to make a positive change. :?

burn_your_money · « **Reply #43 on:** May 08, 2007, 09:02:47 am »

I guess all you have to do is slap a $0.20 "green" tax on diesel. And the money could be used to help clean up the enviroment from the dino diesel. That is what's left of it after the politicians get their hands on it.

Jetta Fan · « **Reply #44 on:** May 08, 2007, 11:16:12 am »

Interesting concept there Tyler. A "Green" tax you say. Let's see how it will all play out in the end....

A 20 cent green tax on diesel shoves up our operating costs, as well as the costs for all the truckers on the road. Government gets lots of tax dollars on top of what they already get. Costs to produce and drliver goods goes up. These costs are passed on to the consumer and as we all know, when we buy things, there's tax, so....Government gets lots of tax dollars on top of what they already get. Costs to operate a diesel car go up and in rebellion, some folks opt to buy gas cars, paying tax on said car. Government gets lots of tax dollars on top of what they already get.

The Government will get all kinds of money but I don't know if they will use it for good or just waste it.

Please note the above was written with sarcasm and not intended to run down Tyler's idea of a green tax. Just frustrated with paying a fortune in taxes every year and seeing a lot of it get wasted.....and emphasing Tyler's point at the end of his post "That is what's left of it after the politicians get their hands on it.".