Interesting chart on alternative fuels.

[chavez]

Clearly, Algae based biodiesel is the best choice. Now, if we could just get the moron politicians on board...

[J-Ro]

"Huh huh huh, Rapeseed"

[DRAGON88]

chavez, wut r u talking about. Ethonol is awesome!111eleventy!!! FLEX-FUEL 4 LIEF!!!!

[Dpierce37]

why not just use water!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Rb_rDkwGnU&eurl=http://bitsandpieces.us/

http://www.runyourcarwithwater.com/

[microman]

I have read very little in terms of science or economics that supports the use of ethanol from corn as a biofuel, yet it continues to be heavily subsidized. Few things make less sense.

[Tyler T]

Thanks for the chart. I find this topic to be very interesting and will be closely following the developments in algae based biofuels.

[chavez]

microman, that is because it has nothing to do with science or economics.

It has to do with buying votes in middle America and Detroit - and GM putting on the facade of being "environmentally friendly" with their "Flex Fuel" badges.


Why can't I have one of these: Subaru Outback Boxer Diesel

[Commodore]

Tyler T, same here. I have been reading heavily on algae production. I think with the use of coal plants still high, now would be an ideal time to work on introducing Algae systems at those coal plant locations. The high amount of CO2 from the coal plants is ideal for algae production. The problem is harvesting the oil from the algae. There is wasteful and then expensive ways, but not yet functional and affordable.

[oshensurfer]

It really is a readily available source that we could probably get technology ready for in 5 years, if we can get the politicos on board. ...and that's the sad part.

[Commodore]

oshensurfer, bingo.

[oshensurfer]

Algae is probably one of the easiest things to manufacture/grow, also.

I paid $90 to fill my Tahoe on Monday. Absolutely ridiculous. It's making me rethink buying my dream car.

[chavez]

Ahem...

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2005/11/illinois_senato.html

[oshensurfer]

Did the bill pass with minor modifications or ...... that was introduced in 2005.

[microman]

Nuclear power could alleviate a lot of energy needs too, but how many nuclear plants have been built in North America in the last 20 years?

[Commodore]

oshensurfer, right, but it's getting the oil out in the best possible way that they are still trying new things with. There's pressure, and even chemical seperation, but pressure doesn't get the full yeild, and chemically not only is expensive, there are the by-products.

[Wakebrad]

So if we switch to algae growth will we see a "global cooling" scare in the next 20 years when greenhouse emissions go WAY into the negative?

Good chart.

[chavez]

oshensurfer, no it did the usual and got stuck in committee in the senate. Teh lame.

[actiondcpd]

The only way the US will do anything towards alt. energy is for gas prices to continue to increase. I hate paying twice as much to fill my car, but at the same time I don't mind because if it goes high enough, people will finally start to realize we need to start looking for something new. Right now people just are too used to doing things the same old way... If gas goes to 10 dollars an gal, it will be hard for politicians to push the same BS. My opinion anyway.

[churchy]

actiondcpd, I would be willing to pay $10 per hour to run my truck.. i think you mean per gallon.

[J-Ro]

Interesting thing I read about diesel. Obviously Europe is big into diesel. This is due to the heavy taxes on gas and none on diesel but there are other factors. One being the size of Europe in regards to shipping goods. Rail is much more efficient. The second is the lax emission requirements when compared to the US. Finally the crack ratio of a barrel of oil is different than here and changing that is extremely expensive. Finally there is a limited supply of diesel just like gas and it is a good subsidized alternative in Europe but if the US switched to predominately diesel, there wouldn't be enough to go around. The key is diversity across nations between different fuel types and sources. Unfortunately our leadership is too short sighted to come up with any ideas. Just some thoughts.

[pet575]

I love the fact that oil greed is pushing us toward developing alternative fuels. They must figure they'd better get all they can while the gettin is still good. If they are as smart as they seem, they'll invest in many different alternative fuels now so that they are still in business when gas cars are the equivalent of coal/wood-burning furnaces in our residences.

[ohsix]

[pet575]

I blame the president.

[RampageWake]

wes, quit confusing us with the facts! Its a conspiracy I tell ya, a conspiracy!

[pet575]

Even though everyone else does it, I also blame blue jeans.

[Brit Rider]

[Brit Rider]

Probs also worth mentioning that Japan knows a thing or two about clean and efficient vehicles also.

The current top 10 most fuel efficient cars don't feature 1 American vehicle.
It goes like this:
1.seat ibiza eco motive - 74mpg
2.volkswagen polo blue motion - 74mpg
3. MINI cooper D - 72mpg
4. MINI cooper clubman D - 68mpg
5. Citroen C1 - 68mpg
6. Citroen c2 - 68mpg
7. Fiat 500 - 67mpg
8. Fiat Panda - 65mpg
9. Mazda 2 - 65mpg
10. Toyota Prius - 65mpg

[chavez]

Brit Rider, sounds about right. Only one car on that list is sold here.

Seriously, you folks must think we are a bunch of f**king retards. I am ashamed of our leaders, and ashamed of the automotive IQ of the American people.

Now tell me, what percentage of vehicles sell with a proper gearbox?

Seriously. We SUCK.

[Brit Rider]

That's what I don't understand you know... the cars and technology are available, so why not use them? There's all this chat in the US constantly about going to new fuels but people don't stop and think to use what we have now. It's all available but there's this love of US domestic vehicles that I just don't understand. The British car industry is dead because it couldn't compete on quality, price and efficiency with the germans and Japanese builders... seems about time for the American industry to wake up or go down the same drain.

You raised a perfect point of the new Suburu Boxer Diesel engine - Why don't Suburu offer it in the US? Seems to make no sense to me. I can only think it comes down to money.... I know from some quick casual research that a Mercedes ML430 is precisely double the cost in the UK as in the USA.

Do BMW offer their Efficiency Dynamics packs in the US? Or does Volkswagen offer their BlueMotion cars to you guys?

[Brit Rider]

And yes, we like proper gearboxes here... cheaper, more efficient and quicker!

[chavez]

Brit Rider, Subaru is playing "wait and see" with VW and Honda. If they see an opportunity in diesel, they are coming.

I asked the service folks at VW last week when the diesels will be in, he said "literally any time". He also said that the techs recently completed their training for both the new CRD's and the new Tiguan (incl the CRD model).

Also, Honduh says 2010 model year for TSX (Euro Accord) diesel, and possibly Accord diesels.

Best part about the VW, Hondugh, and Subie diesels - they won't need urea injection. (lower cost)


Never heard of BMW "efficiency packs". Ain't it grand?

And I am ok with automatics - so long as there is no torque converter involved. SMG, DSG, DCT, et al. - awesomeness.

[Brit Rider]

So if you walk into a car garage right now is Diesel quite a rare offering? It's basically 50:50 split here and the rule of thumb being, if you drive more than 15,000 miles a year, or plan on keeping the car more than 3 years then buying diesel is worth it.

BMW's SMG, VAG's DSG etc are all exceptions but they aren't autos in the standard sense... and they can make it quicker... so are definitely allowed!

[Chad H]

Oddly enough i was learning about the Microalgae for biofuel on my AP test yesterday. It was crazy how much more efficient it was than other stuff like corn.

[ohsix]

The EPA puts requirements on how clean the burned fuel must be whereas the EU focuses more on fuel economy, I believe. An EU car could not pass EPA requirements and an EPA car could not pass EU requirements. I know diesel economy goes down across the board every time a "cleaner" diesel engine is introduced to meet new EPA requirements.

I do think the U.S. will start following Europe's trend of economical diesel cars. I believe Jeep is now offering a diesel. Up until a couple of years ago, ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) was not widely available in the U.S. which is what most European injection pumps require.

[chavez]

Brit Rider, beyond rare in cars. Literally, the Mercedes E class is it. There are ZERO other diesel new cars available in the US of A at this very moment.

Of course, VW is about to change that with the Jetta. So once the Jetta drops, we will have 2! YAY!