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Biodiesel vehicles - READ ONLY

170 messages,  Last post on Jun 30, 2007 at 7:36 AM

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What is this discussion about? Alternative Fuels, Biodiesel

Messages Page 16 of 17

#151 of 170 How much fossil fuel do you want to use? by gagrice

Nov 25, 2005 (1:12 pm)

Take two VW Jetta cars one that uses gas the other B20 biodiesel and make a comparison. In 15K miles you will use 600 gallons of fosssil fuel gasoline. With the VW TDI burning B20 for the same 15K miles you will only use 315 gallons of fossil fuel diesel. Which is better for America? If we all switched to B20 fueled cars vs gasoline fueled cars we could cut our fossil fuel usage nearly in half. And we would not half to scramble to find more expensive batteries or fuel cells.

#152 of 170 Well, you gotta weigh the disavantages too... by larsb

Nov 25, 2005 (1:39 pm)

In most situations, there are both pros and cons of an action.
 
At least one "con" in the action you mentioned is that diesel fuel, even B20, puts out a lot of dirty emissions, especially soot, and until the advanced particulare filters are installed on every modern diesel vehicle, that is still a major health problem.
 
Lowering fossil fuel usage is an important goal, but so is public health.

#153 of 170 Re: Well, you gotta weigh the disavantages too... [larsb] by falconone

Nov 25, 2005 (2:53 pm)

Replying to: larsb (Nov 25, 2005 1:39 pm)
I'll take my chances with a hybrid before I ever bought another VW product.

#154 of 170 Bio-Diesel gaining by yerth10

Nov 28, 2005 (2:20 pm)

Worldwide Bio-Diesel usage is growing at a rapid speed. Probably faster than Hybrid Vehicles.
Malaysia is going to do a big conversion to B5. Brazil is also moving in.
 
Unless Toyota, Honda, Ford sells Hybrids without those extras, Bio-diesel vehicles may grab a big market share.

#155 of 170 Re: Bio-Diesel gaining [yerth10] by falconone

Nov 28, 2005 (5:37 pm)

Replying to: yerth10 (Nov 28, 2005 2:20 pm)
How can they grab market share in the US. CARB states are increasing. NJ and OR are now (or will be soon) part of CARB. No manufacturers will bring these to market unless they can sell them in all 50 states. I keep reading that this will be by this summer. How about just a plain old diesel from Honda or Toyota. Right now we have unreliable VWs and unreliable overpriced Mercedes. Am I biased?? No. I own a Mercedes and HAVE owned Audis and VWs. Great build quality, but very very expensive to maintain.

#156 of 170 Making waves by yerth10

Nov 30, 2005 (10:31 am)

Every week, we hear news about a new Bio-Diesel plant coming online or a fleet purchase of Bio-Diesel vehicles. If its price goes below $ 2.5 it will make a big push for Diesel.
 
Even today there is a news about Bio-Diesel plant in www.greencarcongress.com

#157 of 170 Seattle big on biodiesel by gagrice

Nov 30, 2005 (7:10 pm)

"Almost all of our customers run the highest blend that they can. Seattle is kind of unique in the nation," with private users pressing for the highest blends possible, said Dan Freeman of Dr. Dan's Fuelwerks in Ballard. "We have the highest concentration of individual users in the nation in the Puget Sound area."
 
"Environmental reasons, political reasons, every reason," said Seattle landscaper Ann Magnano, one of Freeman's customers. "It's about giving farmers the opportunity to keep farming ... helping the planet."
 
"I'd rather pay American farmers than Saudi kings," said Shoreline resident Jeff Van Horn, who also likes using the cleaner fuel around his kids.
 
Seattle, Tacoma and Olympia are all using biodiesel for at least some of their public transit and service vehicles.
 
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/249964_gbio28.html

#158 of 170 An opposing viewpoint by gagrice

Dec 23, 2005 (9:27 am)

In promoting biodiesel - as the EU, the British and US governments and thousands of environmental campaigners do - you might imagine that you are creating a market for old chip fat, or rapeseed oil, or oil from algae grown in desert ponds. In reality you are creating a market for the most destructive crop on earth.
 
Biodiesel negatives

#159 of 170 What Ford Pickups for Biodiesel by danashields

Mar 07, 2006 (9:15 am)

I'm told that brand-new ford pickups aren't appropriate for BD use becuase of their unusually high compression rates.
 
What is the newest Ford pickup that COULD in fact be used for the biodiesel I'm making? I don't want to get something TOO old.
 
It's costing me about 50 cents a gallon to make my biodiesel, and unfortunately, I'm making it faster than my Mercedes 300D can use it and I need a bigger vehicle to accomodate it.

#160 of 170 Re: What Ford Pickups for Biodiesel [danashields] by gagrice

Mar 07, 2006 (1:25 pm)

Replying to: danashields (Mar 07, 2006 9:15 am)
If I were you I would stick with the 7.3 PS from Ford. We have 4 new 6.0 diesels at work in the Arctic. They spend more time in the shop than on the road. Sensors constantly going bad. Catalytic convertors plugging up. Our last 4 Fords were 7.3 PS and never entered the warranty shop. Only oil changes for the 3 year lease. I think 2002 was the last year for the 7.3 Power Stroke. I would check with Bob King at Pacific Biodiesel. He believe he drives a Ford diesel on B100.
 
http://www.biodiesel.com/
 
PS
He is the fellow that got Willie started on pushing biodiesel.

Messages Page 16 of 17

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