Hybrid cars versus diesel / biodiesel: Which is better?
- Dahcredyns said...
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One of the biggest reasons for plug-in hybrids is the fact that the far majority of daily driving is less than 50 miles per day.
While a plug-in hybrid isn't going to be nearly as fuel efficient on 1000 mile trips, how often do the majority of Americans take 1000 mile trips?
That's why plug-ins have the high mileage estimates.
- Anonymous said...
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why not use grow HEMP to make bio diesal. It leaves the ground in better shape, it's a hardy plant and would no need alot of extra chemicals and shit.
- Dahcredyns said...
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I think hemp would probably be a great source for biofuel, but since it can hardly be studied thanks to illogical government regulations, we'll probably never know.
- Bill said...
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I'm an Arizona solar powered home owner. I sell solar to the grid and use what I need from the grid. Indirectly, I'm solar charging the house and, if they build a pluggable hybrid, I'll charge my Prius this way. California hackers have done this to their hybrids with great success. After the warranty is ended I'd guess. The most interesting part of the equation is who owns the patents for the battery technology. Travel down that rabbit hole.
- Anonymous said...
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I agree that biodiesel alone is not a viable solution for the gas problem; but when combined with hybrid technology, it could make a great difference.
It is true that the US could not realistically support growing biodiesel through cash crops such as corn, canola, or soybeans, and that the resources used for such production would include many pollutants.
There is, however some great research being done on producing biodiesel using high-oil algae in shallow ponds. This would allow production to occur using low overhead, little environmental impact, and would be able to use otherwise fallow land for its growth. You can read up on it here:
http://www.unh.edu
/p2/biodiesel/article_alge.html
Combining the superior mileage of future hybrids with the largescale production of biodiesel could effectively end our dependence on petrol (though not its use entirely, of course, unless we start making all of our plastics from soybeans, too.).
- Anonymous said...
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On the topic of government subsidies for agricultural production, and on what crops would be best suited for biodiesel fuel.. what about the New Yorker mag article last year on sugar cane? Seemed to say this is potentially the best yet, but that the sugar industry has some protections in place that prevent it from being raised as widely as the economic opportunity we're talking about might suggest it should be. Apparently revisions to the status quo came up for a vote, and apparently a certain Illinois senator running for higher office didn't see fit to support it. WTF?
- Anonymous said...
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ok, here's how the biodiesel hybrid situation as of now:
#1 PRODUCTION OF BIODIESEL
making enough biodiesel to replace the foreign oil imports is as easy as 800 acres of the plant that produces the most biodiesel per acre(algea) in each state(keeping in perspective that being so fuel efficient, the current yearly demand for oil in the u.s. in around 7.5 billion gallons). A few, meaning 2-5 processing and transesterification plants in each state would produce enough, then shipping the biodiesel to wherever it is needed within the state and the state could regualate the prices of the fuel.
#2 THE CAR
as of now, we have the technology to produce a biodiesel hybrid. i mean, we have engines that run on B100. We also have hybrids. And electrically motorized cars. Oh, and so many improvements to the diesel engine. how hard could it be for car manufacturers to put 1&1 together?
#3THE PROBLEM/REASON WE DON'T HAVE THESE CARS AVAILABLE YET
The reason we don't have these cars yet is mainly the ties of the oil companies and the car manufacturing industries. both companies make so much more profit, and will continue to do so until they run out of crude oil. This is all in the problem with importing nations having ties with terror groups, whose plan has been stated, to try to drain the U.S.'s money slowly to try to defeat it. they do this with the war, it's costing us too much that's being spent on a lost cause as of now. it's obvious the importing countries have ties is because gas there is very underpriced. as low as 30 cents to the gallon. how do they make up for this? they charge us. how this relates to the car? like i said before, the ties between the car manufacturers and the foreign oil companies in it for the highest profit they can get. so the biodiesel hybrid is just about out of the question of getting one from the factory within the next 5-15 years, or until we have burnt all oil available.
- Name: kireinakristin said...
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Quick Question: Doesn't the Hybrid only use the battery when the vehicle is going less than 40mph or maybe 50mph? I was told that the Prius, once going over 40mph, would switch to gas. For freeway driving and even most surface streets, it seems like you would mostly be using the gasoline part of the Hybrid.
- tedkidd said...
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FOR THOSE WHO THINK IT'S AN EITHER/OR QUESTION, HOPEFULLY YOU HAVE THE CAPACITY FOR A BROADER PERSPECTIVE...
I drive a DIESEL - it's awesome. Great torque, great highway mileage, great range.
I've tried a HYBRID - it's awesome! No idling but all systems operate, great power, great city mileage, great range.
I use energy from the GRID - it's awesome - there when I want it - mostly during the day - unfortunately at night the infrastructure is under-utilized (WASTED!), making it inefficient causing pollution per KWH to be high.
I can only think that the combination of these three technologies would be the best of all worlds - Range of a DIESEL, regenerative and on-demand power of a HYBRID, and utilization of untapped grid energy via night time PLUG-IN.
These technologies are not hypothetical bait and switch pie in the sky political posturing, these technologies and the infrastructure EXIST! ARGUING EITHER/OR IS STUPID AND DIVISIVE. INSTEAD WE SHOULD BE ARGUING FOR ALL.
How about a vehicle with an engine that runs only after you've driven 50-60 miles!
For most it might only run once or twice a month!
You'd almost NEVER go to the gas station (most don't think about their weekly visit - once you drive a vehicle that calls for this once a month you recognize the inconvenience).
Electrics need very little maintenance, think about changing the oil every 3 years.
And if your house lost power you'd have a backup diesel generator in your garage.
- Dahcredyns said...
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tedkidd-
I totally agree with you. In addition, I believe that diesel hybrids could be cost-effective with economies of scale. Sure, it requires long-term thinking, but when added with ending foreign oil dependency, for example, it's not just cost-effective, it's cost smart.
It's time for the government to create incentives for automakers to develop these vehicles and incentives for consumers to buy them. I'd much rather have my tax dollars go towards ending foreign oil dependency, rather than towards fighting wars to protect foreign oil dependency.
