Why not a bio-diesel-electric hybrid?
The hybrid vehicle powertrain is a beautiful thing because of the plethora of engine combinations with which it is able to integrate.
Currently, most hybrid cars, such as the Toyota Prius, are gas-electric hybrids that utilize both gasoline engines and electric motors. However, the future of hybrids could be dominated by diesel engine and electric motor combinations, or hydrogen engine electric motor combinations - a vehicle that Ford has already conceptualized.
Still, hydrogen doesn't offer a solution today. Diesel hybrids, on the other hand, pose some interesting possibilities today, such as bio-diesel-electric hybrids. These vehicles could utilize new techniques that could turn American crops into clean bio-diesel fuel for American vehicles.
The point is, hybrid powertrains enable the integration of the best innovations in the automotive industry to create vehicles that can have an immediate impact on the environment, economy, and foreign-oil dependency.
The only obstacle is profit. Making America a safer and more socially responsible country just isn't cost-effective for two of America's most important corporations. Or, even worse, making America safer isn't even a concern.
As an American citizen I find this completely unacceptable. While I realize more than a million jobs are at stake, the fact that these companies - and their cronies in Congress - have put the security of 100's of millions at risk with greed-driven corporate incompetence is unforgivable.
Americans do not owe either GM or Ford anything. GM and Ford owe America - not in decades when they can monopolize fuel cell technology for fat shareholder dividends - today.
More important and unfortunate; however, Congress needs to be fired for serving lobbyists rather than citizens.
Currently, most hybrid cars, such as the Toyota Prius, are gas-electric hybrids that utilize both gasoline engines and electric motors. However, the future of hybrids could be dominated by diesel engine and electric motor combinations, or hydrogen engine electric motor combinations - a vehicle that Ford has already conceptualized.
Still, hydrogen doesn't offer a solution today. Diesel hybrids, on the other hand, pose some interesting possibilities today, such as bio-diesel-electric hybrids. These vehicles could utilize new techniques that could turn American crops into clean bio-diesel fuel for American vehicles.
The point is, hybrid powertrains enable the integration of the best innovations in the automotive industry to create vehicles that can have an immediate impact on the environment, economy, and foreign-oil dependency.
The only obstacle is profit. Making America a safer and more socially responsible country just isn't cost-effective for two of America's most important corporations. Or, even worse, making America safer isn't even a concern.
As an American citizen I find this completely unacceptable. While I realize more than a million jobs are at stake, the fact that these companies - and their cronies in Congress - have put the security of 100's of millions at risk with greed-driven corporate incompetence is unforgivable.
Americans do not owe either GM or Ford anything. GM and Ford owe America - not in decades when they can monopolize fuel cell technology for fat shareholder dividends - today.
More important and unfortunate; however, Congress needs to be fired for serving lobbyists rather than citizens.
Labels: clean diesel, Congress, electric cars, Ford, Foreign Oil Dependency, GM, Hybrid Vehicles, prius, toyota
posted by Dahcredyns at
8:30 AM
7 Comments:
I would be happy to buy a new or convert my Toyota 4-runner into a bio-diesel hybrid. To help the environment and help get us off foriegn oil would be a tremendous leap forward for America.
Biodiesel and ethanol provide great opportunities for reducing foreign oil dependency, check out this story about how Brazil almost ended its foreign oil depenency using such methods. A few decades ago, Brazil imported 80% of its oil from foreign countries.
Flex
fuel vehicles reduce foreign oil dependency in Brazil
and demonstrate U.S. Congressional incompetence
i think biodiesel electric is not the only answer, but it would work out for many americans. we can create biodiesel using the agricultural waste products. we could simply replace modern engines to accept flex fuels/biodiesel and retrofit other components like regenerative brakes, electric motors, and capacitors. we have the technology, we have the man power. and in times like these we should have more than enough will power to boost ourselves out of the depression, and into a sustainable world economy. stop being stupid america, grow up and evolve. face the facts we have to adapt.
bio-diesel-electric hybrids makes the most sense !!! What da !!??!! I hope the "big" car companies all go down.
we can't just blame big automakers. many forces have retarded US energy policy for decades. let's not forget big oil and hordes of politicians.
I've always wondered how much stock the auto industry has in oil ,or how much the oil industry has in auto
Well there has been a long connection between these industries, but I don't think it's that strong of a relationship any longer. still, that would be an interesting topic to investigate, especially if it were investigated since the early days of Ford and Standard Oil, for instance.
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