Automakers abusing fuel efficiency loopholes
The NYTimes is reporting that the EPA is not going to release a new report about how automakers are abusing fuel efficiency loopholes, setting America back 20 years in the fight against foreign oil dependency. Thus, Congress can pass another loopholed energy bill that actually provides incentives to companies, such as GM and Chrysler, to avoid developing hybrid cars in favor of diesel. While clean diesel offers some advantages over gasoline, the potential of hybrid vehicles is significantly greater than the potential of diesel. Just another example of how badly Congress sucks. Even in time of foreign-oil wars, and oil-driven terrorism, Congress still rewards auto companies and oil companies for making the problem worse. FIRE CONGRESS!
Labels: clean diesel, Congress, Foreign Oil Dependency, fuel efficiency, GM, Hybrid Vehicles
posted by Dahcredyns at
8:56 AM
8 Comments:
I wouldn't discount diesel altogether. Low-sulfur diesel can be made to run nearly as clean as gasoline with special catalysts. Diesel's 50% higher energy content makes it a much more efficient energy carrier. Diesel also requires less energy to refine than gasoline. So, from beginning to end, you have a much more efficient energy delivery process. Also, no modifications need to be made to replace Diesel with up to a 20% Biodiesel blend. In fact, very little would be required to run on 100% Biodiesel.
Bottom line, there is no reason diesel and hybrid technology cannot coexist within the same powertrain, which would optimal until we have other energy sources.
I wouldn't discount diesel altogether. Low-sulfur diesel can be made to run nearly as clean as gasoline with special catalysts. Diesel's 50% higher energy content makes it a much more efficient energy carrier. Diesel also requires less energy to refine than gasoline. So, from beginning to end, you have a much more efficient energy delivery process. Also, no modifications need to be made to replace Diesel with up to a 20% Biodiesel blend. In fact, very little would be required to run on 100% Biodiesel.
Bottom line, there is no reason diesel and hybrid technology cannot coexist within the same powertrain, which would optimal until we have other energy sources.
I wouldn't discount diesel altogether. Low-sulfur diesel can be made to run nearly as clean as gasoline with special catalysts. Diesel's 50% higher energy content makes it a much more efficient energy carrier. Diesel also requires less energy to refine than gasoline. So, from beginning to end, you have a much more efficient energy delivery process. Also, no modifications need to be made to replace Diesel with up to a 20% Biodiesel blend. In fact, very little would be required to run on 100% Biodiesel.
Bottom line, there is no reason diesel and hybrid technology cannot coexist within the same powertrain, which would optimal until we have other energy sources.
I have nothing against diesel, and I would love to see a diesel electric hybrid sold in the U.S.
I am; however, against diesel only engines as part of the clean energy tax credit. Since credits are capped at 60,000 vehicles per manufacturer, I feel that the credits should be used for more advanced technologies, such as hybrids and fuel cells.
Diesel dominates Europe and the Big 3 will be forced to offer clean diesel regardless of what happens in the U.S.
Also, diesel alone isn't enough to have much of an effect on foreign oil dependency or cleaning the air, hybrids have much more potential. Additionally, they will probably lay much of the foundation of fuel cell vehicles.
I'm in total agreement about having to commit more resources to hybrid development. In my opinion, though, it's not the additional funding towards diesel that is the problem. It's placing too much focus on fuel cells at this point.
Until we have a legitimate way of producing hydrogen from a non-fossil fuel based source, it's really pointless. I know we are all hoping for a breakthrough on this, but we are doing this at the expense of promoting many other technologies that could put a huge dent in our foreign oil dependance. This includes hybrids, Diesel/BioDiesel, and Ethanol(which is a whole other topic that is completely misunderstood by the public).
I'm still questioning the point of fuel cells in cars to begin with. The technology certainly is the future of energy production, but why must we have a unit on board every car? The function of each of these units is only to turn hydrogen into electricity, so the electricity can power the car. So, it begs the question - why are we bringing hydrogen to the cars, and not just the electricity (which is far more efficient to begin with)? Why are we shoving all of this equipment into a vehicle which won't even have an acceptable range without the most advanced, highest pressure fuel tanks that can be conceived?
We already have the infrastructure to distribute electricity. I think one of the biggest mistakes was abandoning the battery/electric car development already. Battery technology is advancing all of the time, and it was inevitable that the biggest factors, range and charge time, were going to be all but eliminated. I think it's funny that the best hydrogen cars we have right now have no better range than the battery/electric cars that were ready to be developed 10 years ago.
My theory? Yet more conspiracy between our government and the big oil companies. Who is positioned to reap the benefits of this hydrogen distribution infrastructure and all its subsidies? The same big oil companies.
I'm all for promoting fuel cells, but let's do it where it's most practical at this point. The answer to that is putting fuel cells in homes that have natural gas piped to them already. This technology, which can efficiently extract the hydrogen from the natural gas and create electricity, is ready. Wouldn't that be a nice compliment to being able to plug in a hybrid at your own home, if you so chose?
I definitely agree there is a little too much hype around fuel cell vehicles, and I find it very disturbing that GM, for example, has been for decades lobbying the government against fuel efficiency improvements because such improvements might limit fuel cell development.
I also agree that the hydrogen highway is possibly a flawed concept and one that is beneficial to the current energy powers.
I have promoted plug-in hybrids many times. As hybrid batteries become smaller and more efficient, hybrids could run much like electric vehicles, with the ability to gas-up if/when needed. Plus, having a plug-in hybrid with more/better batteries could enable solar power to fuel home and car - much like some SoCal electric vehicle owners were doing.
Of course, as you point out, wouldn't this be a huge threat to the energy industry?
I love reading about the American solar challenge, and it has caused me to wonder, why not a plug-in hybrid with solar cells on the roof, hood, and trunk.
So I've thought, much like how the X-prize challenged space, why not an E-prize to challenge the energy infrastructure with homemade plug-in hybrids, etc.?
I love the idea of the E-Prize....you have $20 billion laying around, by any chance?
One other thing that boggles my mind is how much we ignore the potential of ethanol. The recent study that got so much press because it claimed that ethanol production consumed more energy than it produced was all but discredited. Yet, that is going to remain in the back of everyone's mind that read the article. A complete lie, that I'm sure someone could trace back to big oil for funding!
Yes, the methods we use now, using only the food-source and very inefficient methods to produce the ethanol do not cast a fair light on ethanol. However, the potential of cellulose ethanol is tremendous, and we are all but ignoring it. With the vast farmland in this nation, it boggles the mind.
The technology from the Canadian-based company Iogen is ready. At least the Canadian government is backing it. I wish we had the foresight to work out a deal. My hope is that since Shell has invested into it, that it may eventually lead to facilities in the US.
Imagine, waste products putting a nice dent in our oil dependency!
I have about $20 laying around!
The X-Prize only gave out $10,000,000 for a much more difficult accomplishment. The E-Prize would be more of an awareness campaign.
Your post reminded of an entry from a while back that I made, 500 mpg Flex-fuel plug-in hybrids?
Even if biodiesel is ONLY as efficient as the oil to gasoline conversion, at least it wouldn't be imported.
Even more reason for the E-Prize.
Politicians who fight against the Energy powers won't survive in Congress. The government will never be the answer. They can only be relied on for pork and maintaining the status quo.
Ultimately, a better America comes down the people.
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