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Cars: Join the Revolution
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Hybrid cars versus
biodiesel
from Hybridcarblog.com
I just responded to a post
of my criticism of CNN's hybrid hype article, where
someone commented that hybrid
cars were hype and that biodiesel was the answer. (more)
This train of thought seems to come up often.
While I commend biodiesel users, I do not see it as
viable answer to oil dependency, though I can see it as
a part of the solution. In particular, I would love to
see a biodiesel hybrid vehicle.
Still, it does take a extra energy to produce biodiesel.
Is that energy clean and cheap? Additionally, it would
take a lot of land to create enough biodiesel to end
foreign oil dependency. Inevitably, I believe, it would
be agribusiness that would dominate biodiesel, and the
land would become even more polluted with pesticides and
fertilizers.
Is that really the best solution?
Granted, compared with today's hybrid technology,
biodiesel makes a strong case. However, plug-in
hybrids and experimental hybrids have been
demonstrated to achieve as much as 250 mpg, and some
believe a biodiesel hybrid could achieve as much as 500
mpg.
The potential of hybrid technology offers too much
upside not to invest, and if combined with diesel and
biodiesel, offers a real solution to ending foreign oil
dependency in the short term, while ending oil
dependency in the long term.
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The
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The first
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Looks
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percent better gas mileage than a regular Civic.
(more)
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The
Lexus
RX400h Hybrid
The world's
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Due
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We the people, must be the
difference. Join the revolution, buy a hybrid car
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8 Comments:
One thing that is not mentioned often is the power source used when charging a plug-in Hybrid. If it's coal, how much does it matter that we are reducing dependency on foreing oil. How much oil was used to mine the coal and ship it to the plant to be burnt? Do we want to encourage the use of more oil to supply this coal power? I know the answer from you will be no, but that doesn't change the fact that a very large amount of the power in this country is still generated from coal. Another topic that I'd be interested to know more in is the batteries used in Hybrids. What goes into making one of these? What are the consequences when they are no good anymore and how long until they are no good anymore? I'm not talking about future technology here, I'm talking about the current NiMH batteries that are in use in today's hybrids.
Steve,
There have been numerous studies that prove that the electricity used to power a plug-in hybrid is cleaner and more efficient than burning oil, especially if you plug in your vehicle after coming home from work (off peak hours). One such study was completed by the Argonne National Laboratory.
Additionally, in California some are using solar arrays to generate their electricity for their plug-in.
In terms of batteries, the batteries should last - minimally - at least 8 - 10 years. According to Toyota engineers, there isn't any reason that the batteries in the second generation Hybrid Synergy Drive couldn't last much longer.
Your question regarding the pollution aspect of the materials used in the battery is a good one, and one that I don't have a complete answer. However, I would bet that the battery materials can be recycled and properly disposed and/or re-utilized.
Biodiesel has the highest life cycle energy return of any existing alternative fuel. Including Hydrogen fuel cells is their current state of development. The electric plug-in idea is a good one, particularly when paired with a diesel hybrid powered by biodiesel. I have yet to see a complete analysis of how this electricity is created. Coal? Hydro? Solar has yet to show a viable solution. Let's keep digging! (And utilize the best options available now)
The electricity is created just like the regular electricity in your area.
Studies, such as by Argonne, show that using even standard electricity from your house is still cheaper and cleaner than using gasoline via oil.
If you top off your batteries in off peak hours, the process is much cheaper. Overall, the average price would be about a dollar per gallon.
Typically, the batteries in your hybrid aren't going to be fully depleted. So, you would just be topping them off. Then as you drive and break, you'll generate your own electricity.
I believe, with subsidies, solar is viable in places like California, especially if plug-in hybrids are utilized. I know of people a few people in Southern California that power their house and two electric cars with only solar power, and their costs are significantly cheaper than their old power bill and gas for two cars.
Just after I made my post, CNBC ran a special on solar power. With natural gas prices rising, and the threat of hurricanes predicted for the next couple of decades, solar power is becoming far more cost-effective.
Coal powered electricity is neither renewable nor clean. Any emissions for electric plug-ins should include the emissions generated for the electricity, not measured exclusivly at the tailpipe.
That WAS taken into account by the study. Coal generated electricity is still cheaper and cleaner the oil power.
It takes energy to create bio-diesel. It will take pesticides and fertizilizers to create bio-diesel. That also results in pollution.
Plug-in hybrids are not utilizing that much electricity, you are just topping off your batteries, which is far cleaner, far cheaper than using oil - even if the electricity comes from coal.
It doesn't; however, have to come from coal. The point is, if solar power could not only power your home, but your vehicles - cost effectively - how big of an energy revolution would that be?
Well, that is possible, TODAY.
Still, without solar power, plug-in hybrids can extend the fuel efficiency of a hybrid vehicle to 80 - 100 mpg. These hybrids could end foreign oil dependency as fast as the vehicles could be made.
Additionally, a car functioning on electric power, particularly a hybrid is functioning much more efficiently than a conventional vehicle on gas or biodiesel.
In congestion, in stop-and-go traffic, waiting at a stop light - in these conditions - biodiesel or gasoline cars funtion very inefficiently, which wastes significant amounts of energy and cuases significant amounts of pollution. Hybrids fuction MOST efficiently in these conditions. So that electricity from your house is being used EXTREMELY effectively.
Additionally, hybrids will become much more efficient over time, as the second generation Prius did compared to the first generation Prius.
This evolution of hybrid technology, plus combining plug-in hybrids to biodiesel, could create vehicles capable of achieving 500 mpg within the next decade. In 10 years, conventional vehicles on biodiesel will still average 30 mpg, 40 mpg at best.
That's not worth striving for?
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