Cooking oil cheaper than diesel?

michigandon · May 18, 2006

What about all the thousands of acres out there that the government is paying people not to farm? What if all that land were put to use? I know that it would never be able to meet the fuel demand 100%. **** I'll be the first to admit that it wouldn't even come close. But even if it were able to make just the tiniest of dents............

Skinnymc · May 18, 2006

Using WVO is not a solution to completely replace fossil fuels. There needs to be conservation and more fuel efficient vehicles developed. Right now in Europe you can buy a 3 cyl. diesel VW that gets 99 mpg, but due to US government restrictions on vehicle imports you can't buy that car in the US.

There is also research being done that will allow for faster vegetable oil production. Veg oil can be obtained from algae, which can be grow in days in stacked trays that take up much less space that land based crops. The oil does not just need to come from soy, corn and peanuts.

For me, right now, WVO is the best option for me. As an engineer I am also developing ways for others to use it more easily.

Alex McKinney

Skinnymc · May 18, 2006

Using WVO is not a solution to completely replace fossil fuels. There needs to be conservation and more fuel efficient vehicles developed. Right now in Europe you can buy a 3 cyl. diesel VW that gets 99 mpg, but due to US government restrictions on vehicle imports you can't buy that car in the US.

There is also research being done that will allow for faster vegetable oil production. Veg oil can be obtained from algae, which can be grow in days in stacked trays that take up much less space that land based crops. The oil does not just need to come from soy, corn and peanuts.

For me, right now, WVO is the best option for me. As an engineer I am also developing ways for others to use it more easily.

Alex McKinney

Humbleto · May 18, 2006

Not trying to rain on anyone, just pointing out where we are now and the extemely long row we have to hoe to get to energy independence. Interesting about the oil from algae. I knew there was algae that eats petroleum but didn't know about algae used to make veg. oil. Sounds promising.

Humbleto · May 18, 2006

Not trying to rain on anyone, just pointing out where we are now and the extemely long row we have to hoe to get to energy independence. Interesting about the oil from algae. I knew there was algae that eats petroleum but didn't know about algae used to make veg. oil. Sounds promising.

Jay4200 · May 18, 2006

( Now the feds have to do something to make sure the auto manufacturers are doing there part to get these flex fuel and hybrid vehicles out on the road. I looked at a Ford Escape hybrid for the wife last year and it was so much more expensive that I could've drove a regular Escape for 5 years before I would've saved a nickel.)

Personally I think the whole Hybrid hype thing is a crock. It's a big pile of extremely expensive technology and potentially failed components (w/ associated high costs of ownership), just to get 45-60 MPG. A VW Rabbit Diesel got 60MPG in 1988. I got 45MPG in my first car, a 1976 Subaru DL w/ a flat 4 gas motor (although I DID have to keep it to 55MPH to get it). Pthth.

Jay

Jay4200 · May 18, 2006

( Now the feds have to do something to make sure the auto manufacturers are doing there part to get these flex fuel and hybrid vehicles out on the road. I looked at a Ford Escape hybrid for the wife last year and it was so much more expensive that I could've drove a regular Escape for 5 years before I would've saved a nickel.)

Personally I think the whole Hybrid hype thing is a crock. It's a big pile of extremely expensive technology and potentially failed components (w/ associated high costs of ownership), just to get 45-60 MPG. A VW Rabbit Diesel got 60MPG in 1988. I got 45MPG in my first car, a 1976 Subaru DL w/ a flat 4 gas motor (although I DID have to keep it to 55MPH to get it). Pthth.

Jay

howlin_wolf · May 18, 2006

(
Personally I think the whole Hybrid hype thing is a crock. It's a big pile of extremely expensive technology and potentially failed components (w/ associated high costs of ownership), just to get 45-60 MPG. A VW Rabbit Diesel got 60MPG in 1988. I got 45MPG in my first car, a 1976 Subaru DL w/ a flat 4 gas motor (although I DID have to keep it to 55MPH to get it). Pthth.

Jay )

Yes, for right now they are a crock, but so is paying out the wazoo for a gallon of diesel or gas. We need to keep pushing at this and get better and better with it to get more fuel economy or just burn up the fossil fuels until they're all gone or we're all broke.

The plane the Wright brothers flew at Kitty Hawk was a crock too, but it's a good thing they didn't just quit, eh?

The high tech computer you're typing on would've cost a few hundred thousand to build in 1976 and wouldn't have even fit in your Subaru, but today it's a little different.

/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

howlin_wolf · May 18, 2006

(
Personally I think the whole Hybrid hype thing is a crock. It's a big pile of extremely expensive technology and potentially failed components (w/ associated high costs of ownership), just to get 45-60 MPG. A VW Rabbit Diesel got 60MPG in 1988. I got 45MPG in my first car, a 1976 Subaru DL w/ a flat 4 gas motor (although I DID have to keep it to 55MPH to get it). Pthth.

Jay )

Yes, for right now they are a crock, but so is paying out the wazoo for a gallon of diesel or gas. We need to keep pushing at this and get better and better with it to get more fuel economy or just burn up the fossil fuels until they're all gone or we're all broke.

The plane the Wright brothers flew at Kitty Hawk was a crock too, but it's a good thing they didn't just quit, eh?

The high tech computer you're typing on would've cost a few hundred thousand to build in 1976 and wouldn't have even fit in your Subaru, but today it's a little different.

/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

coffeeman · May 18, 2006

Alex

Wondering what the government restriction is on that 3 cyl diesel VW? If it has to do with air pollution would using a bio diesel help cut down emissions from VW?

Just thinking here. Hey, does someone smell smoke?

Coffeeman