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SJC
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They make DDG for livestock as an output. Make the fuel out of corn stalks and cobs.
Volvo is working with them on a 30kW unit to go into a new C30 model car. Just search for "Volvo HTPEM" to see the reformer that can turn diesel, gasoline or methanol into hydrogen for the fuel cell. http://www.powercell.se/
“will not be consistent with the public interest.” The public interest would be served turning the NG into gasoline and selling it here to stabilize prices.
fewer than 20 percent of agricultural waste could satisfy half of the world's gasoline demand by the year 2030. http://www.nbcnews.com/business/farm-waste-may-demand-return-biofuels-1C9990084
If they used CO2 from ethanol plants for algae or synthetic fuels, I would say they have something.
Fiber Forge advocates carbon fiber body panels for reduced weight and more strength. Car makers use steel because it is low cost and strong, weight was not a major concern and the perception was that weight meant safety. With HEV/PHEV/BEV we may see an emphasis on reducing weight. Once they show people that the cars are even stronger and affordable, the buying public may be convinced that is the way to go.
Synthetics can compete on price now, but the whole industry is geared toward drill, pump, transport and refine. When the oil gets harder to find and costs even more, alternatives will show up. I could see 10% synthetic ethanol and 10% synthetic gasoline becoming popular, once they look at cleaner air, cleaner engines and less imported oil.
"..but not so strongly that they can’t be pulled away from a carbon/boron anode by a more attractive cathode." This seems to be a key point for rechargeable cells. You want to "park" the ions but not bind them so they can return when charging. I think electro chemistry will find some interesting combinations in years to come.
We will see what comes of this, it would be my guess that those that said it was all a big conspiracy will be proven wrong, but they will be no where to be found to try to explain their previous positions.
These are the guys that made the Eliica, the 8 wheel EV. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2004/11/8wheeling_with_.html The mileage numbers are impressive, but if you want to do some good you have to get them out there being used in great numbers. If the market does not like the looks and/or has safety concerns then they will not sell in great numbers. Do you want to have great design or great success? Sometimes they do not go together.
"USABC, managed by Chrysler Group, Ford Motor Company, and General Motors.." Tesla is the exception not the rule, we saw that with CODA, Fisker and others. The big auto makers are the ones to bring cars to mass production. If and when the next 2X battery advance happens, they will put out EVs in greater numbers. It does not take a conspiracy nor conflict of interest, the numbers and markets have to be there.
At 3,315 lbs. (1,504 kg), ATS is among the lightest vehicles in its class. The ATS ... features extensive use of aluminum, which not only helps cut weight but also contributes to the car’s nearly perfect 50/50 weight distribution for improved driving dynamics. excellent...
I see that value of bio synthetic fuels, but all factors have to be considered. If you grow Miscanthus on pasture land at the perimeter of farm land, you don't need to fertilize at all. The carbon and root structures improve the land to where it could grow food crops. This study looked at cutting down forests, most forest land is not fertile enough for biofuel crops.
"We specifically consider heterogeneous catalytic routes to convert biomass into oxygenates and hydrocarbons, while ensuring that the gasoline blends identified satisfy all ASTM specifications." Create synthetic fuels using biomass, coal and natural gas to blend with refined fuels to reduce OPEC oil imports. Sounds good to me...always has.
Volvo is working on a C30 with HTPEM that not only reforms methanol, but other hydrocarbons like gasoline and diesel.
Provide 10% of our oil for 10 years and then what? After they frack the heck out of everything, we are scraping the bottom of the barrel.
When gasoline in the U.S. went from $2 to $4 per gallon in the U.S. in 2008, you would expect everyone to go out and buy a Camry hybrid that turned 20 mpg into 40 mpg, they did not. Expecting everyone to go out and buy a $30,000 BEV that gets a 100 mile range is not realistic. They may sell more with a battery improvement, a LEAF that sells for $20,000 with a 150 mile range would find some buyers.
If you are expecting $4 gasoline going to $8 gasoline in the U.S. causing 10% of the 200 million vehicles to become electric, I would ask what evidence do you have to support this? Think back 10 years ago, gasoline was about $2 gallon and then in 2008 became $4 per gallon. We did not see a rush to buy hybrids. We have had 5 years since then with more expensive gasoline and we don't have 10% hybrids on the road.
GTL synthetics This is practical, the U.S. will not scrap 200 million liquid hydrocarbon fueled vehicles and replace them with electric any time soon. The replacement will not even be 1% in the next 10 years.
That is one of the reason trucks handle and ride like trucks, they have all the weight of the axle and differential unsprung. Hit a bump or pot hole and you will feel it because the suspension response is not there.
Years ago Raser turned a Hummer H3 into a hybrid by putting a motor between the transmission and drive shaft. VIA motors makes stock 3/4 ton pickups and vans into hybrid by putting a motor in the drive line. The more fuel we save the less oil we import, in that case it IS all good.
Tesla has a 9 to 1 single speed reducer for their induction motor. Wheel motors may or may not have gearing depending on the number of poles. With enough poles it is possible to drive the wheel directly without gears. The motor has to be low loss at higher frequencies to allow high speed performance.
In this case there is a need for a more powerful axial motor to go between the engine and transmission to take up less space. They have made good advances here, the motor patents I saw from Honda were quite impressive. The market will decide which version from which car maker will be most popular. Markets don't always pick the technically superior product. For example Beta was technically superior to VHS, but VHS out sold Beta 10 to 1. Perception and inertia are factors beyond technical superiority.