You do know how to do a word search I believe? I gave up doing the research work for others on this site some time ago, finally seeing that no one was really interested, and that requests for postings were just a ploy to generate further derision. The algae variations were discussed here before with the usual suspects weighing in on the limitations and impediments to its use - I was the observer then. It is interesting to watch the flip flops on the subject - but it is all just fun after all.
For all of the "noise and saying less" I do seem to touch a lot of exposed nerves here.
As for "taking a hike": I have been on foot for going on two years now, with many thousands of dollars in savings deposits to boot.
"I do not recall you posting any link in the short time you have visited here, that had anything at all to do with diesel, biodiesel or algae production for fuel." =========================================================== "Shocked, Shocked I say!" There are so many errors in your post and its implications I scarcely knew where to start. Then it occurred to me: If you can make the statement about me having posted nothing relating to diesel and its related subjects after yourself having commented on and disputed several of my posts and links, then we are in a different part of the jungle than I thought. I will leave it to others to imagine why you would make such a statement that you either know is false, or have no cognizance of.
As to the algae fuel re-discussion; I expect it will recycle itself like all the rest have, with many of the usual suspects "forgetting" which side of the discussion they were originally on.
One last note: "It looks like the real deal at 100,000 gallons per acre per year." Think about that one just a little - I think it will come to you.
I was surprised to see some priuses used as taxi in Paris. Granted they aren't numerous, but it seems their efficiency in traffic gridlock is pretty good compared to diesel counterparts.
Even in the land of diesel (2/3rd of new cars sold in France are diesel), there is a point to gas hybrids. It depends on the use and personal preference. If the Prius was available as a station wagon and with more power, I woud be glad to consider one.
I wonder if the prius could run on LPG. not much so for the mileage, but because LPG cost half per liter in comparison to RUG in France.
You do know how to do a word search I believe? Yup, and I've posted a few links from that search. Apparently you don't. FAIL
hypnosis44 wrote:
"I gave up doing the research work for others on this site some time ago, finally seeing that no one was really interested, and that requests for postings were just a ploy to generate further derision."
So, let me get this straight, you come in here, make a bunch of highly contrary and pessimistic statements, and then when challenged, you wimp out and head for cover. FAIL
hypnosis44 wrote:
"The algae variations were discussed here before with the usual suspects weighing in on the limitations and impediments to its use - I was the observer then."
I've yet to see a single impediment to the use of biodiesel sourced from algae, however, there are still some technical hurdles to raising the yield, but hey, that's why those of us who are well educated and creative engineers have jobs; so that we can come up with innovative solutions to technical limitations. You on the other hand seem incapable of doing anything but heaping derision on any hint of innovation. FAIL
hypnosis44 wrote:
"There are so many errors in your post and its implications I scarcely knew where to start."
There you go again speaking in sweeping generalities but providing absolutely no substance what-so-ever. FAIL
hypnosis44 wrote:
"I will leave it to others to imagine why you would make such a statement that you either know is false, or have no cognizance of."
Nope, based upon your absolute lack of supporting references, it seems that you're the one who’s either the liar or the delusionary in this thread. FAIL
I think it's safe to say that it's time to dub thee "TROLL".
"Chevron, Honeywell, and Boeing are starting algae businesses. . . .that bit about Boeing (which I assume is the division that deals with turbines. . ."
Honeywell is most assuredly in the turbine engine business as well.
"Two years ago, we were quite skeptical of this whole area, because we thought there were too many challenges," said Bill Glover, environmental-strategy director for Boeing's commercial plane division. "Then we started to see a few things we hadn't seen before, people entering the field looking at alternatives, all kinds of feedstock."
Sometime next year, the company, in partnership with Virgin Atlantic and engine maker GE Aviation, plans to fly a biofuel-propelled 747.
The company is testing biofuels from different origins, ranging from soybeans — a well-established source of biodiesel — to algae.
Gary, I'm looking for total worldwide Jetta TDI sales since 1997, nothing found yet. That page I linked above says this:
For 30 years, Volkswagen has provided the U.S. market with efficient and durable diesel vehicles. The company has sold 813,476 diesel powered Volkswagens.
So Dale; I did a word search on algae, troll, and fail - and guess what, nothing comes up (except Astro air vents), including yours - you, I, and others, do not seem to exist.
All of those comments, links, and critiques of my posts by other posters, who preceded you on this site over the past many months, were also trolls I guess.
If you stay on here long enough you will watch as others post refutations to their own posts, or sit silently as their own statements get buried in an avalanche of contrary evidence, and then claim never to have made the statements even as their own statements are referenced.
And, why is someone who claims to be developing a main frame up at 4:00 AM - are the FAIL warnings flashing? Hope things go better for you after having lost all of your hobbies, (per your bio)
Air New Zealand and Boeing are secretly working to create the world’s first green aviation fuel, made of wild algae. The fuel is essentially derived from bacterial pond scum created through the photosynthesis of sunlight and carbon dioxide on nutrient-rich water sources such as sewage ponds.The company providing the biofuel is Aquaflow Bionomic Corporation. If the project pans out the small and relatively new New Zealand company could lead the world in environmentally sustainable aviation fuel.
I am personally not for using food for fuel. I think it becomes counter productive. I think the cutting down of the rain forests and planting palm trees for biodiesel is not a good idea. Using waste oil & grease currently dumped into our landfills would be a no brainer as a fuel source. Of all the feedstocks for replacing fossil fuel I would say algae holds the most promise. When this happens those that own a vehicle that will run on biodiesel are going to be at the leading edge. Also when Katrina hit there were many stations in FL, LA & MS that ran out of RUG and still had plenty of diesel. Add to that you have 30 to 50% more range with the same size fuel tank when you are using diesel.
The Jetta body style was developed due in part to the Volkswagen marketing group's observation that the North American market leaned more towards sedans as opposed to the Golf's hatchback configuration. As of 2005, over 6.6 million cars have been sold worldwide, with over 2.2 million alone sold in the United States. Since the original version in 1980, the car has grown in size and power with each successive generation.
My guess is at least half of the ones sold in the EU were TDI. The fact that Americans are more interested in 0-60 than in MPG I doubt that more than 20% of those 2.2 million sold here were diesel. That is not an indictment of the diesel engine. It is an indictment on the American mind set.
4.89 for diesel locally, 4.11 for premium, 3.80 for 87 octane.
Consider 87-octane price and diesel price in cents. Divide by 10 and you will have approximately the max highway mpg. ... max highway mpg you can get with each type of small/medium-size sedan at a constant 70 mph, ~48 mpg for diesel (jetta), ~38 mpg for gas, cobalt XFE or civic. non-hybrids only, i suppose, for this little formula. As price increases a bit more, the divide-by-10 approach may match max hybrid mpg, for gas hybrid vs diesel hybrid.
(currently maybe the Toyota Pious can get 48 mpg or more @ steady-state 70 mph?)
Remember though Gary - that "mindset" of which you speak was created by the historically stinky diesel exhaust, the failed diesel experiment by GM in the 1970s, the ingrained belief that diesel is not a good fuel for cars, and VW's own deserved reputation for low-ish quality cars.
It was not brainwashing by the guvmint or anything else that created this mindset. It was reality.
Now that the reality has been slightly altered by much cleaner exhaust, hopefully better performing cars, the reality of gasoline prices, and hopefully other carmakers besides MB and VW going to be into the fray, there is hope for diesel cars in the USA.
Those lost years were not lost because of stupid consumers. They were lost because the product was just not good enough. NOW, maybe it will be going forward.
that "mindset" of which you speak was created by the historically stinky diesel exhaust
I was referring to the 0-60 MPH being of more importance than the MPG. What you are saying are also issues that must be overcome for diesel to gain any foothold. Even with the hybrids how much has been written about the slow 0-60 times? And who buying a hybrid really cares? Unless you are buying a Lexus performance hybrid to look green.
I think caring about the 0-60 time is becoming a relic of the past for most people. It's really an outdated, outmoded measurement that was important decades ago but is not considered much now by new car buyers. It's perpetuated only by the car reviewers who post it and the car mags.
I know none of the cars I have bought in the last 15 years have I cared one iota about the 0-60 times.
People today mostly shop for cost and for MPG and for the right size car for their needs.
...let's lay off the personal comments. In this forum, troll is defined by me. If you don't agree with someone else's viewpoint, say so and move on. Belaboring the issue is neither productive or necessary.
The horse is dead, the carcass is at the glue factory. Put the sticks away.
I know none of the cars I have bought in the last 15 years have I cared one iota about the 0-60 times.
That was never on my list of importance. I am going by magazine reviews and posters here at Edmund's. I know you remember all the dialog on how slow the HCH, Prius and Jetta TDI are from 0-60 MPH. I have always been more into utility with PU trucks and SUVs. I can never see my self buying another low slung car. And I did like driving the Passat TDI. Except the ground clearance was too low for me. The older you get the better you will understand the difficulty of ingress and egress of most of the cars built today. Wrapping myself into the Yaris was a good reminder of why I went for the Sequoia. Along with maybe a 100 other good reasons.
"I think caring about the 0-60 time is becoming a relic of the past for most people. It's really an outdated, outmoded measurement that was important decades ago but is not considered much now by new car buyers. It's perpetuated only by the car reviewers who post it and the car mags."
You're right, many of us, me included, care more about zero to one-hundred and one-hundred to zero than we do about the zero to sixty metric.
Like I showed to Gary in another post yesterday on ( I think ) another forum, people do or do not buy cars for a lot of reasons, but most don't use 0-60 times as a MAJOR buying criteria.
Most people today judge a car's acceleration usually when they test drive it. If they think the engine is too sluggish, then they will usually move on to another car, unless they have decided that engine sluggishness is not a major issue for them and that other issues are more important.
I do know that in the "mini-van craze" a few years ago, people settled for sluggish acceleration because of all the other logistical and storage problems that a minivan solved for them.
The people remaining on the Earf who buy a car "just because it goes 0-60 in 6 seconds" are a rare breed indeed.
The people remaining on the Earf who buy a car "just because it goes 0-60 in 6 seconds" are a rare breed indeed.
Maybe in "6" seconds. The articles I have read on the BMW, Mercedes & Honda diesels coming to America, all played up the acceleration being equal to or better than the gas counterparts. I think that was one of the negatives that diesel will have to overcome is acceleration. If you are in a city then most of the time it is wasted. The on ramp I use to Interstate 8 from my old home is a tight circle posted 25 MPH. The length of space you have to merge when you come out of that circle onto the 70 MPH freeway is very short and a steep grade. I have to stomp on the gas of the Sequoia to get up to speed and avoid getting run over. My Ranger PU with a low powered V6 does not have what it takes. I have had to pull onto the side of the freeway and wait for 30 or more cars to go by before I have enough room to get up to 60 MPH. I know there are some hairy places getting onto I 10 south of Phoenix as well. Though it is not uphill just 75 MPH+ traffic.
As pointed out the 30-80 MPH figure is most important for many drivers myself included.
No one really cares that much about 0-60 times. It's mostly just reviewers and car magazines keeping that piece of information as a routine part of reviews.
Never once in my life, which is nearing probably 650,000 miles of driving, do I remember having a car too slow to merge into the traffic I needed to merge into.
Do you know of anyone, ever, who said to a car salesman during a test drive, "I'm taking this car to the hardest-to-merge-onto freeway ramp I know about and seeing if I can merge. If I can, then you got a deal pardner. If not, I'm moving to the next car." People get a feel for the car's acceleration when they test drive it. Not when they read a 0-60 time in Motor Trend.
Now that diesel fuel prices are going through the roof, does anyone in this forum regret buying a diesel powered vehicle and would you buy one in the future even if diesel prices remain higher than gasoline prices?
If I could find an SUV as nice as my Sequoia with diesel engine I would buy it. This would be a good time. I bought my 05 Passat TDI well below invoice when diesel was higher priced than RUG. If diesel was $5 per gallon and RUG $3 it would be a tough sale. I still prefer to drive a diesel and like the longer range over the gas comparables.
The diesel Land Cruisers sold in the UK get 30 MPG combined in US gallons. That is double my Sequoia. Diesel would have to be twice the price of gas for it to be a bad deal. That is not going to happen.
I don't think any of my diesel vehicle purchases were a mistake, but I would not buy another diesel without seeing first what happens to fuel prices next winter. Some folks think there will be diesel/heating-oil shortages next winter. Even with diesel fuel at 20% more than gas, it's tough to consider it a bad deal when it allows 45 or 50 mpg in a VW TDI.
I drive a TCH. It can accelerate virtually neck to neck with the V6 Camry. I don't have a problem with my acceleration, and even if the car DID have a problem, I would not have chosen differently merely because of that.
But you know what? You guys can think it matters all you want. My earlier posts stand on their own.
Can you find me any study of car-buying patterns that says 0-60 times are a major consideration for car buyers in 2008? I bet not.
A turbo diesel 6 speed manual landcruiser would be dream vehicle and a 15-30 year buy. Also the cost per mile driven speaks for itself. RUG 3.99/15=26.6 cents D2 4.81/30=16.3 cents. % difference is 38%. The range would go from 377 to 753 miles a 50% increase. The diesel is infinitely more adaptable to our USA highway system than gassers.
"Now that diesel fuel prices are going through the roof, does anyone in this forum regret buying a diesel powered vehicle and would you buy one in the future even if diesel prices remain higher than gasoline prices? "
No not at all. If anything like for SUV's, this might be a D2 product buying opportunity. Eventually the price will go to par and below.
No doubt 0-60 times are not a major factor for those purchasing a vehicle. At the same time acceleration is important. I mean, I've never driven a car that had to much acceleration, but I've sure driven some that didn't have enough.
Hopefully the V6 Camry has more power than my Ford Ranger. I have read reports here on both the HCH and Prius that on long uphill grades the engine screams at high RPMs to keep up with traffic. That I would not like. You are right I should have taken the Ranger up our long grade before I bought it. I could sell it after a year for what I paid for it so it is not a loss. It runs great around town where most flat landers would never know the difference.
You just cannot say enough about the low speed torque of a diesel engine. Those that have not driven a modern diesel vehicle are missing out. You can lead a horse to water.
PS I am watching Craigslist for a clean low mileage F250 Powerstroke pre 1995. When I find one I will sell this Ranger.
Indeed for those that live or go to any places @ altitude, the TURBO (diesel) is the ticket! Flatlanders are literally non magnetic on this issue (CLUELESS to be indelicate). Also since few models of gassers run turbos, this is futher understandable. A recent zero to 6200 foot climb and return (kept under 85 mpg on the climb) yielded 48 mpg. Full ski, snowboard equipment, change of clothes and food for two on board.
"The diesel is infinitely more adaptable to our USA highway system than gassers."
Maybe you could explain what infinitely more adaptable means. The statement probably falls under the definition of a hyperbole. Gas and diesel engines are both very adaptable when it comes to city or highway driving. My gasser cars have worked just fine for me over 30 years of driving. I am going to go out on a limb and say you have had similar success with your diesel vehicles.
With diesel averaging $4.97 in NY and RUG at only $4.05, it is rather obvious that the 92 cent spread is going to impact diesel sales.
You have also posted numerous times that it is the regulators that are keeping diesel cars off the market. The people that build the cars decide what makes it to market. You should go talk to the auto executives. Or you could have Michael Moore do a film on diesel. Some suggested titles include: Diesel & Me Canadian Diesel The Big Diesel or maybe Bowling for Diesel
Actually I have more time in (passenger) gassers than diesels and the majority of those miles are in gassers. Indeed something like 15 to 1. So I would agree with your 30 years of experience. (mine being 42 years)
Absolutely the price of fuel affects a HUGE number of things both intentional and unintentional!! Indeed the population% that uses PUG is much than cars that use D2. So whether the higher PUG price will cause a shift to RUG would be an interesting study. (corner store prices RUG 3.95, PUG 4.19 , D2 4.89.) In any case the D2 product still yields cheaper price per mile driven than PUG products. I have already done a comparo between like model VW Jettas 2.0, 1.8T, TDI, RUG, PUG, D2.
The price of diesel has not hit the peak. When it does, it mostly likely will got back to par and perhaps at times slightly less than RUG to PUG.
What you are saying about diesels being the sole control of auto executives is patently not true. VW, for example could NOT in 2009 substitute all its gasser inventory to ALL diesels. (without prior approve from those that regulate) So for example, why would you not want to sell a whole inventory at whatever premium you charge for diesel than not being able to charge that premium?
Though your follow on comment on "50 to 100" is possibly made in jest by you, this is not a likely place to implicitly advocate endangering others or breaking the law. I gather from your bio that you have children; I have grandchildren - none of them crumple well in accidents. In some states traveling at 100 mph, or anywhere near it, is automatically an arrest, confiscation of vehicle, and suspension of license. If their are children in the vehicle, child endangerment charges can be brought.
The test drive may be the final arbiter; however the question of merging onto the freeway with enough speed to survive is a frequent concern. I often assist people in buying their cars and that question comes up regularly and is answered in the test drive - with the sales rep usually praying. As for me, all of the cars I have had in the past 20 years, save one, have had to be mercilessly flogged to have half a chance of merging with traffic - all were normally aspirated 4 cylinder cars.
I have a 1987 Land Cruiser 6 cylinder turbo with a 5 speed that over the last 140,000 Kilometres, 87,000 miles has averaged 28.4 mpg imperial, 23.7 mpg us. This is for off road and on. Best I have done was 37 mpg imperial, 30.8 mpg us over 500 kilometres driving at 90 kph, 56 mph. This was a short test to compare it with my 1985 Land Cruiser. This truck, the 1987, has a 50 us gal tank that can get me to the ocean from where I live without stopping for fuel, a distance of 1890 kilometres, 1175 miles. Usually I drive it at 100 kph, 62 mph 2200 rpm. This truck is used, highway, city and off road. Being able to tank up and not put fuel in it for a month is nice. My other Land Cruiser, bought new in 1985 is a 4 cylinder 5 speed and now has 650,860 kilometres 404,425 miles, and still gets 27 mpg imperial, 22.5 mpg us. This truck is used, highway, city and off road as well. I hunt 100-120 days a year and both trucks are used. This is in the prairies so hills are not and issue but the deep snow can make up for it. Would I buy another diesel? You bet, but not a domestic. I am holding out for a diesel Tacoma or Frontier. Or maybe the Sequoia that is supposed to soon be available in NA.
I for sure would not endanger others or break the law. I went out to pass a truck going 80-85 mph once and saw WAY behind, a car coming up REAL FAST. I broke off the pass (went back to the SLOW lane to let the over taking car, overtake) but saw the car slow down.... to let me pass the truck. When I completed the pass, I gave a thanks wave before I knew that the one now passing me at 110+ mph was a Highway Patrol. At no time did I feel endangered by either the fully loaded tractor trailer or the highway patrol. Life is good.
I had a 1987 TLC gasser with 4 speed. I was under the impression your model was available in CN. If I was able to get the 1987 TLC per your description, I would probably still own it. I put 250,000 miles on it and sold it @ the 14 year old mark for -43% of the new p/p. It got 14/15 mpg, aka you get 37% better fuel mileage. Indeed some economy cars don't get 23.7 mpg!! Keep on dieseling!!
hypnotized. I can read, write and research -- apparently not his target audience. I visit the local Renassiance Festival from time to time. There's a guy there with a puppet who refers to being "Bobmotized." You had to be there. Either way, I'm opting out.
Diesel fuel pricing is driven by actual price-inflexible demand. Those locomotives & tractors will continue to run, regardless of the price. With gasoline, when the price goes up enough, the demand goes down. With diesel, not so much.
Refineries were set up (back in the day) to generate a specific percentage of gasoline, diesel & all those other bits, so we're pretty much stuck with what we've got, until those new refineries are commissioned.
five and 19 for diesel off I-495 in Taxachussetts today . premium was ~4.29.. if you are male and really think acceleration / 0-60 / quarter-mile times don't matter, check your other pants, you left your Y chromosome there. ok, in the brave new world order, maybe the 0-60 times don't matter any more - but they sure did matter when gas was $1/gallon or less.
Great information, welcome to the forum. Real life experience is the best information on vehicles. Your LC with 650k Kilometers, what have you done to that engine over the years? I also assume these are all diesel as gas LC are not known for great mileage.
Good post. I knew we had some common ground. Living in CA merging into high speed traffic can be hairy. I always try to not impact the through traffic. Most ramps that are down hill into traffic are an easy merge. It is the uphill tight circle ones that cause the most anxiety.
Did the water pump, one starter, altenator, glow plugs and injectors. Thats it. Doesn't leak oil and when I did replace some things like the starter, in 2007, I had to go through my records to make sure I hadn't done it before. These engines don't need much more than regular maintenance. My son is taking it over in June and treats it as I do so it will continue to serve him as it did me. It is in amazing condition for an old truck. But it has been well taken care of and is worth 50% or more, of what I paid for it. Both are diesels. TLC's were available in Canada with diesels from 80-87, I believe, but not with a turbo. My 87 is an import from Germany. Neither truck has ever left me stranded in the fields due to any kind of break down. I've driven the newer diesel TLC's when in the mid east. Same quality but with more bells and whistles. To me it has always made sense to try and burn as little fuel as possible to cover the greatest distance. Diesels do this, however I still couldn't, talk my wife into a Jetta. Her issue's are like many whose experiences are with the older engines of long ago. One day I will take her for a drive in a newer diesel but won't tell her. Bet she won't know it from a less efficient gasser. I know I'm biased.
Seems like water pump, starter and alternators (mine didn't have glow plugs or injectors) are almost scheduled maintenance items, as I did those also. What kind of drill did you have to go through to get a turbo diesel Toyota "imported" from Germany?
The [non-permissible content removed] EPA in the US will allow US to bring a TLC diesel into the states if it is 20 years old. I have been watching some of the sites that sell them. I would like to have an older LC diesel that is not all rusted out. I think Toyota gassers in the early years of US sales had horrible engines. Sounds like they got their act together by 1980.
"What you are saying about diesels being the sole control of auto executives is patently not true. VW, for example could NOT in 2009 substitute all its gasser inventory to ALL diesels. (without prior approve from those that regulate)"
I would agree that the sale of diesel cars is not the sole control of the auto executives, however, they are the key decision makers. They decide the engine combinations, body styles and the like. Both Toyota and GM are not that keen on diesel cars. VW, Honda and Subaru auto executives seem to be willing to give diesel engines a go.
The regulators have to play by the rules set down by congress or the states. If a manufacturer can meet the mpg or emission standards they can sell as many as buyers are willing to buy. As you know, California has been setting lower standards for gasser cars - Partial Zero Emission Vehicle. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PZEV
I think you over estimate the power of EPA and regulators. Some people think regulators have unlimited powers. That is just not true. I've worked as a regulator so I do know something about this. You would be surprised to know how much people can get away with if they know the rules.
As soon as you write your rule you have created your Maginot Line. There are a lot of smart people out there that will figure out how to deal with the rule and sometimes do an end-run around it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maginot_Line
Diesels needed to improve their emissions. Now that they have met the standards they will be able to compete in the market place.
And for those of you that are not watching the AAA fuel prices. THE AVERAGE PRICE OF DIESEL IS NOW $5.044 IN CALIFORNIA AND $5.026 IN NEW YORK.
I'm a bit surprised. I thought demand would drop a little faster. Apparently not. The bubble could still burst if it is a bubble. If not, in a few months when folks start buying their heating oil they will be in for a shock. Airlines will be cutting back flights and raising fares. And probably more important to folks in this group, diesel car sales might be a bit sluggish. The silver lining to that is, prices should be OK if you want a Diesel Jetta Wagon. (Limited or no ADMs)
Comments
For all of the "noise and saying less" I do seem to touch a lot of exposed nerves here.
As for "taking a hike": I have been on foot for going on two years now, with many thousands of dollars in savings deposits to boot.
Now I am going to have some red algae for dinner!
===========================================================
"Shocked, Shocked I say!" There are so many errors in your post and its implications I scarcely knew where to start. Then it occurred to me: If you can make the statement about me having posted nothing relating to diesel and its related subjects after yourself having commented on and disputed several of my posts and links, then we are in a different part of the jungle than I thought. I will leave it to others to imagine why you would make such a statement that you either know is false, or have no cognizance of.
As to the algae fuel re-discussion; I expect it will recycle itself like all the rest have, with many of the usual suspects "forgetting" which side of the discussion they were originally on.
One last note: "It looks like the real deal at 100,000 gallons per acre per year." Think about that one just a little - I think it will come to you.
Granted they aren't numerous, but it seems their efficiency in traffic gridlock is pretty good compared to diesel counterparts.
Even in the land of diesel (2/3rd of new cars sold in France are diesel), there is a point to gas hybrids. It depends on the use and personal preference.
If the Prius was available as a station wagon and with more power, I woud be glad to consider one.
I wonder if the prius could run on LPG. not much so for the mileage, but because LPG cost half per liter in comparison to RUG in France.
You do know how to do a word search I believe? Yup, and I've posted a few links from that search. Apparently you don't. FAIL
hypnosis44 wrote:
"I gave up doing the research work for others on this site some time ago, finally seeing that no one was really interested, and that requests for postings were just a ploy to generate further derision."
So, let me get this straight, you come in here, make a bunch of highly contrary and pessimistic statements, and then when challenged, you wimp out and head for cover. FAIL
hypnosis44 wrote:
"The algae variations were discussed here before with the usual suspects weighing in on the limitations and impediments to its use - I was the observer then."
I've yet to see a single impediment to the use of biodiesel sourced from algae, however, there are still some technical hurdles to raising the yield, but hey, that's why those of us who are well educated and creative engineers have jobs; so that we can come up with innovative solutions to technical limitations. You on the other hand seem incapable of doing anything but heaping derision on any hint of innovation. FAIL
hypnosis44 wrote:
"There are so many errors in your post and its implications I scarcely knew where to start."
There you go again speaking in sweeping generalities but providing absolutely no substance what-so-ever. FAIL
hypnosis44 wrote:
"I will leave it to others to imagine why you would make such a statement that you either know is false, or have no cognizance of."
Nope, based upon your absolute lack of supporting references, it seems that you're the one who’s either the liar or the delusionary in this thread. FAIL
I think it's safe to say that it's time to dub thee "TROLL".
Honeywell is most assuredly in the turbine engine business as well.
Should be interesting.
Best Regards,
Shipo
Sometime next year, the company, in partnership with Virgin Atlantic and engine maker GE Aviation, plans to fly a biofuel-propelled 747.
The company is testing biofuels from different origins, ranging from soybeans — a well-established source of biodiesel — to algae.
link title
Gary, I'm looking for total worldwide Jetta TDI sales since 1997, nothing found yet. That page I linked above says this:
For 30 years, Volkswagen has provided the U.S. market with efficient and durable diesel vehicles. The company has sold 813,476 diesel powered Volkswagens.
I'll be back with more numbers if I find them.
All of those comments, links, and critiques of my posts by other posters, who preceded you on this site over the past many months, were also trolls I guess.
If you stay on here long enough you will watch as others post refutations to their own posts, or sit silently as their own statements get buried in an avalanche of contrary evidence, and then claim never to have made the statements even as their own statements are referenced.
And, why is someone who claims to be developing a main frame up at 4:00 AM - are the FAIL warnings flashing? Hope things go better for you after having lost all of your hobbies, (per your bio)
http://www.metaefficient.com/news/boeing-developing-algae-powered-jet-fuel.html
I am personally not for using food for fuel. I think it becomes counter productive. I think the cutting down of the rain forests and planting palm trees for biodiesel is not a good idea. Using waste oil & grease currently dumped into our landfills would be a no brainer as a fuel source. Of all the feedstocks for replacing fossil fuel I would say algae holds the most promise. When this happens those that own a vehicle that will run on biodiesel are going to be at the leading edge. Also when Katrina hit there were many stations in FL, LA & MS that ran out of RUG and still had plenty of diesel. Add to that you have 30 to 50% more range with the same size fuel tank when you are using diesel.
Still waiting on links that back up your opinions.
My guess is at least half of the ones sold in the EU were TDI. The fact that Americans are more interested in 0-60 than in MPG I doubt that more than 20% of those 2.2 million sold here were diesel. That is not an indictment of the diesel engine. It is an indictment on the American mind set.
Consider 87-octane price and diesel price in cents.
Divide by 10 and you will have approximately the max highway mpg.
... max highway mpg you can get with each type of small/medium-size sedan at a constant 70 mph, ~48 mpg for diesel (jetta), ~38 mpg for gas, cobalt XFE or civic. non-hybrids only, i suppose, for this little formula. As price increases a bit more, the divide-by-10 approach may match max hybrid mpg, for gas hybrid vs diesel hybrid.
(currently maybe the Toyota Pious can get 48 mpg or more @ steady-state 70 mph?)
Remember though Gary - that "mindset" of which you speak was created by the historically stinky diesel exhaust, the failed diesel experiment by GM in the 1970s, the ingrained belief that diesel is not a good fuel for cars, and VW's own deserved reputation for low-ish quality cars.
It was not brainwashing by the guvmint or anything else that created this mindset. It was reality.
Now that the reality has been slightly altered by much cleaner exhaust, hopefully better performing cars, the reality of gasoline prices, and hopefully other carmakers besides MB and VW going to be into the fray, there is hope for diesel cars in the USA.
Those lost years were not lost because of stupid consumers. They were lost because the product was just not good enough. NOW, maybe it will be going forward.
I was referring to the 0-60 MPH being of more importance than the MPG. What you are saying are also issues that must be overcome for diesel to gain any foothold. Even with the hybrids how much has been written about the slow 0-60 times? And who buying a hybrid really cares? Unless you are buying a Lexus performance hybrid to look green.
I know none of the cars I have bought in the last 15 years have I cared one iota about the 0-60 times.
People today mostly shop for cost and for MPG and for the right size car for their needs.
The horse is dead, the carcass is at the glue factory. Put the sticks away.
kcram - Pickups Host
That was never on my list of importance. I am going by magazine reviews and posters here at Edmund's. I know you remember all the dialog on how slow the HCH, Prius and Jetta TDI are from 0-60 MPH. I have always been more into utility with PU trucks and SUVs. I can never see my self buying another low slung car. And I did like driving the Passat TDI. Except the ground clearance was too low for me. The older you get the better you will understand the difficulty of ingress and egress of most of the cars built today. Wrapping myself into the Yaris was a good reminder of why I went for the Sequoia. Along with maybe a 100 other good reasons.
You're right, many of us, me included, care more about zero to one-hundred and one-hundred to zero than we do about the zero to sixty metric.
Best Regards,
Shipo
Most people today judge a car's acceleration usually when they test drive it. If they think the engine is too sluggish, then they will usually move on to another car, unless they have decided that engine sluggishness is not a major issue for them and that other issues are more important.
I do know that in the "mini-van craze" a few years ago, people settled for sluggish acceleration because of all the other logistical and storage problems that a minivan solved for them.
The people remaining on the Earf who buy a car "just because it goes 0-60 in 6 seconds" are a rare breed indeed.
Maybe in "6" seconds. The articles I have read on the BMW, Mercedes & Honda diesels coming to America, all played up the acceleration being equal to or better than the gas counterparts. I think that was one of the negatives that diesel will have to overcome is acceleration. If you are in a city then most of the time it is wasted. The on ramp I use to Interstate 8 from my old home is a tight circle posted 25 MPH. The length of space you have to merge when you come out of that circle onto the 70 MPH freeway is very short and a steep grade. I have to stomp on the gas of the Sequoia to get up to speed and avoid getting run over. My Ranger PU with a low powered V6 does not have what it takes. I have had to pull onto the side of the freeway and wait for 30 or more cars to go by before I have enough room to get up to 60 MPH. I know there are some hairy places getting onto I 10 south of Phoenix as well. Though it is not uphill just 75 MPH+ traffic.
As pointed out the 30-80 MPH figure is most important for many drivers myself included.
No one really cares that much about 0-60 times. It's mostly just reviewers and car magazines keeping that piece of information as a routine part of reviews.
Never once in my life, which is nearing probably 650,000 miles of driving, do I remember having a car too slow to merge into the traffic I needed to merge into.
Do you know of anyone, ever, who said to a car salesman during a test drive, "I'm taking this car to the hardest-to-merge-onto freeway ramp I know about and seeing if I can merge. If I can, then you got a deal pardner. If not, I'm moving to the next car."
People get a feel for the car's acceleration when they test drive it. Not when they read a 0-60 time in Motor Trend.
There's even a forum here which agrees with me:
Zero To Sixty is so, like, YESTERDAY !!!!
It is sort of like a guy with a real ugly wife who says looks don't matter to him!!
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
The diesel Land Cruisers sold in the UK get 30 MPG combined in US gallons. That is double my Sequoia. Diesel would have to be twice the price of gas for it to be a bad deal. That is not going to happen.
Even with diesel fuel at 20% more than gas, it's tough to consider it a bad deal when it allows 45 or 50 mpg in a VW TDI.
But you know what? You guys can think it matters all you want. My earlier posts stand on their own.
Can you find me any study of car-buying patterns that says 0-60 times are a major consideration for car buyers in 2008? I bet not.
No not at all. If anything like for SUV's, this might be a D2 product buying opportunity. Eventually the price will go to par and below.
If it does not, I am 2x hedge anyway.
You just cannot say enough about the low speed torque of a diesel engine. Those that have not driven a modern diesel vehicle are missing out. You can lead a horse to water.
PS
I am watching Craigslist for a clean low mileage F250 Powerstroke pre 1995. When I find one I will sell this Ranger.
Maybe you could explain what infinitely more adaptable means. The statement probably falls under the definition of a hyperbole. Gas and diesel engines are both very adaptable when it comes to city or highway driving. My gasser cars have worked just fine for me over 30 years of driving. I am going to go out on a limb and say you have had similar success with your diesel vehicles.
With diesel averaging $4.97 in NY and RUG at only $4.05, it is rather obvious that the 92 cent spread is going to impact diesel sales.
You have also posted numerous times that it is the regulators that are keeping diesel cars off the market. The people that build the cars decide what makes it to market. You should go talk to the auto executives. Or you could have Michael Moore do a film on diesel. Some suggested titles include:
Diesel & Me
Canadian Diesel
The Big Diesel
or maybe
Bowling for Diesel
Absolutely the price of fuel affects a HUGE number of things both intentional and unintentional!! Indeed the population% that uses PUG is much than cars that use D2. So whether the higher PUG price will cause a shift to RUG would be an interesting study. (corner store prices RUG 3.95, PUG 4.19 , D2 4.89.) In any case the D2 product still yields cheaper price per mile driven than PUG products. I have already done a comparo between like model VW Jettas 2.0, 1.8T, TDI, RUG, PUG, D2.
The price of diesel has not hit the peak. When it does, it mostly likely will got back to par and perhaps at times slightly less than RUG to PUG.
What you are saying about diesels being the sole control of auto executives is patently not true. VW, for example could NOT in 2009 substitute all its gasser inventory to ALL diesels. (without prior approve from those that regulate) So for example, why would you not want to sell a whole inventory at whatever premium you charge for diesel than not being able to charge that premium?
Best :shades:
My other Land Cruiser, bought new in 1985 is a 4 cylinder 5 speed and now has 650,860 kilometres 404,425 miles, and still gets 27 mpg imperial, 22.5 mpg us. This truck is used, highway, city and off road as well. I hunt 100-120 days a year and both trucks are used. This is in the prairies so hills are not and issue but the deep snow can make up for it.
Would I buy another diesel? You bet, but not a domestic. I am holding out for a diesel Tacoma or Frontier. Or maybe the Sequoia that is supposed to soon be available in NA.
Diesel fuel pricing is driven by actual price-inflexible demand. Those locomotives & tractors will continue to run, regardless of the price. With gasoline, when the price goes up enough, the demand goes down. With diesel, not so much.
Refineries were set up (back in the day) to generate a specific percentage of gasoline, diesel & all those other bits, so we're pretty much stuck with what we've got, until those new refineries are commissioned.
When was the last time that happened in the U.S.?
if you are male and really think acceleration / 0-60 / quarter-mile times don't matter, check your other pants, you left your Y chromosome there.
ok, in the brave new world order, maybe the 0-60 times don't matter any more - but they sure did matter when gas was $1/gallon or less.
GOD bless Texas!!
I would agree that the sale of diesel cars is not the sole control of the auto executives, however, they are the key decision makers. They decide the engine combinations, body styles and the like. Both Toyota and GM are not that keen on diesel cars. VW, Honda and Subaru auto executives seem to be willing to give diesel engines a go.
The regulators have to play by the rules set down by congress or the states. If a manufacturer can meet the mpg or emission standards they can sell as many as buyers are willing to buy. As you know, California has been setting lower standards for gasser cars - Partial Zero Emission Vehicle. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PZEV
I think you over estimate the power of EPA and regulators. Some people think regulators have unlimited powers. That is just not true. I've worked as a regulator so I do know something about this. You would be surprised to know how much people can get away with if they know the rules.
As soon as you write your rule you have created your Maginot Line. There are a lot of smart people out there that will figure out how to deal with the rule and sometimes do an end-run around it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maginot_Line
Diesels needed to improve their emissions. Now that they have met the standards they will be able to compete in the market place.
And for those of you that are not watching the AAA fuel prices. THE AVERAGE PRICE OF DIESEL IS NOW $5.044 IN CALIFORNIA AND $5.026 IN NEW YORK.
I'm a bit surprised. I thought demand would drop a little faster. Apparently not. The bubble could still burst if it is a bubble. If not, in a few months when folks start buying their heating oil they will be in for a shock. Airlines will be cutting back flights and raising fares. And probably more important to folks in this group, diesel car sales might be a bit sluggish. The silver lining to that is, prices should be OK if you want a Diesel Jetta Wagon. (Limited or no ADMs)