And you're willing to sacrifice huge amounts of land? It takes an enormous amount of corn to make a small amount of ethanol- remember, only the ears of corn are used. Biodiesel is probably even worse.
And you're willing to sacrifice huge amounts of land? It takes an enormous amount of corn to make a small amount of ethanol- remember, only the ears of corn are used. Biodiesel is probably even worse.
Epic Fail
Diamond Member
- May 10, 2005
- 6,252
- 2
- 0
DrPizza
Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
Here's a thought... Go to the grocery store (in case you haven't before) and check the price of a gallon of oil. The cheap stuff is around $7. Hint: The mark-up isn't $5. It takes a lot of corn and a lot of energy to produce the stuff (of course, it's cheap to produce it in mass quantities, IF you ignore gov't subsidies for doing so.) In NY, I get 1 cent per percent biofuel per gallon back on my taxes. Thus, the gov't is spending money at both ends to encourage it.
Well that's a good point. I'm not saying it'd be free or even cheap, or even cheapER. Just saying, IF we could produce it in sufficient quantities domestically using less oil to create it than we are generating, it would be worth it so that fuel could be a 100% domestic commodity.
Who is "they". If it's for your vehicle, who do you think would control this new fuel? Some new magical corporation without greed?
You shouldn't smell french fries. If you can smell the gasoline while you're driving your vehicle, you should bring it to a mechanic :shocked:
The problem is with the IF. The information out there isn't completely conclusive as to whether there is a net energy out for biodiesel or for ethanol. Even if there is, it is not large... something like 10%. The amount of land that would need to be farmed to meet our current energy needs is enormous. The solution to this problem is not as simple as just growing enough corn to produce fuel. If Exxon or BP thought it could produce enough fuel to meet demand (and be profitable) via biodiesel these companies would be buying up farm land in mass quantities and setting up production facilities.
R
Someone hasn't been to the midwest or the southwest! America easily has plenty of land available, the problem is getting people to cultivate it. Actually, the bigger problem is out whole agricultural system, it's very strange.
This is the biggest problem, using oil is going to be cheaper for a long time. Once it becomes too expensive, we'll transition into alternative energy sources.
I swear, you people need to get out of the big city. There is a TON of undeveloped land in this country. With modern farming techniques, space really isn't a problem.
- Mar 20, 2000
- 102,362
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i wonder what the yield per acre of sugar beets is compared to sugar cane? the US is a horrible place for sugar cane, generally. but a lot of land is suitable for sugar beets. also, do sugar beets yield more per acre than corn?
though that algae is probably a better density than any of it.
as for energy, of course it doesn't give more usable energy than it took to make. in this house we obey the laws of thermodynamics.
I'm not sure where you got that from his post... I assumed "they" were the same fuel companies that we buy gas from today, or possibly similar companies that would pop up to reap the benefits.
"They" is new companies. Yes they would have greed, yes there would be very few players in the field (no pun intended), and yes prices could still suck. How many times must I say this - NO FOREIGN DEPENDENCY is what I am getting at here. NOT aiming for cheaper prices or cleaner burning or anything else.
But, as others have pointed out, there is probably simply not enough land to cultivate to produce enough oil for the nation's consumption. Perhaps if that algae thing works out.
Because then Jeremy Clarkson would cleverly rip on us for driving around in vehicles that bring the smell of fast food with us everywhere we go.
K1052
Elite Member
- Aug 21, 2003
- 48,274
- 37,743
- 136
Looking at the yields the land required to replace most or all of the fuels currently derived from crude oil, you would need more arable land than the US has (that includes supplanting food crops).
Algae is a very attractive solution since low value land is usable (arid desert), wastewater and surplus co2 can be usued to sustain growth, and the estimated oil yields are vastly higher than any other source.
Aikouka
Lifer
- Nov 27, 2001
- 30,383
- 912
- 126
Diesel engines also have a higher operating temperatute, which is why the older diesel cars had plugs... to warm the engine. I don't know if any of the newer cars have ways around this, but my dad's old diesel Volkswagon and diesel turbo Volvo both had plugs for the purpose of warming the engine block in the winter or else the car would either not start or have a horrid time starting.
long term algae is the only solution
There is also the fact if we converted to electric cars we would be 100% oil independant tommrrow and not have to build any electrical capacity eliminate light pollustion and we wouyldn't even consume anymore electrcity than we already do. .
Hybvid deisel can pull the load for long haul
An ev in every garage
There is also the fact if we converted to electric cars we would be 100% oil independant tommrrow and not have to build any electrical capacity eliminate light pollustion and we wouyldn't even consume anymore electrcity than we already do. .
Hybvid deisel can pull the load for long haul
An ev in every garage
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