Hybrid Cars... all hype?

[QC]

Re: Hybrid Cars... all hype?

ZmOz,<br /><br />Trust me I know about all of those options. It is not that simple. Again, it sounds like you are considering burning 100% recycled engine oil. This will be a problem.<br /><br />Most manufacturers are OK with B20, which is 80% diesel 20% bio. But not all. I don't think anybody is allowing B100 which is what you described in the first line. Your company may run huge amounts, but not 100%. Also, believe it or not, most testing shows that bio diesel actually makes some emissions constituents dirtier. Particulates go slightly down so they might be better visually, but NOx usually goes slightly up.<br /><br />Anyway, I also know about oil recyclers and using lube oil and auto oilers from the pan. Usually they run VERY low percentages though and the engine manufacturers still don't like it. Heck they run 100% crude in some applications, but they have special injectors for that. I just think it is not nearly as cut and dried as you stated. Good luck. I hope I am wrong, seriously. The older 6.2s were pretty low tech and you might get away with it, but 100% recycled oil for .10 a gallon that you are going to use as 100% fuel . . . Sumpin' aint right with 'dat right 'dare.

 

[rolmops]

Re: Hybrid Cars... all hype?

The summercamp where I send my kids each summer has a bus that fuels up at the back of their local McDonald's with used veggie oil that stinks of french fries.That bus has not seen regular diesel for the past five years.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Hybrid Cars... all hype?

Oh, but it is that simple. Like I said, I already burn enormous amounds of filtered, straight vegetable oil in my companies generators. They're modified to run on it, and run better than with diesel. <br /><br />Most diesel engines will run perfectly on 100% biodiesel, though some fuel system components may need to be modified. (sorta like old cars and alcoholic fuels) Who cares what the manufacturers do or say, there are thousands of people that run their cars and trucks on 100% BD.<br /><br />Yes, some components of the biodiesel exhuast are worse, but overall it is much better for the environment. If that wasn't true, you wouldn't see all those dirty hippies trying to promote biodiesel. As far as the EPA is concerned, I wouldn't be able to do what I do with my generators using petrolium fuels due to the emissions requirements.<br /><br />As for my own vehicle, as I said, I will be burning re-refined crankcase oil. The yield is about 80% of the original volume of oil. <br /><br />Boomyal - unfortuneately I cannot go into much detail about the re-refined oil. I have signed a non disclosure agreement with the inventor of the system.

 

[QC]

Re: Hybrid Cars... all hype?

ZmOz,<br /><br />I truly do understand all of this. The hippies too . . . I sell alternate fuels for diesel engines. That's what I do. The modifications to your company's diesels had a lot to do with that compatibility, probably a lot to do with the performance benefits too.<br /><br />It kinda does matter what manufacturers say although they are very conservative. Fact is that they know more about their engines than anyone else. I also know about inventors in this business. I kinda work for one and he has been called a looney by some. He kinda is, but he knows diesels and he knows alternate fuels. Most anlayses of bio diesel come up with higher per gallon cost if all is considered. Waste fryer oil is a lot different as it is waste, but there is no infinite supply. You can only fry so many chickens . . . Also, recycling is not free, there is energy to make that stuff go too . . .<br /><br />As my looney inventor always says, "there is no free lunch". He used to be the vice-president of engine development for Cummins and President of the SAE . . .

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: Hybrid Cars... all hype?

Easy as pie, just stop by Micky dees and fill er up.

 

[KaGee]

Re: Hybrid Cars... all hype?

Originally posted by theriver:<br /> Personally, I'd love to get a 2006 Lexus RX400h

According to Lexus, EPA mileage is 30 mpg in city driving (where most hybrid benefits apply) and 26 mpg on the highway. With a price in the mid-$40,000s range. Can tow up to 3500lbs, but Toyota discourages it along with any off-road activities.<br /><br />Yeppers, that there is one economical car to drive! <br /><br />My Escape gets 23 MPG Highway. I paid $14,000 used with 35,000 miles. Has most of the toys and I can tow with it.

 

[KaGee]

Re: Hybrid Cars... all hype?

Originally posted by rolmops:<br /> Great feeling to write about morons who try to make a difference.But who is the real moron?The guy who does not want to change and thereby condemns himself to becoming completely dependent on imported energy or the people who try to use alternatives? Common sense would send gasguzzlers the way the dinosaurs went.Or, if you prefer to use gas, you better take some courses in islamic religion because they will have this whole country dangling by the b*lls because of fuel dependency.

What's up with that? Nobody flung names at anybody... except you. <br /><br />The Hybrid car, like most ideas that please the Enviro / Liberal crowd, is more symbolism than substance. If every car in America were replaced right now with a Hybrid, The oil situation would be appeased for maybe 6 to 7 years, then we are back in the same boat again. <br /><br />Hybrid cars are being purchased by many... not as the right ecological choice, but what they view in their mind as an economical advantage. <br />Simply pointing out that Hybrids will most likely have no affect in either case.

 

[KRS]

Re: Hybrid Cars... all hype?

Add into the equation the need to replace numerous batteries in that 7 year period, I've never had a battery last that long so I'm sure that a "bank" of 6 or so that are used and drained every day would go out pretty quick.

 

[dolluper]

Re: Hybrid Cars... all hype?

Forget the hybrids,worried about gas ,well this little crap box might be for you,click link and find out,I'am keeping my gas sucking toys<br /> http://www.theaircar.com/

 

[QC]

Re: Hybrid Cars... all hype?

Originally posted by dolluper:<br /> worried about gas ,well this little crap box might be for you

I love Air cars . . . You'll notice that the power to run the compressors is never mentioned . . . No free lunch!!<br /><br />These are all thermodynamics type issues. Most outrageous claims simply break laws of physics. No biggee, runs on air, air is free.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Hybrid Cars... all hype?

Originally posted by azfyrfyter63:<br /> Add into the equation the need to replace numerous batteries in that 7 year period, I've never had a battery last that long so I'm sure that a "bank" of 6 or so that are used and drained every day would go out pretty quick.

Exactly. All the manufacturers are claiming their batteries last a long, long time and they rarely need to replace them. I say bull****! I use way more batteries than the average person. Doesn't matter if they're lead acid, nicad, NiMh, lithium ion, lithium poly, or nails stuck in a potato...they only last a few years. ALWAYS!<br /><br />The auto manufacturers aren't using any better batteries than laptop and cell phone manufacturers. Who here has had a cell phone or laptop battery last for 8 years? It just doesn't work like that. Now that the hybrids are getting a few years old I bet there's soon going to be ALOT of very angry people that need new batteries.

 

[theriver]

Re: Hybrid Cars... all hype?

KaGee, ya, but its an Escape...

 

[dolluper]

Re: Hybrid Cars... all hype?

TOY-oata is recalling their hybrids for a computer malfunction,"but not to worry you will have enough power to pull off the road" as quoted by doughminder.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Hybrid Cars... all hype?

If every car in America were replaced right now with a Hybrid, The oil situation would be appeased for maybe 6 to 7 years,

That's ok KaGee. Six to seven years is good if you are doing it the way that the EWhackos want you to, but if it comes to 6 to 7 years of additional domestic oil production from the 'pristine wilderness' of Alaska, "Oh no, that's just a drop in the bucket. Why even bother." <br /><br />I tell you, there is another agenda afoot here!

 

[wildbill59]

Re: Hybrid Cars... all hype?

I was talking to a fellow mother trucker that's based out of Minnysoda last night after dropping my load at Homer Depot. He said Minn. is mandating 2% bio mix starting Jan. 2006.<br /><br />Problem is that the 2% Bio fuel mixture seperates at about 5 degrees. Guess what happens on the cold, windy Minnysoda landscape? Trucks won't start and if the fuel is not kept warm it'll plug up filters. gonna be fun to watch this winter.

 

[tcube]

Re: Hybrid Cars... all hype?

In the northern VA area the hybrids are very popular - not for mpg reasons - but because the drivers can use the HOV 3 lanes without other passengers. Could backfire on them - the General Assembly may not extend the Jul '06 expiration date - then hybrid drivers will have to carpool like the rest of us.

 

[KaGee]

Re: Hybrid Cars... all hype?

Originally posted by tcube:<br /> In the northern VA area the hybrids are very popular - not for mpg reasons - but because the drivers can use the HOV 3 lanes without other passengers. Could backfire on them - the General Assembly may not extend the Jul '06 expiration date - then hybrid drivers will have to carpool like the rest of us.

T-Cube,<br /><br />There are soooo many government workers in your area commuting back and forth. No doubt what you say is true. But, don't discount for a minute that they own that car so that they are "in" with the "PC" crowd in DC. That is a very different culture in that town.

 

[KaGee]

Re: Hybrid Cars... all hype?

Wild Bill...<br /><br />So what you are saying is... the blended fuel separates at 5*, so to prevent that, they will put a fosil-fuel burning heater in to prevent that?<br /><br />Gotta love them blue states! LOL

 

[QC]

Re: Hybrid Cars... all hype?

Hybrids get HOV here too. What Wild Bill says is accurate, big probs with low temp for bio-diesel . . .

 

[treedancer]

Re: Hybrid Cars... all hype?

Bah Humbug lets everybody go out and buy some buggy whip stock. <br /> <br />Come on this started out to be a good discussion on the advantage or disadvantage of hybrids then took a turn to knocking everybody’s attempt to improve fuel mileage.<br /><br />Myself I am looking at replacing my 2002 blazer with 90k on it been looking at the vw jetta.<br /><br />Will keep the f-150 to launch the boat.Dont think the Jetta will look too good at the ramp.