Pump

[SSJ455]

Has anyone seen this documentary? It is streaming on Netflix and is about the use of gasoline and how we are addicted and what can be done to break the addiction. They talk about the world running out of oil and before too long there won't be enough left. It also talks about how Brazil turned around its economy by using sugar to create ethanol refining and they put an ethanol pump in every gas station in the country.

I've always loved cars and I don't know how soon the world will run out of oil. I know it isn't tomorrow and I'm not running around like Chicken Little. But this doc showed how many things can be used for an alternate fuel for cars. It talked about methanol and how it is about 60% the range of gas but still works out to be cheaper.

I'm not cheering for any one alternate fuel, but to know that there are alternates that we are not using to a full potential just shows how much the oil companies have us by the short hairs. All in all the doc was really cool to see technology at work.

Check it out.

[mp51998]

I'm all for alternative fuels, however that 'we're gonna run out soon' arguement is done. There is so much untapped oil our grandkids grandkids could still be using it. Pollution is a different story. Have you seen some of the pictures of the smog in China, among other heavily developing countires. There are some days I wouldnt even go outside.

[SSJ455]

In the doc they showed the head of GM Indonesia or China talking about the pollution in China. He said one day in January the smog was so thick he could barely see across the street.
The also showed how a simple reprogramming of the car's computer will allow any car after 1996 to run on E85. I'm not sure if I'd want to try it but there has been many success stories. As I said I'm not one of thoes that is screaming about the world running out of oil, but I wish we could become more energy independent and tell the Middle East to shove their oil.

[Iron Lung Jimmy]

Originally Posted by SSJ455

In the doc they showed the head of GM Indonesia or China talking about the pollution in China. He said one day in January the smog was so thick he could barely see across the street.
The also showed how a simple reprogramming of the car's computer will allow any car after 1996 to run on E85. I'm not sure if I'd want to try it but there has been many success stories. As I said I'm not one of thoes that is screaming about the world running out of oil, but I wish we could become more energy independent and tell the Middle East to shove their oil.

We are very close to being there now.

Basically, that documentary addresses a problem that no longer exists.

As far as alternate fuels go... none of them are economic without government subsidies. No need to say more about that.

[SSJ455]

And the government won't be subsidizing an alternate fuel after all it does, or doesn't do to/for big oil.
Though I'm not sure if I agree about a problem that no longer exists. It came out last year and they talk about the booming oil industry in North Dakota and those places that are now shutting down because of the glut of oil. But that glut will diminish and oil prices with rise again. Why gas prices aren't even lower is absurd but when oil climbs due to the closing of oil drillers we will be back in the same boat.

Not trying to start a war just saying how I see it.

[RGRCamaro]

Alternative fuels just aren't viable or economical yet.

Ethanol - require on average 3 or more gallons of water to produce 1 gallon of ethanol (Not viable due to alot of the country being more so in a drought). Also heavily subsidized currently, I believe these farmers automatically receive 45 cents per gallon, without this from the government, uneconomical.

Wind - Uneconomical from the start, takes over 30 years to break even from a wind powered turbine. Also there is no way to store the energy, so wind could only be a extra source of energy, not primary. They can only run in optimum conditions (Too windy they shut down, not windy enough shut down) On average in your best wind conditions in the US a wind turbine can only power about 6-12 hours a day.

Nuclear - would be about the best option (other than fossil fuels) Clean, renewable, but also dangerous and risky and people don't want to live next to a reactor.

Coal - this shouldn't even be a source of energy anymore (which is why it is dwindling to nothing) Dirty, inefficient compared to other sources. Just an outdated source.

Natural gas - The cleanest and currently one of the most plentiful sources. Great for heating homes, and now being used in combustion engine vehicles, which is why it is one of our best sources of energy (behind oil). More and more power plants are switching to natural gas.

Oil - Rumors of the "Oil Peak" have been around since the 80s and new plays are discovered every day, and new technologies are discovered and refined. We will have plenty of oil for the next century. As you stated, in this drop in prices, most oil companies aren't making any money in the US. This fuel is to readily available and economic (in the right price environment) to afford not to use it. Currently we import about 45% of our oil needs, with about 37% of that coming from Canada, and 35% coming from OPEC countries. So our dependence on Foreign oil (not including Canada) is actually very insignificant.

[CamaroSkooter]

Originally Posted by SSJ455

...The also showed how a simple reprogramming of the car's computer will allow any car after 1996 to run on E85. I'm not sure if I'd want to try it but there has been many success stories...

I'm still not convinced that fuel lines designed for up to E10 or E15 ethanol blends will not deteriorate with an E85 ethanol blend.

[SSJ455]

Originally Posted by CamaroSkooter

I'm still not convinced that fuel lines designed for up to E10 or E15 ethanol blends will not deteriorate with an E85 ethanol blend.

I've heard that also. I don't want to take that chance of the E85 not playing nice with regular gasoline components.