Posted by
Michael Heimlich on Monday, June 08, 2009 11:25:44 PM
Just an added note to the Diesel comments: Switching to Diesel requires no new technology and no new infrastructure. There would ba an additional cost per vehicle of approximately $1000, but Diesels are cheaper to maintain. The payback on the extra $1000 is two years, assuming 20,000 miles driven per year, 40 mpg for Diesel, 30 mpg for gasoline and that both fuels cost $3 per gallon.
Now, while I don't agree with growing food to burn it as ethanol in a gasoline engine, I am in favor of using biodiesel derived from waste oil, such as the oil leftover from the deep fryer at the local fast food restaurant. Biodiesel has fewer mineral contaminants than dino-Diesel so it burns more cleanly.