Fiat's NatGas Cars Could Solve America's Oil Dependence [View article]
yup - the word i like to use is for solutions to our energy crisis is "pragmatic". we must see all sides to the story:
- acknowledge the role our energy companies play in producing the fuels we so heavily rely on - acknowledge the fact that there are environmental considerations that need to be addressed - acknowledge that while there is no single "silver bullet" we need to focus on reducing foreign oil imports and get the best bang (job creation/trade/cost of fuel/ etc) for the buck on any initiative to do so - acknowledge the long-term economics of solutions which require significant investment
if we make pragmatic decisions based on these criteria w/o letting fixed ideologies get in the way, natural gas transportation is one clear winner and the best way to scale up our industrial base to solve the foreign oil import crisis that is sucking the wealth out of this country every day.
Fiat's NatGas Cars Could Solve America's Oil Dependence [View article]
but our number one advantage is our *natural gas* pipeline distribution system and our *natural gas* reserves. why use propane which requires another step of processing and distribution? that extra costs simply isn't warranted.
Fiat's NatGas Cars Could Solve America's Oil Dependence [View article]
i agree, it would be great for ford and GM to become patriotic, realize they are part of the foreign oil import problem, and sell the nat gas vehicles they make here in the U.S. better yet, it would have been great if the american taxpayer bailout of GM would have required them to do so! one step more, how great would it be if ford and GM actually led the world in automotive technology again: by that i mean natural gas/electric hybrids and home refueling appliances! the market is staring them right in the face, yet they either refuse to see it or simply love being 2nd rate and the status quo.
Fiat's NatGas Cars Could Solve America's Oil Dependence [View article]
ok, i did exaggerate a little on the Civic GX, however i have talked to folks who did get 300 miles/tank, however i concede that the numbers you reported are more the norm. yes, ford and GM both have NGVs they could sell here, but they don't (or make it a pain) simply because they are in bed with the oil companies to sell more costly gasoline based vehicles to keep their margins up. the only reason they sell their NGVs overseas is because they would lose market share if they didn't. if either ford or GM made a natural gas/electric hybrid and bundled it with a home refueling appliance, they would make billions selling what in effect is a 2nd car for a huge segment of the american population.
Fiat's NatGas Cars Could Solve America's Oil Dependence [View article]
YES: a natural gas/electric hybrid is the best automobile architecture in the world. toyota has a concept vehicle of such a car (and has had it for years):
it's cheaper than fully electric cars, has greater range, and environmentally more sound when you consider fully electric plug-ins are little coal plants generating toxic emissions. this is why my energy policy has a picture of this car on the top of the page:
Fiat's NatGas Cars Could Solve America's Oil Dependence [View article]
YES: a natural gas/electric hybrid is the best automobile architecture in the world. toyota has a concept vehicle of such a car (and has had it for years):
it's cheaper than fully electric cars, has greater range, and environmentally more sound when you consider fully electric plug-ins are little coal plants generating toxic emissions.
Fiat's NatGas Cars Could Solve America's Oil Dependence [View article]
tom007 - please read my rebuttal comment to Urgelt and reconsider your position. while i support electric vehicles in some situations, in the U.S., in general, the promise of electric cars has done nothing but cause us to waste time and stay addicted to foreign oil. over the past 4 years, we could have adopted NGVs in a crash program and easily reduced foreign oil imports by 2.5 million barrels a day. no new battery technology, no new breakthroughs needed. nothing but technology that has been around for almost 100 years: natural gas, compressors, and NGVs.
Fiat's NatGas Cars Could Solve America's Oil Dependence [View article]
while i certainly agree there are environmental concerns with fracking (as i have written before, i am for federal regulation (not state) of fracking), is it your opinion that mining/burning coal or oil is less of a threat to the environment? we need pragmatic energy solutions.
ranges are not good? please check out the link to an article on the german competition to see what vehicle could go furthest on EUR 30 (about $36). the Fiat Panda Natural Power won with a distance of 450 miles. and, i am sure, the natural gas tank was filled to capacity prior to starting the competition. likewise, the Honda Civic GX has a range of about 300 miles. and of course we all know that long haul trucks are taking advantage of both CNG and LNG. so, in conclusion, your range comment is simply unsubstantiated by the facts.
as far as sustainability goes, i have written an article that shows (based on old shale reserve estimates that have since increased) that the U.S. has enough natural gas to power industrial, home heating, power generation, and half the cars and trucks in america for 100 years. also, although natural gas is considered a fossil fuel, robert hefner has made a solid logical case (and i agree) that there was also a non-biological origin for natural gas (i.e. big bang). so, while natural gas will run out, i don't think it will run out before oil or even coal. as a matter of fact, i believe the Earth has more energy in natural gas than does coal and oil combined. so, while you might poo-poo the longevity of natural gas, again, compared to oil (and perhaps even coal), the advantage goes to natural gas. as hefner points out, in the decade of the 90's, while more money was spent on oil exploration than ever before, more NATURAL GAS was found. just imagine if they were actually searching for natural gas instead of oil!
wrt CO2, natural gas burns 30% less than gasoline and 50% less than coal. but more importantly, it burns 100% less of all the toxic emissions of gasoline and coal. this is the point alot of people miss because the conversation has somehow been focused on CO2. it's the toxic emissions that cause air pollution and what has let coal destroy our precious fresh water resources on such a massive scale.
you worry about CO2 and then you favor electric vehicles. it's like the oxymoronic myth of "clean coal". let's put a bunch of lil coal electric generation plants on our highways. where are the electric cars? how much are they? you worry about range of NGVs, and then you support fully electric cars with huge battery packs and serious raw material supply issues if we are significantly replace all the gasoline vehicles. in the long run, people who favor electric cars in the U.S. as a solution to our foreign oil import problems are merely keeping us addicted to the foreign oil (i.e. gasoline) because the electric cars arent here, they are very expensive compared to NGVs, and there are serious long-term battery reliability issues (again cost) that consumers dont even have data on. further, electric car fans act as though there is already an electric recharging infrastructure, and there is not. advantage: NGV (clearly!).
i am not invested in any NGV company. although i do own oil stocks because i am convinced that the U.S. gov is behind the coal/electric vehicle architecture (wrongly so) and therefore there will be no significant reduction in foreign oil imports, and therefore oil is going to skyrocket again. i am also long gold and silver because the U.S. dollar will crater the next time oil goes to the moon.
Fiat's NatGas Cars Could Solve America's Oil Dependence [View article]
here's an article about the Fiat Panda Natural Power winning the German contest on what car could go furthest on EUR 30 worth of fuel (about $36). answer: 724 km (450 miles)
Fiat's NatGas Cars Could Solve America's Oil Dependence [View article]
i agree - and term limits too! unfortunately, our beloved supreme court apparently doesn't agree and this year's ruling makes it even easier for industries to donate (i.e. own politicians) campaign money. every time i read the definition of fascism, i end up nodding my head....yup, that's us...that's the U.S.
Fiat's NatGas Cars Could Solve America's Oil Dependence [View article]
YES!! i too wish the natural gas lobby would learn how to lobby. they missed an excellent opportunity to get much need publicity on nat gas transportation when they didn't agree with my suggestion to take out a full page add in U.S.A. Today and the WSJ and demand Energy Secretary Chu said he was "agnostic" about America's most abundant, cheap, and clean fuel (natural gas). the natural gas lobby has all the facts on their side but it's like they are scared to go toe-to-toe with the coal and oil lobbies and just call them out and let the best fuel win. right now, the two most expensive and dirty fuels are winning, and it is taking american down.
Fiat's NatGas Cars Could Solve America's Oil Dependence [View article]
funny you say that - the Fiat Panda Natural Power vehicle shown in these videos one a German contest recently. the contest was to see what car could go furthest on 30 euros worth of fuel. the Panda won (450 miles). also, the Honda Civic GX gets around 300 miles/tank. the toyota natural gas/electric hybrid concept vehicle gets even more than that. so, i beg to differ with your opinion.
Fiat's NatGas Cars Could Solve America's Oil Dependence [View article]
- acknowledge the role our energy companies play in producing the fuels we so heavily rely on
- acknowledge the fact that there are environmental considerations that need to be addressed
- acknowledge that while there is no single "silver bullet" we need to focus on reducing foreign oil imports and get the best bang (job creation/trade/cost of fuel/ etc) for the buck on any initiative to do so
- acknowledge the long-term economics of solutions which require significant investment
if we make pragmatic decisions based on these criteria w/o letting fixed ideologies get in the way, natural gas transportation is one clear winner and the best way to scale up our industrial base to solve the foreign oil import crisis that is sucking the wealth out of this country every day.
Fiat's NatGas Cars Could Solve America's Oil Dependence [View article]
Fiat's NatGas Cars Could Solve America's Oil Dependence [View article]
Fiat's NatGas Cars Could Solve America's Oil Dependence [View article]
Fiat's NatGas Cars Could Solve America's Oil Dependence [View article]
Fiat's NatGas Cars Could Solve America's Oil Dependence [View article]
Fiat's NatGas Cars Could Solve America's Oil Dependence [View article]
Fiat's NatGas Cars Could Solve America's Oil Dependence [View article]
www.greencar.com/artic...
it's cheaper than fully electric cars, has greater range, and environmentally more sound when you consider fully electric plug-ins are little coal plants generating toxic emissions. this is why my energy policy has a picture of this car on the top of the page:
thefitzman.blogspot.co...
Fiat's NatGas Cars Could Solve America's Oil Dependence [View article]
www.greencar.com/artic...
it's cheaper than fully electric cars, has greater range, and environmentally more sound when you consider fully electric plug-ins are little coal plants generating toxic emissions.
Fiat's NatGas Cars Could Solve America's Oil Dependence [View article]
Fiat's NatGas Cars Could Solve America's Oil Dependence [View article]
ranges are not good? please check out the link to an article on the german competition to see what vehicle could go furthest on EUR 30 (about $36). the Fiat Panda Natural Power won with a distance of 450 miles. and, i am sure, the natural gas tank was filled to capacity prior to starting the competition. likewise, the Honda Civic GX has a range of about 300 miles. and of course we all know that long haul trucks are taking advantage of both CNG and LNG. so, in conclusion, your range comment is simply unsubstantiated by the facts.
as far as sustainability goes, i have written an article that shows (based on old shale reserve estimates that have since increased) that the U.S. has enough natural gas to power industrial, home heating, power generation, and half the cars and trucks in america for 100 years. also, although natural gas is considered a fossil fuel, robert hefner has made a solid logical case (and i agree) that there was also a non-biological origin for natural gas (i.e. big bang). so, while natural gas will run out, i don't think it will run out before oil or even coal. as a matter of fact, i believe the Earth has more energy in natural gas than does coal and oil combined. so, while you might poo-poo the longevity of natural gas, again, compared to oil (and perhaps even coal), the advantage goes to natural gas. as hefner points out, in the decade of the 90's, while more money was spent on oil exploration than ever before, more NATURAL GAS was found. just imagine if they were actually searching for natural gas instead of oil!
wrt CO2, natural gas burns 30% less than gasoline and 50% less than coal. but more importantly, it burns 100% less of all the toxic emissions of gasoline and coal. this is the point alot of people miss because the conversation has somehow been focused on CO2. it's the toxic emissions that cause air pollution and what has let coal destroy our precious fresh water resources on such a massive scale.
you worry about CO2 and then you favor electric vehicles. it's like the oxymoronic myth of "clean coal". let's put a bunch of lil coal electric generation plants on our highways. where are the electric cars? how much are they? you worry about range of NGVs, and then you support fully electric cars with huge battery packs and serious raw material supply issues if we are significantly replace all the gasoline vehicles. in the long run, people who favor electric cars in the U.S. as a solution to our foreign oil import problems are merely keeping us addicted to the foreign oil (i.e. gasoline) because the electric cars arent here, they are very expensive compared to NGVs, and there are serious long-term battery reliability issues (again cost) that consumers dont even have data on. further, electric car fans act as though there is already an electric recharging infrastructure, and there is not. advantage: NGV (clearly!).
i am not invested in any NGV company. although i do own oil stocks because i am convinced that the U.S. gov is behind the coal/electric vehicle architecture (wrongly so) and therefore there will be no significant reduction in foreign oil imports, and therefore oil is going to skyrocket again. i am also long gold and silver because the U.S. dollar will crater the next time oil goes to the moon.
Fiat's NatGas Cars Could Solve America's Oil Dependence [View article]
www.ngvglobal.com/fiat...
Fiat's NatGas Cars Could Solve America's Oil Dependence [View article]
Fiat's NatGas Cars Could Solve America's Oil Dependence [View article]
Fiat's NatGas Cars Could Solve America's Oil Dependence [View article]