Alternatives to petrol

[Edbear]

There's plenty of incentive - just not for the oil companies.

They are only interested in raping the Earth of any further oil deposits in order to make whatever money they can before their bubble bursts.

Their bubble won't burst. Don't you think they are keeping a watch on developments? The changes will be publicly driven, i.e consumer demand. The oil companies have the wealth and ability to meet the demand and develop whatever facilities are required. While the US buyers continue to want huge V8 trucks and raw performance they will forestall investment in alternative fuels. Europe may get ahead of the game here as the cost of petrol and diesel is high enough to drive buyers towards the cheapest method to get around.

It appears that hybrids will be the next big thing until battery tech improves enough to match distance and recharging demands. Don't be fooled by thinking the car manufacturers are not agressively pursuing alternative motive power. They are.

[bogan]

A good one is walking, or pedaling...

Otherwise, electrics are viable for commuter stuff. Plenty of development going on with different types of batteries too. Currently the fastest fueling one is the tesla I think, which can just swap out the battery. But since battery tech is changing so rapidly, developing the large infrastructure required to support such initiatives is a risky proposition.

[Big Dog]

I think that the family commuter will switch first. For most a genuine 160km return trip is plenty for commuting.
I already own a different vehicle to commute than to carry my family around. So it seems logical that the first to change would be the commuter.
Trouble is chuck a few hills in and real return range is about 100, less in a headwind.



Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[Big Dog]

Frankly if I lived close enough that i could definitely return trip current tech I would consider it so long as I was not close enough to cycle it.

The long charge time isn't an issue as long as it is less than the time between shifts.
It would be a drag on call though.


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[Edbear]

Frankly if I lived close enough that i could definitely return trip current tech I would consider it so long as I was not close enough to cycle it.

The long charge time isn't an issue as long as it is less than the time between shifts.
It would be a drag on call though.


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

I worked out that the PHEV would make it from Orewa to Panmure and return if I could plug it in at my daughter's place for an hour or so. Return trips to Albany would be no problem and all local running for the week would be on battery power.

[slofox]

I'd like a steam bike...

Then we could get scalded to death as well as squashed, sliced, compressed or burnt to death in the petrol fire...

[Katman]

Tin foil hat wearing hippies have been saying for the last 40 years.

Exactly.

Because that's exactly what's been going on for the last 40 years.

[Flip]

I'd like a steam bike...

Then we could get scalded to death as well as squashed, sliced, compressed or burnt to death in the petrol fire...

I would also. Probably put a small steam generator in a side car and use a small turbine.

[R650R]

Until we get some advanced form of safe closed loop nucluear power stations then electric vehicles will continue to be a false benefit to the environment.

In NZ only about 60% of our electricity os from clean sources eg hydro or wind power (but even wind power isn't clean as a power station must stay idling to balance the load).
The rest is from burning coal, oil and gas where a lot of the heat generated is wasted energy. Then more of that energy is lost through transmission lines to the smug consumer with their hybrid.

Petrol and diesel remains a well proven reliable secure store of energy.

Then with electrics there is the issue of disposing of old batteries and heavy mining operations for all the rare earth minerals needed for magnets and electronics etc....

What will be the health effects of being close to high voltage and high frequency electromagnetic fields long term in electric vehicles, will we be replacing one cancer cause with another???

[bogan]

Until we get some advanced form of safe closed loop nucluear power stations then electric vehicles will continue to be a false benefit to the environment.

In NZ only about 60% of our electricity os from clean sources eg hydro or wind power (but even wind power isn't clean as a power station must stay idling to balance the load).
The rest is from burning coal, oil and gas where a lot of the heat generated is wasted energy. Then more of that energy is lost through transmission lines to the smug consumer with their hybrid.

Petrol and diesel remains a well proven reliable secure store of energy.

Then with electrics there is the issue of disposing of old batteries and heavy mining operations for all the rare earth minerals needed for magnets and electronics etc....

What will be the health effects of being close to high voltage and high frequency electromagnetic fields long term in electric vehicles, will we be replacing one cancer cause with another???

A common misconception. Even fossil fuel generation grid electricity is more efficient to use in vehicles than petrol. Simple because there is not as much waste heat. In new zealdand transmission losses are greater due to our sparsity, and the inter-island link; then again, electrics often come with regen, so another boost to their efficiency as well.

It is hydrogen which is the inefficient one.

The electric feild strength generated by electric vehicles is actually very low too.

[ducatilover]

Bring back CNG
Our electrical facilities are not up to the standard we need for many electric vehicles, it will take a lot of time and money to make it good enough
And CNG is easy to get. There's fucking heaps of it.
Battery production is not very nice. Battery recycling is not very nice.
CNG can be fitted to your existing vehicle.
If you're fucking cool, you'll be rocking 13.5:1 comp ratio and making plenty of power.
CNG can be made a fun initiallism game.

[Big Dog]

I miss having a dual fuel falcon. Being able to drive to Auckland from New Plymouth on. $17 fill was dampened only by the difficulty buying a tank to drive home. That sucker could get through some 91 when you ran out!


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[Edbear]

I miss having a dual fuel falcon. Being able to drive to Auckland from New Plymouth on. $17 fill was dampened only by the difficulty buying a tank to drive home. That sucker could get through some 91 when you ran out!


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

CNG was a wasted opportunity! I had my 1980 Marina on it. Cost $7.00 to fill! The Marina had the later 1700 alloy head OHC engine and ran beautifully on the gas.

The issues for the fuel were power, range, weight, the high pressure cylinder and boot space. However these could be largely overcome with dedicated CNG vehicles and tuning.

Diesel engines ran fantastically on CNG because of the high compression and a couple of bus companies ran their buses on it. Much quieter and cleaner!

[nzspokes]

A good one is walking, or pedaling...

Otherwise, electrics are viable for commuter stuff. Plenty of development going on with different types of batteries too. Currently the fastest fueling one is the tesla I think, which can just swap out the battery. But since battery tech is changing so rapidly, developing the large infrastructure required to support such initiatives is a risky proposition.

There are some cool bicycle ones in the pipeline. Biggest trouble in NZ is finding people to service the main 2 systems. But this is being addressed.

Within the year I believe I will be commuting to work on one for my 27k trip.

[bogan]

There are some cool bicycle ones in the pipeline. Biggest trouble in NZ is finding people to service the main 2 systems. But this is being addressed.

Within the year I believe I will be commuting to work on one for my 27k trip.

I reckon road suitability for cycles is right up there for the biggest trouble. Normal pedly places can just service the serviceable parts on electric drive bikes, treat the rest as a black box, which it generally is anyway.

What is coming up though?