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By knutjb on 6/27/2012 12:56:08 AM , Rating: 2
Sounds great until you consider the realities of the US fuel market. About 1/3 of a barrel is made into diesel/jet fuel depending on the type of crude. The highest demand is for that chunk of oil. Look at diesel vs gas prices. Diesel used to cost less than gas, now it costs more.

The only reason gas isn't cheaper is we are exporting gas out of the market. Though that will change if our economy gets better then all prices will go up; but thats for political reasons on the domestic supply side.

Once trains the number one consumer of diesel, followed by aircraft #2, and then 18 wheelers #3 get their chunk there isn't much left for cars.

So your delusion for all those diesels running over the road isn't going to happen. There will be some, but not many. The extra cost of a diesel drive line buys a lot of gas. Kind of like hybrids and electrics vs gas.

Personally I would like a natural gas option, diesel or gas type engine for cars and 18 wheelers.

By lagomorpha on 6/27/2012 4:50:04 AM , Rating: 2
Jet fuel is similar to kerosene which is between gasoline and diesel in hydrocarbon length, not identical to diesel. Other than that detail I agree with you. There IS a natural gas option at present provided you want to drive a Honda Civic GX, and even a home refueling option (machine takes the gas line from your home and compresses it for use in the car). Supposedly it actually has half the fuel cost of a gasoline Civic (which is already fairly cheap), the problem is range is fairly limited.

It makes sense that more manufacturers should start offering a natural gas option given how inexpensive it is in the US at present and how we don't have to buy it from those dirty Saudis.

By knutjb on 6/27/2012 8:36:08 AM , Rating: 2
My point was jet fuel and diesel take a large portion of the barrel because they are the largest demand fuel but you can make only so much from a given quantity of oil. About a third of a barrel goes to diesel and jet fuel. Because of that, combined with who use the greatest quantities in the US, makes a large volume diesel cars unlikely.

Ford has a NG option with their trucks too. The problem is an administration that believes anything other than their chosen energy; wind, solar, and maybe biomass will be stifled through politically driven regulations. So don't expect to see NG around the corner anytime soon. As to those who say increasing production of oil won't help look at what it did to NG. It went from ~$7 to ~$1 from the increase in production.

As for the home refill machines, are you zoned? Cars need ~ 3500 psi to fill. Practical commercial high pressure systems exist, the home version is pretty slow.

It would be quite inexpensive to pipe the highways for semis. T. Boone Pickens says it could be done for about $3.8B though tax credits for the infrastructure builders. That could be recouped through a small tax on the sale of NG. How much have we wasted on foolish loan guarantees through the DOE? Because a tank fills much faster than electricity it is much closer to gas in practical mobility. Plus an engine on NG will out last the rest of the vehicle.

Knocking the Saudis, is that necessary? Denigrating them like that only denigrates you.

