Interest in Solid Motor Fuels Yet?

[Corroboration]

With rising fuel costs and a diverse range of motoring needs, including a certain poriton of the population communting very long distances by car on tight budgets due to mortgages etc, I would like to gauge reaction to the following question:

If there was a digitally controlled conversion kit available that would enable Petrol Crew Cabs Pick Up Trucks to run on solid fuels such as Wood, but had to be refulled every day or two, consuming a volume of around 30 liters of wood per 20 km, top speed barely 120 kph, can start immeditely on petrol or kit requires 10-20 minutes notice of your intention to drive, no petrol. How many people would be interested in obtaining such a vehicle as an alternative to the conventional petrol powered saloon? Are there people who would not be interested at the moment, but who would consider it once Petrol passed a certain nightmare scenario price? How many peopel think this is a crazy idea and would point and laugh?

Unlike Bioethanol etc, the ratio of land to fuel for trees is far far more sustainable, but that land efficieny somes at the expense of the bulk of the kit on the vehicle (but so what?). Also better to look at options such as genetically engineering fuel trees rather than constraining fuel supply through traditional liquid biofuels, and then using genetic engineering of the food supply to recover from that situation.

Anyone know what the tax situation on the fuel would be?

MOD: Please leave this in Economy: Pragmatic Idea for the Economy

[SPN]

With rising fuel costs and a diverse range of motoring needs, including a certain poriton of the population communting very long distances by car on tight budgets due to mortgages etc, I would like to gauge reaction to the following question:

Surely it would be more simple and energy efficient for them to work where they live, or live where they work? The only reason they felt is was feasible to commute long distances was because of cheap oil. The end of cheap oil will mean the end of such wasteful behaviour.

If there was a digitally controlled conversion kit available that would enable Petrol Crew Cabs Pick Up Trucks to run on solid fuels such as Wood, but had to be refulled every day or two, consuming a volume of around 30 liters of wood per 20 km, top speed barely 120 kph, can start immeditely on petrol or kit requires 10-20 minutes notice of your intention to drive, no petrol. How many people would be interested in obtaining such a vehicle as an alternative to the conventional petrol powered saloon? Are there people who would not be interested at the moment, but who would consider it once Petrol passed a certain nightmare scenario price? How many peopel think this is a crazy idea and would point and laugh?

This is old news. Producer Gas engines were widely used during world war two, particularly for agricultural purposes.



There is no doubt we will see this tech being revived, but it is not going to be so that numpties can continue to commutee 40 or more miles in a two tonne SUV. I'm guessing that trains will fulfil that sort of long haul function.

Unlike Bioethanol etc, the ratio of land to fuel for trees is far far more sustainable, but that land efficieny somes at the expense of the bulk of the kit on the vehicle (but so what?). Also better to look at options such as genetically engineering fuel trees rather than constraining fuel supply through traditional liquid biofuels, and then using genetic engineering of the food supply to recover from that situation.

Why in God's name would we try to genetically engineer trees?

Genetic Engineering has proven to be a complete scam whose only purpose was to increase sales of Roundup when it went off-patent.

Here's a recent thread on the topic to help you get up to speed: Exposed: the great GM crops myth

Anyone know what the tax situation on the fuel would be?

I don't think there is a tax situation. My recollection of the Act is that the wording specifically refers to liquid fuels - although it is some years since I read it.

[Corroboration]

There is huge scope for technical improvement over the old producer gas kits, whcih are dangerous, have environmentally damaging start up gases and are really fussy. Kalle gasifier was a substantial improvement over the examples you posted even though it is old technology, and there is now scope to modernise far far far beyond Kalle. I have something much better in mind, may deliver better figures than that suggested. Certianly more reliable and easier to use.

Financial constraints are preventing people form moving, and I am not trying to debate that aspect - rigth or wrong that is the reality many people find themselves in. There are other classificatiosn of user too - taxi drivers, haulage etc etc. Personally I would rather be able to get away from high density and have that freedom (I don't want to debate this)

I was saying that if genetic engineereing does happen, pragmatically it would be better to concentrate on increasing tree fuel yield rather than trying to increase food yield to compesate for inefficient liquid biofules - a debate ont his is not relevant to the attempt to gauge interest. I am trying to gain commerical feasibility as dictated by the level of interest in this product - that's all. Mainly looking for yes, yes above a certain future fuel price, or no.

[SPN]

Producer Gas is certainly one of the technologies we will have to look at going forward. If you have a technical solution to some of its drawbacks I'd say you should follow them through.

But if you want to be taken seriously, leave out the references to GM. They were a scam and have been totally discredited.