Looking forward

NoDirectionHome · January 13, 2017

I know this won't be in the immediate future, but it could be a great step forward on so many levels.

http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/story/2017/01/new-york-city-s-sanitation-department-begins-dme-test.aspx?utm_campaign=Headline-News-20170113&utm_source=Email&utm_medium=Enewsletter&omhide=true&omid=1000971871

beyerjf · January 14, 2017

I would love to see some honest numbers on things like how much energy does it take to make a gallon or 10,000 btu equivilents or whatever comparison standard is to be used. As an example it is pretty well understood that ethanol production is not nearly as energy efficient as we were led to believe. Hydrogen is another great fuel if it didn't take more energy to produce it than it is capable of producing, a net loss.

How much of this stuff is locked up in the land fills of the world? Enough to run 100 vehicles, a 1000 or what?

But glad to see Mack on top of it. NYC has always been a huge market for them. Too bad Mack shut down the firetruck line in Macungie some years ago.

noteven · January 14, 2017

Jeff - a grain farming friend told me it takes 1.1 gal. of diesel fuel burned to produce 1 gal. of soft wheat based ethanol by the time the gasohol is at the retail pump.

NoDirectionHome · January 14, 2017

Those are both great points and I'd like to know more detail as well. The most attractive benefit being elimination of the after treatment and no CO. As I'm sure Jeff lives everyday, total cost of ownership over the life of the vehicle is what really matters.

rickeieio · January 14, 2017

The opponents of ethanol and bio-diesel conveniently forget that most of the feed value of the original grain is still available. Dried Distillers Grains are a huge part of the value of the industry. Even better is when there are feed lots nearby who can take the grain without drying, saving a lot of heat energy.

I might also point out that ethanol, in this country, is blended not because it's a cheap source of btu's, but rather as a way to get more oxygen into the fuel for a cleaner burn, and as an added benefit, also raise the octane.

I use about 3 gallons of fuel to raise 200 bushels of corn. Each bushel can make about 2.8 gallons of ethanol, and 17 pounds of distiller's grain. Someone misplaced a decimal.............

Av8r3400 · January 14, 2017

Then ALL government subsidies for the ethanol industry should be dropped immediately, including mandates to make me burn this destructive garbage.

If it's so great, let it stand on it's own.

rickeieio · January 15, 2017

There are no subsidies for ethanol, and haven't been for a long time, only a lower tax. And if there were another way to keep emissions down, and power up, I'd be for it. I don't believe there are mandates to use ethanol, but there are requirements to meet oxygen content in gasoline in many markets. As for being destructive, it can cause issues on older equipment. I have several old motorcycles, with many old carburetors(25+), and haven't had many problems.

I believe we've drifted a bit off topic, so I propose we get back to our regularly scheduled program.