Could the future be...
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Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Ulaanbaatar
Could the future be...
... CNG?
I recall a few years ago looking at a bi-fuel Volvo 850 estate which had a factory CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) system fitted. At the time there was one CNG refueling facility up here in Newcastle, so it was massively less viable than a contemporary electric vehicle with the current (oh dear...) recharging infrastructure.
One could buy a system for installation at home that would compress the natural gas (only if one's home was on mains gas of course, or it would have been really clever...) and fill the car, but IIRC it took quite while and was expensive.
But it would appear the time for CNG has arrived.
At work, we're involved with a client who is getting into the Fracking for shale and oil and gas in a big way and interestingly, on Radio 4 last week, there was pundit who was stating that the US has reserves of over 125 years of shale gas at 'current energy consumption levels' (presumably that refers to current natural gas consumption without the huge increase in demand that would result from vehicles adopting it as an energy source).
Whatever, sooner rather than later, the US may be able to 'Spring the bird' to those for whom it is currently dependent on oil.
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...bi_fuel_wagon/
I recall a few years ago looking at a bi-fuel Volvo 850 estate which had a factory CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) system fitted. At the time there was one CNG refueling facility up here in Newcastle, so it was massively less viable than a contemporary electric vehicle with the current (oh dear...) recharging infrastructure.
One could buy a system for installation at home that would compress the natural gas (only if one's home was on mains gas of course, or it would have been really clever...) and fill the car, but IIRC it took quite while and was expensive.
But it would appear the time for CNG has arrived.
At work, we're involved with a client who is getting into the Fracking for shale and oil and gas in a big way and interestingly, on Radio 4 last week, there was pundit who was stating that the US has reserves of over 125 years of shale gas at 'current energy consumption levels' (presumably that refers to current natural gas consumption without the huge increase in demand that would result from vehicles adopting it as an energy source).
Whatever, sooner rather than later, the US may be able to 'Spring the bird' to those for whom it is currently dependent on oil.
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...bi_fuel_wagon/
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 31,181
Likes: 58
From: Hertford
There's been a lot of hot air 
/> over it in the US and it's the same ol' same ol' really.
The polyingticiunts claim it will let them be masters of the universe & provide the energy advantage that may spur the next 60-year credit cycle and magically prevent the country from going bankrupt along with everyone else and bring the return of Christ (probably) and every day will be Thanksgiving....
On the other side, there are others who claim the interests of Big Oil and the Establishment* will keep the price of oil low enough that CNG never gains competitive traction.
The Honda/Junckers home power units (essentially a methane Kei car engine, a genset and a big water tank and a small back-up boiler) fascinate me as it overturns completely the idea that it is efficient to pump electricity round a big country and it might be more efficient to pump CNG and generate locally. Until the perfection of superconductors, that's always been the mammoth in the room, as far as my view of an electric future is concerned.
*Whether the Establishments divide to conquer policies against Semitic tribes is conspired to further usury banking or to control oil prices is moot; it benefits both!
/> over it in the US and it's the same ol' same ol' really.The polyingticiunts claim it will let them be masters of the universe & provide the energy advantage that may spur the next 60-year credit cycle and magically prevent the country from going bankrupt along with everyone else and bring the return of Christ (probably) and every day will be Thanksgiving....
On the other side, there are others who claim the interests of Big Oil and the Establishment* will keep the price of oil low enough that CNG never gains competitive traction.
The Honda/Junckers home power units (essentially a methane Kei car engine, a genset and a big water tank and a small back-up boiler) fascinate me as it overturns completely the idea that it is efficient to pump electricity round a big country and it might be more efficient to pump CNG and generate locally. Until the perfection of superconductors, that's always been the mammoth in the room, as far as my view of an electric future is concerned.
*Whether the Establishments divide to conquer policies against Semitic tribes is conspired to further usury banking or to control oil prices is moot; it benefits both!
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