Why isn't Toyota on the E85 Bandwagon?

Buying wind power credits is like a virtual wind power supply with backup. You don't have to commit to a big investment or put equipment in your house. The turbines can be located in windy areas.

What's so unreliable about that? Most alternate energy sources have a backup, whether batteries, generator, or grid power. Since the electric grid is "pooled" generation anyway, this is a great idea. I have constant power for my wind credits, I'll bet Nate does too. I don't care if they're generating power at the exact same time I'm using it... it doesn't really matter, so long as it's generated sometime.

 

That's the one. Thank you.

 

G:

Snif ... sniff ... snnniifffffffffff ... oh wow ... like, good beaker man!

j

 

jay, somehow you've managed to be nuttier than i am :lol:

nothin' wrong with a little uh, dissociative relaxant at work... ethanol and i have always been friends.

 

Wind power can be stabalized in flywheels, potentially in carbon nanotube storage devices in the future.

Almost 20 years ago, I laughed at the idea of flywheel storage, especially for UPS's used in high-current industrial applications. Now the Big Thing is flywheel storage for UPS's in high-current industrial applications.

I find it ironic that Caterpillar markets a flywheel UPS paired with a diesel generator.

When the carbon nanotube technology was first prototyped, I did NOT laugh at it, but kept an open mind. After seeing demonstration units at industrial symposia, I'm firmly convinced they will exist alongside batteries, if not outright replace conventional batteries.

 

G:

Trust me on this, it's either act nutty or let work get to you and truly *become* nutty. I prefer to act like a nut, though I'm sure sometimes it's hard to tell with me.

Or as my co-workers would put it: "A Jay moment."

<_<

j

 

With all due respect, you are an idiot. The wind farms are large, reliable, and consistent. The wind farms here in Colorado and Wyoming continue to expand. It is in fact the grid that makes wind power reliable. It is uninformed foolish declarations like yours that hurt new wind power initiatives. If anything is unreliable in Colorado, it is the hydro, since the rain is unpredictable, in times of drought.

By the way, 1/6 of all electricity used in California is consumed to refine gasoline.

Maybe you could use that to charge a few cars.

If you would like to continue to reply like an uninformed ignoramous, then do so. However, I suggest you do a little research first.

Here, let me help:

http://www.cogreenpower.org/News.htm

235,000 additional households. 10% of households by 2015. (Yes, I voted for the law).

Oh, wind power is now cheaper than regular power in the State of Colorado.

Who's laughing now? Me, all the way to the bank.

Nate

 

cleverlever;

wind power is PROBABLY the most unreliable, but its DEFINITELY the cheapest, and is one of the MOST plentiful next to solar.

sooo... imm, one probably doesnt stand a chance against definitely and most in ANY kind of argument

 

why can't we all just get along

 

i fail to see where your credentials have anything to do with electricity and alternative sources of power.

credentials don't always mean anything, you know. if i wanted to discuss electronics i wouldn't go around flaunting my degree in biochemistry to prove that i know my stuff.

 

ok forget about bio and wind...here is the miracle cure for any diesel

http://www.dieselsecret.com/?engine=adword...ch_type=content

 

Of course, that means you must trust/depend on a foreign source of energy, which appears to be what has placed the United States into difficulty in the first place.

Not that we're complaining: the Province of Manitoba is really making a killing off power exports right now.

At the same time, Manitoba Hydro is using that surplus to build their new office building, supposedly the most energy efficient office building on the planet. They are offering good incentives for geothermal heat pump conversions, despite the fact our power is already about the cheapest in North America.

They're even venturing into wind power to supplement hydro-generated power. I think wind power should be used in at least a supplementary/complimentary way. As far as "subsidies" don't forget that conventional hydro/coal/oil and especially nuke receive generous subsidies already.

http://www.hydro.mb.ca

http://www.hydro.mb.ca/earthpower/index.shtml

http://www.hydro.mb.ca/issues/downtown_vision.shtml

Of course, since Manitoba Hydro is *not* a for-profit company, the ideas being presented will no doubt offend neocon's.

 

Getting back to the OT, I do find it *very* interesting that Toyota chose *not* to pursue E85 with the Prius. What does that tell you?

It should be obvious - based on the MN trial of a Prius running E85 - that nothing outright prevents the car from running on E85. With appropriate sensors (Gas tank, such as ORP to determine regular unleaded or E85) and software changes, I'm sure the Prius could be made to run on E85 with no issues.

Again, why did Toyota turn their back on E85?

Looking at the NEV for Ethanol, especially E85, it really isn't a "solution" but more of a "rob Peter to pay Paul" approach. Especially when you consider how much less fuel economy a vehicle gets running E85.

I'm aware of the USDA study on E85 NEV, but keep in mind they carefully sorted the data to pick results that only favored E85 production as "efficient." A lot of inputs were ignored or unrealistic. You have to expect that: the USDA has the responsibility to promote agribusiness.

The same data manipulation applies to the Alberta Tar Sands oil production as well. The NEV from such oil extraction is quite poor compared to conventional crude sources.

According to your claims, you invented VVT with knock control. So I imagine you're already receiving royalties off Toyota, Porsche, BMW, Mercedes, etc. As you are known to the automotive industry, perhaps you should pitch your idea directly to Toyota. We have little if any influence.

 

cleverlever;

already food is becoming a "luxury" to some of the poorer nations of the world. if ethanol production was increased, sure that would help, and as the infrastructure gets in place and public acceptance increases, the demand for ethanol will grow, then it will be another "food for oil" situation. and just like the old situation, i can garantee you, someone will starve.

for someone with your background, i find your attitude amazing. surely you must know that there is no single right answer for answering our energy needs. maybe wind is not viable in your backyard, but there are plenty of backyards where wind will work.

your population density, the availability of tillable land, and the farm infrastructure already in place where you live may mean that E85 is a much better alternative.

i can garantee you, that that aint true here. wind provides a much better opportunity. but im not saying, forget bio or E-85. we need to take advantage of what we have locally to use.

the only real solution is a multi-faceted energy solution taken from many different sources. imm, new housing that does not require solar for at least hot water needs is criminal. but that is only one small step. and sure its a small step. but there are many small steps that can be taken and it will make a difference.

 

I would be interested in hearing about *long-term* effects of
running E85 in an unmodified prius, particularly with regard to
degradation of fuel system parts such as gaskets, plumbing, and
the bladder. If *those* can deal with ethanol without degradation,
then making the prius truly "e85 ready" would simply involve a
fuel-composition sensor and an ECU firmware change. I would be
interested in more info about the tests to date -- got a URL?
.
_H*