Any introductory business class will teach you that it's a bad idea to put all your eggs in one basket, and GM has announced it will not be doing that when it comes to the development of cheap and easy ethanol. In addition to its existing partnership with Coskata, GM today signed another agreement with Mascoma, a privately-held research organization based in Boston. While Coskata uses a thermo-chemical process to make non-grain ethanol, Mascoma uses a single-step biochemical conversion to result in the same product. "Taken together, these technologies represent what we see as the best in the cellulosic ethanol future and cover the spectrum in science and commercialization," said GM President Fritz Henderson. "Demonstrating the viability of sustainable non-grain based ethanol is critical to developing the infrastructure to support the flex-fuel vehicle market." For more information about Mascoma and its process, click below.
Wrong. Crop-based ethanol fuel is a scam. These second-gen waste-derived fuels are perfectly viable.
I would agree... but where do you get the term 'waste-derived'? In the article I see "wood chips, switchgrass and 'non food' feedstocks"... it sounds like we would still need 'crops' of these items, and those crops would still need fertile ground, and that competition could have just as bad an effect on food crops.
Well... maybe not the wood chips, at least.
Modified by Arsigi at 9:31 AM 5-1-2008
Ron a.k.a. Arsigi - Spokane's Most Posted Go Cowboys! BPCDubs» - A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man.
I think GM has discovered the idea of "real options reasoning."
They seem to be trying out lots of different approaches in alternative fuels. They are obviously doing ethanol/flexfuel, but they are still pushing hydrogen fuel cells as much as anyone (they have a test fleet of Equinox fuel cell vehicles in the hands of consumers already), they are still working on hyrbids (two mode "full" hybrids as well as the cheaper BAS system), and of course the Volt is an entirely new take on the "hyrbid" (since the gas engine is there to assist the battery, instead of the battery assisted the engine in most hybrids). At the same time they are developing small engines with turbo's, and working more into turbodiesel powertrains as well.
It seems like no matter which technology comes out on top, GM will have at least some stake in it.
2007 2-Door GTI Hufs, BMP, 6MT, Pkg. 2, Nav Koni FSD's, Eibach Prokit Springs, Neuspeed Rear Swaybar
I would agree... but where do you get the term 'waste-derived'? In the article I see "wood chips, switchgrass and 'non food' feedstocks"... it sounds like we would still need 'crops' of these items, and those crops would still need fertile ground, and that competition could have just as bad an effect on food crops.
Well... maybe not the wood chips, at least.
\
Not really. These sorts of feedstocks are far less resource intensive that straight up corn. Algae, switchgrass, corn husks and stalks, and other cellulosic materials are either considered waste material, or require very little to no fertilization compared grain and soy based fuels.
"People just want tomorrow to look pretty much like today." - Terry Pratchett
I would agree... but where do you get the term 'waste-derived'? In the article I see "wood chips, switchgrass and 'non food' feedstocks"... it sounds like we would still need 'crops' of these items, and those crops would still need fertile ground, and that competition could have just as bad an effect on food crops.
Well... maybe not the wood chips, at least.
Modified by Arsigi at 9:31 AM 5-1-2008
Wood chips can come from a variety of sources. Switchgrass would have to be grown, but that can be done on marginal land that's been abandoned for food crops, and the best grass ethanol research actually suggests that you'll get the best yield from a "field" that's really a reconstituted tallgrass prairie. It also doesn't require the frankly criminal quantity of fertilizer, tilling (i.e. industrialized soil erosion), chemicals, and other bad stuff that corn does. A lightly fertilized grass field is a pretty productive place. That said, if you're growing grass, it makes more sense to feed chickens, cattle, sheep, or whatever than it does to turn it into ethanol.
The best ideas I've seen all center on feeding these gasification-based ethanol plants with scrap lumber, yard waste, office pak, junk mail, landfill waste, and other crap we just throw away.
I see. It is interesting stuff, that is for sure. Though I am highly suspicious of the motives of some of the entities behind this sort of thing, I am quite fascinated to see where it leads.
Ron a.k.a. Arsigi - Spokane's Most Posted Go Cowboys! BPCDubs» - A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man.
I see. It is interesting stuff, that is for sure. Though I am highly suspicious of the motives of some of the entities behind this sort of thing, I am quite fascinated to see where it leads.
How so? I'm suspicious of the motives of corn-based ethanol, mostly because of my poisonous distaste for the big agribusiness complex that's ramming it down our throats. I'm far less so about the cellulosic ethanol boys.
I don't think ethanol is ever going to be a primary fuel, but I do think it has its place. We've got a lot of waste in this country, and I'd rather see it go to a productive use than just tossed away.
How so? I'm suspicious of the motives of corn-based ethanol, mostly because of my poisonous distaste for the big agribusiness complex that's ramming it down our throats. I'm far less so about the cellulosic ethanol boys.
I don't think ethanol is ever going to be a primary fuel, but I do think it has its place. We've got a lot of waste in this country, and I'd rather see it go to a productive use than just tossed away.
I agree with you. My suspicions stem from skepticism over the whole man-made global warming issue, but I really don't want to start that argument in this interesting thread!
Ron a.k.a. Arsigi - Spokane's Most Posted Go Cowboys! BPCDubs» - A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man.
I agree with you. My suspicions stem from skepticism over the whole man-made global warming issue, but I really don't want to start that argument in this interesting thread!
oof! *cringe* Definitely not the guy to say that to.
"People just want tomorrow to look pretty much like today." - Terry Pratchett
I agree with you. My suspicions stem from skepticism over the whole man-made global warming issue, but I really don't want to start that argument in this interesting thread!
The best ideas I've seen all center on feeding these gasification-based ethanol plants with scrap lumber, yard waste, office pak, junk mail, landfill waste, and other crap we just throw away.
Quote, originally posted by Turbiodiesel! »
I don't think ethanol is ever going to be a primary fuel, but I do think it has its place. We've got a lot of waste in this country, and I'd rather see it go to a productive use than just tossed away.
I could not agree more. I just took several loads of junk to the local landfill & some stuff to our recycling center with my 5 year old daughter. I was explaining to her how landfills work & about recycling & etc. Even at five, she was thinking WTF with all that stuff being buried in the ground.
And my county landfill serves a county with a total population of less than 12,000! I can only imagine what it is like where people actually live!
Even at five, she was thinking WTF with all that stuff being buried in the ground.
Kids are perceptive about things, because their perspective is fresher. A lot of stuff we just take for granted is actually totally idiotic, we just don't realize it because we're habituated. I told my nephew once that my girlfriend was going to be working at home instead of driving to work every day. He thought a moment and said, "Why doesn't everybody do that?" I had no answer, and finally mumbled something about meetings. But, really, about 90% of office worker types could telecommute at least 2-3 days a week.
Kids are perceptive about things, because their perspective is fresher. A lot of stuff we just take for granted is actually totally idiotic, we just don't realize it because we're habituated. I told my nephew once that my girlfriend was going to be working at home instead of driving to work every day. He thought a moment and said, "Why doesn't everybody do that?" I had no answer, and finally mumbled something about meetings. But, really, about 90% of office worker types could telecommute at least 2-3 days a week.
Its because we still have a manufacturing mentality of going to work to do your 9-5. Its starting to disipate as some companies realize it is more productive to let people work from home.
Of course on the flip side I'm not a fan of receiving phone calls that are work related at my house which can and do come in after I put in a day at the office.
What I would really like to see more of is flex time where you have the day start for everyone between 5 and 10AM and you have people that get up early and leave early and people that get up late and leave late. This would take a lot of strain off the roads and allow some people to get what they really want either the end of the day to get something done at home or for some to sleep in late. Of course the best part is you have more coverage as you will cover from 5AM till 6PM (7PM with lunch break).
Kids are perceptive about things, because their perspective is fresher. A lot of stuff we just take for granted is actually totally idiotic, we just don't realize it because we're habituated. I told my nephew once that my girlfriend was going to be working at home instead of driving to work every day. He thought a moment and said, "Why doesn't everybody do that?" I had no answer, and finally mumbled something about meetings. But, really, about 90% of office worker types could telecommute at least 2-3 days a week.
QFT!!!
I've actually found that the times I've done work from home I've been much more productive. Whereas now I'm sitting at my desk at work replying to a post on the car lounge. Need I say more.
Quote, originally posted by Art Vandelay »
Romantic? It's the automotive equivalent of the missionary position followed by gentle sobbing.
Quote, originally posted by i_baked_cookies »
The 288 GTO is the best looking thing ever created by humans.
Wrong. Crop-based ethanol fuel is a scam. These second-gen waste-derived fuels are perfectly viable.
Try explaining this to the masses . People watch "Who Killed the Electric Car", read a biased article bashing GM for trying to go green and suddenly they're experts on Ethanol and how bad it is. I've tried explaining this to my friend and he just flat out refuses to listen .
We need a TCL Regional Forum so CLICK HERE and vote in favor of it.
Of course on the flip side I'm not a fan of receiving phone calls that are work related at my house which can and do come in after I put in a day at the office.
Why not have a work phone line put in, and have it go straight to a machine after a certain hour? Just turn down/off the ringer after 5/6 PM or whenever.
Quote, originally posted by MBeroose »
In all fairness, if this was posted in the MKIII/MKIV/MKV Forums, you'd probably get a much better reception. If the cover photo was dripping with HDR, you could probably hear the man-goo smacking their monitors.
Why not have a work phone line put in, and have it go straight to a machine after a certain hour? Just turn down/off the ringer after 5/6 PM or whenever.
While this can work in some ways when you have a number as an emergency line most people will just call you on that eventually.
For advertising information Click Here
to GM. Do they still push the corn angle at all? i haven't seen a "go yellow" ad in ages.
- Spokane's Most Posted 
.