Ever since the military released the Humvee design to the open market, it has been a favorite vehicle for many people. General Motors produces this amored truck turned luxury vehicle, and have recently announce a version made to run on biodiesel.
Gas-Guzzling Vehicles
The Hummer has long been a favorite target of environmentalists and conservationists worldwide because of it's famously atrocious gas mileage. The Hummer uses more fuel than 5 economy vehicles, and that means 5 times as much smog and carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. It only makes sense to try and minimize the amount of harmful byproducts this monster vehicle produces, and biodiesel may be a big step towards a solution.
Biodiesel and Pollution
Biodiesel is a natural alternative to petroleum-based diesel and can be used in most diesel engines without any modifications needed. It is completely biodegradable and is non-toxic. However, some engines do require optimization to be able to run on 100% biodiesel. Most unmodified diesel engines will run on a mixture of petroleum and biodiesel with no problems. Bio diesel, when used alone, produces 65% less smog-causing emissions than regular diesel, and around 60% less carbon dioxide emissions. All this while maintaining the same fuel efficiency as petroleum-based diesel.
Pioneering the Alternative-Fuel Hummer
The man who made it happen is Tom Holm and the non-profit Eco-Trek Foundation. While most environmental groups bemoan the Hummer, this group decided to do something about it. Tim's alternative fuel Hummer runs on B100 (that's 100 percent biodiesel) and gets 23 miles per gallon. That means that this Hummer produces less carbon dioxide and smog than any petroleum economy vehicle, while promoting the use of the environmentally friendly alternative fuels.
Biodiesel Isn't the Only Game in Town
But there is another alternative to even a biodiesel alternative fuel Hummer: one that runs on the environmentalist's favorite fuel: hydrogen. Arnold Schwarzenegger owns this Hummer, which is not widely available yet. Hydrogen produces absolutely no emissions other than water vapor, making it by far the cleanest alternative fuel hummer available. But the availability of hydrogen is still quite limited, and for the moment it is far more expensive than biodiesel. It requires a complete engine reworking to run on pure hydrogen, and special fuel storage considerations. Biodiesel, on the other hand, is easily distributed by the same channels as petroleum products, and does not require very much, if any, engine reworking.
Environmentally Friendly and Renewable
No matter what car you drive, you should look into a biodiesel or other alternative fuel replacement. Biodiesel is a renewable resource (unlike petroleum), and is far cleaner and less hazardous than any petroleum product. These vehicles may be more expensive now, but someday you will be chuckling as you pay half what the pure petroleum users are paying. As petroleum prices rise, pressure to make the switch to alternative, cheaper fuel is as well. It is only a matter of time before alternative fuel vehicles become the norm, rather than the exception.
Tags: biodiesel, fuel, friendly, Enviornmental
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Dear desertorosso,
Industries in Texas utilize Best Available Control Technology (BACT) to control emissions of criteria air pollutants. The EPA has not yet promulgated regulations that define BACT for carbon dioxide emissions.
It appears that Texas is replacing California as the national leader and trend setter in emerging environmental policy. Other States have followed Texas in resisting EPA's heavy handed imposition of costly and defective regulations that are based on junk science, hysteria, and left wing political agendas. The tide has turned. Be thankful.
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