<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for New diesel design inspired by tropical fish.]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by David Roberts http://www.grist.org/article/a-whole-new-meaning-to-boxcar-racing/ Tue, 07 Jun 2005 10:00:14 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/a-whole-new-meaning-to-boxcar-racing/1 Ah,

I see Mike Millikin chose a different fish picture.

www.grist.org

]]> Ah,

I see Mike Millikin chose a different fish picture.

www.grist.org

]]> Comment #2 by Lisa Hymas http://www.grist.org/article/a-whole-new-meaning-to-boxcar-racing/ Tue, 07 Jun 2005 14:45:35 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/a-whole-new-meaning-to-boxcar-racing/2 Sarah's fish picture ...

is more apropos.  

]]> Sarah's fish picture ...

is more apropos.  

]]> Comment #3 by jdhlax http://www.grist.org/article/a-whole-new-meaning-to-boxcar-racing/ Tue, 07 Jun 2005 17:09:06 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/a-whole-new-meaning-to-boxcar-racing/3 If You Insist On Driving ...

Driving a high mileage diesel vehicle and fueling it with vegetable oil is one of the least environmentally harmful ways to go.  The only better way I can think of is to use an electric vehicle that's recharged by your solar collectors or windmill.

]]> If You Insist On Driving ...

Driving a high mileage diesel vehicle and fueling it with vegetable oil is one of the least environmentally harmful ways to go.  The only better way I can think of is to use an electric vehicle that's recharged by your solar collectors or windmill.

]]> Comment #4 by David Roberts http://www.grist.org/article/a-whole-new-meaning-to-boxcar-racing/ Wed, 08 Jun 2005 00:46:16 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/a-whole-new-meaning-to-boxcar-racing/4 For yet another picture,

Try here. But yes, I like Sarah's best. It's certainly the cutest.

www.grist.org

]]> For yet another picture,

Try here. But yes, I like Sarah's best. It's certainly the cutest.

www.grist.org

]]> Comment #5 by bhurley http://www.grist.org/article/a-whole-new-meaning-to-boxcar-racing/ Wed, 08 Jun 2005 04:44:06 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/a-whole-new-meaning-to-boxcar-racing/5 Clean diesel?

jdhlax wrote: Driving a high mileage diesel vehicle and fueling it with vegetable oil is one of the least environmentally harmful ways to go.

I don't think that's true. Despite their excellent fuel economy, most diesel vehicles (regardless of what fuel they burn) get low environmental marks because of their high emissions of particulates and NOx.

For example, EPA's Green Vehicle Guide gives the Volkswagen Beetle diesel model high marks for fuel economy (46 mpg highway), but only a 2 out of 10 for its tailpipe cleanliness. (Interestingly, the Honda Insight gets a similarly poor score). See EPA's Green Vehicle Guide and ACEEE's Green Car guide for more information.

Car manufacturers are working hard to clean up diesel engines; it looks like DaimlerChrysler may have come up with a good solution and I know that other automakers are trying to do the same. But in the meantime, I'd avoid diesel if you're looking for an environmentally benign car. Diesel emissions have been blamed for a significant portion of heart-related illnesses and deaths in urban regions.

]]> Clean diesel?

jdhlax wrote: Driving a high mileage diesel vehicle and fueling it with vegetable oil is one of the least environmentally harmful ways to go.

I don't think that's true. Despite their excellent fuel economy, most diesel vehicles (regardless of what fuel they burn) get low environmental marks because of their high emissions of particulates and NOx.

For example, EPA's Green Vehicle Guide gives the Volkswagen Beetle diesel model high marks for fuel economy (46 mpg highway), but only a 2 out of 10 for its tailpipe cleanliness. (Interestingly, the Honda Insight gets a similarly poor score). See EPA's Green Vehicle Guide and ACEEE's Green Car guide for more information.

Car manufacturers are working hard to clean up diesel engines; it looks like DaimlerChrysler may have come up with a good solution and I know that other automakers are trying to do the same. But in the meantime, I'd avoid diesel if you're looking for an environmentally benign car. Diesel emissions have been blamed for a significant portion of heart-related illnesses and deaths in urban regions.

]]> Comment #6 by jdhlax http://www.grist.org/article/a-whole-new-meaning-to-boxcar-racing/ Wed, 08 Jun 2005 09:41:27 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/a-whole-new-meaning-to-boxcar-racing/6 Reduction Of Oil Consumption

It's true that the emissions from diesel engines pollute more than those of gasoline engines, but that's only because the pollution caused by refining gasoline occurs at the refineries.  Refining diesel causes much less pollution, because it's not as refined as gasoline.  Out-of-sight, out-of-mind?

More importantly, consumption of oil should be our main priority.  The impacts of that consumption cause serious wildlife and wilderness destruction from drilling, transportation, spilling, and refining of oil.  I realize that many enviros have become obsessed with global warming, but it's only one of many, many ecological and environmental problems, and not even the most destructive one in terms of its potential effects on non-humans.

]]> Reduction Of Oil Consumption

It's true that the emissions from diesel engines pollute more than those of gasoline engines, but that's only because the pollution caused by refining gasoline occurs at the refineries.  Refining diesel causes much less pollution, because it's not as refined as gasoline.  Out-of-sight, out-of-mind?

More importantly, consumption of oil should be our main priority.  The impacts of that consumption cause serious wildlife and wilderness destruction from drilling, transportation, spilling, and refining of oil.  I realize that many enviros have become obsessed with global warming, but it's only one of many, many ecological and environmental problems, and not even the most destructive one in terms of its potential effects on non-humans.

]]> Comment #7 by bhurley http://www.grist.org/article/a-whole-new-meaning-to-boxcar-racing/ Wed, 08 Jun 2005 21:07:37 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/a-whole-new-meaning-to-boxcar-racing/7 How's that again?

jdhlax wrote: It's true that the emissions from diesel engines pollute more than those of gasoline engines, but that's only because the pollution caused by refining gasoline occurs at the refineries.

Gosh, that runs completely counter to every source I've seen on the subject. My understanding, based on publications and emissions tests by EPA and environmental groups, is that the tailpipe emissions of NOx and particulates from diesel vehicles (no matter whether they burn biodiesel or petro-diesel) are much higher than those of gasoline vehicles. And because those tailpipe emissions occur in areas where people live, walk, and work, they represent a significant risk to human health.

]]> How's that again?

jdhlax wrote: It's true that the emissions from diesel engines pollute more than those of gasoline engines, but that's only because the pollution caused by refining gasoline occurs at the refineries.

Gosh, that runs completely counter to every source I've seen on the subject. My understanding, based on publications and emissions tests by EPA and environmental groups, is that the tailpipe emissions of NOx and particulates from diesel vehicles (no matter whether they burn biodiesel or petro-diesel) are much higher than those of gasoline vehicles. And because those tailpipe emissions occur in areas where people live, walk, and work, they represent a significant risk to human health.

]]> Comment #8 by jdhlax http://www.grist.org/article/a-whole-new-meaning-to-boxcar-racing/ Fri, 10 Jun 2005 02:56:59 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/a-whole-new-meaning-to-boxcar-racing/8 Reply To Anthropocentric Comment

Crude oil must be refined in order to be used as fuel for vehicles.  Gasoline is much more refined than diesel, which means that it causes much more pollution to refine gasoline.

The problem is that you're only condsidering human health.  Why should non-humans suffer from human-caused air pollution that only benefits humans?  If people insist on driving, it's best for the rest of the planet for most of the resulting pollution to be emitted in areas where humans live.  It's not like there's no life outside of human areas, it's just not human life.

]]> Reply To Anthropocentric Comment

Crude oil must be refined in order to be used as fuel for vehicles.  Gasoline is much more refined than diesel, which means that it causes much more pollution to refine gasoline.

The problem is that you're only condsidering human health.  Why should non-humans suffer from human-caused air pollution that only benefits humans?  If people insist on driving, it's best for the rest of the planet for most of the resulting pollution to be emitted in areas where humans live.  It's not like there's no life outside of human areas, it's just not human life.

]]>