I work at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (I'm a robotics and remote systems
type) and
they are continually interested in alternate fuels.
Our group vehicle is a alcohol fueled F*rd Ranger. It's nearly impossible to
start in
cold weather and the fumes are strong enough that I feel like I'm driving under
the
influence when I use it. Alcohol fuel requires material changes in the fuel
system as
well. Besides all that, it doesn't get as good a gas mileage as regular
gas...but it's
clean.
You could go with propane, but then you have to have a big tank and and still
require
conversion hardware...and will have access problems to find fuel.
As far as old trucks go, you're best off fighting the legislation...or moving
out of CA.
In the late 80s, my work support vehicle was an electric minivan. They
eventually took
it away from me as being too expensive to maintain compared to gas. Nothing
has changed
technology-wise except a slight improvement in inverter technology...the
cost/performance curve on batteries still isn't there.
A couple of years ago, I worked on the GM FutureTruck project for University of
TN.
They ditched the gas V8 for an inline diesel and an electric motor where the
flywheel
was. (If you convert to diesel, you could always burn used fast food fryer
vegetable
oil...this is for real...but would you want to drive around hungry all the time
from the
smell?) It showed promise, but ORNL's evaluation is that hybrids don't become
cost
effective (without subsidies) until gas goes to about $4-5 per gallon and
legislation
dictates it. We'll see.
And fuel cell vehicles still cost about ten times gas engine vehicle costs.
So you still don't have many options...
Mark Noakes
On Thu, 27 Mar 2003, Devin Ranger wrote:
>
> Gack! That's just what I wanted to see! As if they
> hadn't taken enough! Are these guys getting handouts
> from the Big Three or something? Ummm, how about an
> alternative fuel source, guys?
>
> Thanks for the heads up, Mark!
>
> Drew in NorCal
>
> --- mark@noakes.com wrote:
> > this came off of the early suburban list. you guys
> > in california might want to check
> > into the following url and address it:
> >
> > <a
href="http://mail.noakes.com/jump/http://www.smogrfg.com";>http://www.smogrfg.com</a>
> >
> > basically it's a plan for a reversal of current
> > rulings on classic car smog exemptions
> > plus it limits how many miles you can drive an older
> > car per year. of course, since
> > many of us have had our trucks apart for years, this
> > might not matter that much.
> >
> > tennessee still doesn't have emissions or safety
> > inspections...
> >
> > Mark Noakes
> > 58/56 Chevy Suburban
> > 58 GMC NAPCO pickup
> > Knoxville,TN
> > oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built
> > between 1941 and 1959
>
>
> =====
> Drew
> <a
href="http://mail.noakes.com/jump/http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/oletrucks";>http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/oletrucks</a>/
> <a
href="http://mail.noakes.com/jump/http://www.oldtruck.net";>http://www.oldtruck.net</a>
<> <a
href="http://mail.noakes.com/jump/http://www.oltrucks.com";>http://www.oltrucks.com</a>
> Sale/Trade: <a
href="http://mail.noakes.com/jump/http://homepage.mac.com/thenorseman/ads";>http://homepage.mac.com/thenorseman/ads</a>/
>
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>
> __________________________________________________
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oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
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