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Environment & Energy

Bill USA

(6,436 posts)

5. who said methanol would drive fracking? A separate issue which will live or die on its own. You

Reply to Politicalboi (Reply #2)

Tue Apr 28, 2015, 07:02 PM

Apr 2015

Last edited Wed Apr 29, 2015, 06:34 PM - Edit history (1)

can make methanol/ethanol out of any hydrocarbon including Municipal Solid Waste (this is not referring to human waste but trash - paper, food waste etc). Although you can make ethanol or methanol out of animal waste (poop) too, which we have a lot of. The process is called Anaerobic Digestion and it's been around for a long time. It's used much much more in Europe than here in the U.S.

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Ultra-High Efficiency Methanol Engines w Advncd Exhaust Energy Recovry: 50% Efficiency gain over ICE [View all] Bill USA Apr 2015 OP

Aha! shenmue Apr 2015 #1

that is another huge plus to ramping up methanol production. Methanol can be made more cheaply than Bill USA Apr 2015 #3

More fracking Politicalboi Apr 2015 #2

who said methanol would drive fracking? A separate issue which will live or die on its own. You Bill USA Apr 2015 #5

Better than gasoline but still nowhere near as good as Battery Electric Vehicles. NYC_SKP Apr 2015 #4

what's the source of power for the electricity you are charging up with - coal? How long do you Bill USA Apr 2015 #6

It varies with your electric utility provider. Some are mostly hydro, others mostly coal. BUT: NYC_SKP Apr 2015 #7

I would appreciate identification of the vehicle with computations. Also, are all hybrids being Bill USA Apr 2015 #8

I appreciate your attention to details. It can get pretty complicated. I drive an "EREV" NYC_SKP Apr 2015 #11

wish you could have quantified "crazy good" fuel economy as they did in study I mentioned in cmnt 9 Bill USA Apr 2015 #14

Two important points I don't think you addressed in contrasting Methanol with EVs and PHEVs: NYC_SKP Apr 2015 #15

Regenerative braking is a technology not limited to hybrids. Mazda uses RB and a capacitor to power Bill USA Apr 2015 #18

okay, I checked the Prius plug in and it get's great mileage see link - for $30,000.... Bill USA Apr 2015 #9

My work is 100% about energy. I can't say much more than that, but it's my job to know about energy NYC_SKP Apr 2015 #10

Any fuel source derived from biomass on an industrial scale is a non-starter, for one simple fact NickB79 Apr 2015 #12

DoE study, Fuel frm Forestry & Agricultural waste could produce biofuel to meet 1/3rd our fuel needs Bill USA Apr 2015 #16

I used to live within walking distance of an ARCO station that sold methanol. hunter Apr 2015 #13

"The assessment of both state officials and of Ford motor company was that is was successful" Bill USA Apr 2015 #17