download Skype
|
Diesel engine, as a "ready for use" energy saving technology.
by Hakan Falk at Energy Saving Now.
In todays world it is obvious that we have to do an inventory of technologies that will produce both short and long term relief in the current use of energy. We have to evaluate the technologies that we have and prioritize efficiently. It is enormous gains to be done in "ready for use" technologies and it will also enhance our possibilities to build the "new technologies". First some background facts and statistics,
- In Western Europe 25%-40% of automobils are diesels and it is expected that this will grow to 50% or more by 2010.
- In North America around 1% of the automobils are diesels and leave North America with a tremendous window of opportunity. Not only to make large savings, but also to major improvements of pollution levels.
- Also in the transport sector North America are lagging behind Europe, despite an extensive 85% use in heavy trucks/trains, 80% buses and 4% in light trucks.
Transport comparisons with other countries,
| Country | Usage of gasoline | Usage of diesel |
| USA | 67% | 19% |
| France | 35% | 53% |
| Germany | 49% | 39% |
| Italy | 47% | 40% |
| Japan | 45% | 40% |
| UK | 48% | 33% |
Transport sector includes International and domestic Civil Aviation, Road, Rail, Internal Naviation and Non-specified.
Numbers for LPG+Ethane, Aviation fuels and Electricity are not specified in above table.
Source: IEA, Energy Statistics of OECD Countries, 1994-1995.
- The fuel consumption per mileage for a diesel is around 30%-40% less than for a gasoline.
- The total fuel cost per mileage for a diesel is around 40% to 60% lower than a gasoline, since diesel is cheaper.
- The green house gases for diesel are directly related to consumption and 30%-40% less than gasoline.
- The average life span for a diesel engine is 2 to 4 times more mileage than gasoline.
- The second hand value for the car is related to life span and is higher for diesel.
- Europe have already roughly the same new car price for diesel and gasoline.
- Diesel have better prospect for use with cheaper and competitive bio fuels.
- With bio fuels the green house gases and cancerous particle emissions will be reduced to possible minimums and with efficient filtering represent a possible near 0 alternative.
Model from Department of Energy (DOE) show that if diesel is 40% of new car sales in North America by 2010, you will experince the following,
- The savings would be 110 million barrels of oil per year.
- Reduced oil transport and its risks, with close to one super tanker a day.
- A saving of $9 billion per year.
- Decrease of green house gases with 500 million metric ton per year.
Why did not North America implement use of diesels like Europe did?
I do not think that it was a diabolic decision by the Big Oil or nothing like that. It was probably the usual "not invented here" reason, combined with the waiting periods for patents to run its courses. Maybe it had a little bit to do with that North America also at that time was nearly the only oil game in town. Diesel presented his engine around 100 years ago and guess what, it ran on vegetable oil, a threat to the only oil nation at the time. I do not belive in sophisticated conspiracy theories, the world at this time thought that we had an infinite reserve of fossil oil. I do think that the European larger use of diesel engines have something to do with the wish for less dependence on oil, after all they have felt this dependence for more than a century now and the diesel engine was an European invention.
- Price difference in North America is only around 7.5% in favor for diesel, against typically 20% in Europe. The reason for this is the higher fuel taxes in Europe and the subsequent need to protect the commercial transport sector and influence of prices on goods.
- The agriculture sector almost exclusively used diesel in Europe, tax exemption of diesel for this sector was effective and strengthened by the use of diesel use over time.
- The same can be said for the commercial air and sea transport.
- One of the most important sector has been the heating fuel that also could be tax exempted by concentration on diesel, it is after all the same.
- Traditionally Europe is using a cleaner diesel than North America, who resisted and use a lower grade diesel. It is hard to find a logical reason for this, but it could be a result of reduction of number of products and rising demands on cleaner fuel.
- The diesel engine is after all an European invention and it is natural the they used and developed it further.
So what are the Europeans doing?
Guided by the early development of diesel engines and their development the last 100 years, the Europeans seems to have a clearer perspective of the development potential.
- EU are very much aware of the beneficial situation from the high usage of diesel engines. Even if this situation was not planned, they now try to safeguard and enhance the benefits in several ways. They are also strengthening all methods that encourage the use of diesel technology.
- Environmentally EU is now in the process of implementing low sulphur (LS) diesel and it will be in place within a couple of years. LS diesel demands changes in the production process, but are not effecting the equipment of usage. Using ultra low sulphur (ULS) diesel technologies does not have a strong support, depending on the possible negative effect the demands on changes in equipment of usage. ULS diesel from a environmental point of view is only positive if the future uses are going to be dominated by fossil fuel.
- EU have issued a range of directives to support and enhance the use of bio diesel, SVO and WVO, among this is tax exemptions and simplified production regulation. If this can be done in a successful manner, the effects can be of immense positive importance. On member state level, the pictures are not clear and some battles are going on with the interests from the oil industry, with varying results. This is effecting the timing of the over all implementation and countries like UK, Spain etc. are late and does still have rules that protects the oil industry interests and corporate monopoly position.
- Some EU member states like Germany are ahead of making bio diesels available at the pump.
- The oil industry in Europe realize the situation and that fighting it would not be in their best interest. They are instead trying to positioning themselves in a position from where they might maintain vital business interests.
Why aren't the North Americans ready for diesel technology?
Apart from the historical perspective on why the North Anericans are in a different situation, the technical and political scenarios are fundamentally different from Europe. Even if the technical and environmental arguments are clear and proven by the situation in Europe, the political, economical and corporate battles are in a start up phase.
- North America have no clear and effective policies on this super important issue.
- Locked in protective measures for the oil industry.
- Goals and means to reach them are not defined and implemented.
Conclusions, suggestions and personal thoughts.
This is the most critical and dynamic part of my presentation. It is much more space for my and others ideas and I will therefore start it up with only one thought.
- Bio diesel production will result in quite specific production and distribution challenges. The production will with almost certainty follow and utilize existing agricultural model with a large number of independent suppliers coops. etc. and the final distribution the energy model with a large number of filling stations etc. Where and how the product will be refined, package, marketed and taxed are possible open questions.
Hakan Falk
Energy Saving Now
Supporting links:
A major inspiration for this page,
DIESELS ARE READY. WHY AREN'T WE?
Speech by: Kurt Liedtke, Chairman, President and CEO
Robert Bosch Corporation
http://www.boschusa.com/News/ViewNews.asp?NewsType=RA&ID=0
© Copyright energysavingnow.com 2000.
© Copyrights to Software @ this site
|
|
BIOFUELS ASIA
conference
2008 - 27th-28th March 2008,
Thailand
Energy Savings in
UK
Energy Savings in
USA
"Disturbed children"
and
"Grumpy old men".
|
