by Zaphod
Anyone heard anything about biodiesel under consideration for the T? Too expensive to do a conversion, even if there is a savings in the long term?
Railroad Forums
Biodiesel and the T
- Discussion relating to commuter rail, light rail, and subway operations of the MBTA.
Moderators: sery2831, CRail
by jwhite07
Natural gas is the direction the T is heading with the new buses for areas with a lot of pollution problems.And low-sulfur diesel for everything else (Zero-series RTS, the upcoming Neoplan diesel order, and Commuter Rail locomotives). Apparently the idea of biodiesel has been shelved, for the moment at least.
by jwhite07
Natural gas is the direction the T is heading with the new buses for areas with a lot of pollution problems.And low-sulfur diesel for everything else (Zero-series RTS, the upcoming Neoplan diesel order, and Commuter Rail locomotives). Apparently the idea of biodiesel has been shelved, for the moment at least.
by octr202
I heard recently that biodiesel isn't nearly as good an alternative fuel from an emissions standpoint. I can't remember which one, but basically it reduces one type of gas emission while dramatically increasing another.
Wondering if I'll see the Western Route double-tracking finished before I retire...
Photo: Melbourne W7 No. 1019 on Route 78, Bridge & Church Streets, Richmond, Victoria. 10/21/2010
Photo: Melbourne W7 No. 1019 on Route 78, Bridge & Church Streets, Richmond, Victoria. 10/21/2010
by trainhq
CNG buses produce considerably less Nitrous Oxides, CO and CO2 than
gasoline. However, they have a problem in that when you refuel natural
gas vehicles, you leak methane into the atmosphere, which is an extremely heat-absorbent molecule, much more so than CO2. This means
that CNG powered vehicles are actually worse for global warming than
diesel, surprisingly enough.
In the long run, hydrogen is the real answer in fuel cells.
During the transition period, it can be mixed with natural gas and burned directly as fuel, with appropriate carburetion adjustments.
gasoline. However, they have a problem in that when you refuel natural
gas vehicles, you leak methane into the atmosphere, which is an extremely heat-absorbent molecule, much more so than CO2. This means
that CNG powered vehicles are actually worse for global warming than
diesel, surprisingly enough.
In the long run, hydrogen is the real answer in fuel cells.
During the transition period, it can be mixed with natural gas and burned directly as fuel, with appropriate carburetion adjustments.
by mharter
The only problem is finding the hydrogen, they haven't solved that one yet and there is no technology to do so on the horizon. The only way to produce hydrogen involves the use of natural gas or oil. What would be really cool is if instead of generating the electricity from fuel stored on the vehicle, they could get it from overhead wires. It would be a lot more efficient.
Matt
Matt