GM Forum / GM News GM Forum / GM News
 
Go Back   GM Inside News Forum > Press Room > Alternative Fuels and Propulsion News
Register Home Forum Active Topics eBay Marketplace Media Gallery Mark Forums Read

Please Visit our Site Sponsors

GM Inside News & GM Forum is the premier GM Forum and GM News Source on the internet. We discuss all GM models on the forum. Registered Users do not see the above ads. Please Register - It's Free!
Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 05-08-2007, 03:25 PM   #1 (permalink)
GMI Staff Member
Premium Member
 
GMCSonoma's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 10,059
Former weed may fill world's fuel tanks

.
By Mark Sappenfield, Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor Tue May 8, 4:00 AM ET


JAGDALPUR, INDIA - In an overgrown corner of Moolchand Sethia's plantation, runty and unloved, stands what could be the next revolution in the world's search for renewable fuel.
From China to Brazil, countries have begun setting aside tens of thousands of acres for the cultivation of jatropha – a plant many experts say is the most promising source for biodiesel. At the same time, companies from Europe and India have begun buying up land throughout Africa to establish jatropha plantations.
As American farmers plan to plant the most corn since World War II to cash in on ethanol, which is added to gasoline, much of the rest of the world is turning to jatropha, which is used as a substitute for diesel fuel.



Article continues at link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20070508/wl_csm/ojatro
__________________
GM dealer parts manager since 1994
GM dealer parts counterman 1987-1994
holder of numerous automotive accreditations too many in number to list here...
GMCSonoma/August 27, 2009
GMCSonoma is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
Advertisement
 
Old 05-08-2007, 03:28 PM   #2 (permalink)
2.8 Liter Turbocharged V6
 
importedtuna's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 984
Re: Former weed may fill world's fuel tanks

Quote:
Jatropha oil is produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas, a plant that can grow in wastelands. Jatropha curcas grows almost anywhere, even on gravelly, sandy and saline soils. It can thrive on the poorest stony soil. It can grow even in the crevices of rocks.

The plant yields more than four times as much fuel per hectare as soybean, and more than ten times that of corn. A hectare of jatropha produces 1,892 liters of fuel.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jatropha_oil
__________________
The only people who "don't worry" about Gas Prices are people addicted to jacked up 4x4 trucks & SUVs like a smoker who can't control the price of cigarettes.
importedtuna is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-08-2007, 03:36 PM   #3 (permalink)
4.6 Liter Northstar V8
 
give_it_all_'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Canada :)
Drives: '06 G5
Posts: 1,716
Re: Former weed may fill world's fuel tanks

Quite impressive
__________________
2006 Pontiac G5 Pursuit----Yellow Coupe
give_it_all_ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-08-2007, 03:36 PM   #4 (permalink)
3.0 Liter SIDI V6
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: LI, NY
Drives: '94 Grand Marquis 4.6L SOHC
Posts: 638
Re: Former weed may fill world's fuel tanks

Are there any BTU numbers on the jatropha diesel? Most of conventional diesel fuel's fuel economy advantages are due to the fact that diesel has such a high BTU per gallon compared with gasoline, and E85 has a lower BTU per gallon than gasoline, which explains its poorer fuel economy. Biodiesel has been reported to have a BTU level per gallon very similar to that of conventional diesel.
The main challenge with biodiesel is that it can congeal and contaminate fuel lines and high tech diesel injection systems, which is why vehicles fueled on a high level of biodiesel ust switch to conventional before shut down and for the first few minutes after start up.
spaz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-08-2007, 03:38 PM   #5 (permalink)
6.2 Liter LS9 Supercharged V8
 
Old Dood's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Lansing
Drives: 2000 Park Avenue 2007 Camry XLE
Posts: 7,459
Re: Former weed may fill world's fuel tanks

I like that idea of this fuel source. I am not so keen on corn for the reason it will make corn and it's by-products more expensive.
Old Dood is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-08-2007, 03:40 PM   #6 (permalink)
2.8 Liter Turbocharged V6
 
SuperSS27's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Drives: Blacked Out 2006 Trailblazer SS 2wd
Posts: 850
Re: Former weed may fill world's fuel tanks

Another step in the direction of energy dependence....WOOOHOOO!!!!! I wonder how the oil rich nations are feeling about alternative fuels.
SuperSS27 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-08-2007, 03:55 PM   #7 (permalink)
1.4 Liter Turbocharged ECOTEC
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 60
Re: Former weed may fill world's fuel tanks

Instead of wasting time with CAFE legislation which does nothing to improve production of home grown fuel, why not use that wasted money to develop means and methods to exploit agricultural based fuels?

Of course it will never happen, the only thing that CAFE has created is more bureaucracy for politicians to exploit for their own benefit. And in it's own way, CAFE has created a dependence on oil rather than a search for alternatives. When the auto industry's resources are focused on regulation, it has lost it's ability to explore and innovate.
LBTheDawg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-08-2007, 04:32 PM   #8 (permalink)
Banned
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Drives: 2008 Ford Escape Limited 2006 Ford Focus ZX4
Posts: 1,591
Re: Former weed may fill world's fuel tanks

I wonder what we can get out of dandelions as my lawn is full of them.
gardnet1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-08-2007, 04:33 PM   #9 (permalink)
7.0 Liter LS7 V8
 
atomicshark's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Long Island, New York
Posts: 4,410
Re: Former weed may fill world's fuel tanks

I'm still waiting for Mr. Fusion™.
__________________

2008 Chevrolet Cobalt - 9,800 miles
2008 Saturn Vue - 6,300 miles
2004 Pontiac GTO - 71,864 miles
atomicshark's flickr gallery
atomicshark is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-08-2007, 04:35 PM   #10 (permalink)
6.2 Liter LS3 V8
 
CRBoyd91's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Houston, TX (Katy Area)
Drives: 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix GT
Posts: 3,957
Re: Former weed may fill world's fuel tanks

Quote:
Originally Posted by SuperSS27
Another step in the direction of energy dependence....WOOOHOOO!!!!! I wonder how the oil rich nations are feeling about alternative fuels.
I'm sure the UAE is thrilled.
__________________
2004 Pontiac Grand Prix GT - 112,000 mi.
CRBoyd91 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-08-2007, 04:48 PM   #11 (permalink)
Banned
 
Cabana Boy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,356
Re: Former weed may fill world's fuel tanks

Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Dood
I like that idea of this fuel source. I am not so keen on corn for the reason it will make corn and it's by-products more expensive.
Corn is only one way to make ethanol. There are lots of other ways.

I am skeptical bout this source.
Cabana Boy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-08-2007, 05:29 PM   #12 (permalink)
3.0 Liter SIDI V6
 
kmacleod's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: AZO
Drives: 02 Montana, 88 Fiero GT
Posts: 724
Re: Former weed may fill world's fuel tanks

Quote:
Originally Posted by gardnet1
I wonder what we can get out of dandelions as my lawn is full of them.
Your "Lawn Roses" provide very tasty greens for salads and the milk from the stems make quite a fine wine according to my 96 year old grandmother.......

Ken
kmacleod is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-08-2007, 06:19 PM   #13 (permalink)
3.0 Liter SIDI V6
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Drives: '04 SSR 5.3L
Posts: 581
Re: Former weed may fill world's fuel tanks

I think I saw something where there is a nonprofit working on this in California????????? I do remember "plant+seed+wasteland=bio-diesel" In California
__________________
"You have to live in another reality to comprehend it. I've abandoned attempts at such comprehension long ago."

Zete GMI Staff Member

The Volt is a total electric car with a "range extender"
Remove ICE, add more/better battery's and you have the EV-2

"We Probably Could Have Saved Ourselves, But We Were Too Damned Lazy To Try Very Hard......And Too Damn Cheap"

Kurt Vonnegut
PocoToro is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-08-2007, 07:33 PM   #14 (permalink)
Chevrolet VOLT
 
Neanderthal's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Caveville, Neanderthallande: Have Club, Will Travel
Drives: 07 KIA Spectra. The Other Peninsula car.
Posts: 10,446
Re: Former weed may fill world's fuel tanks

Quote:
Originally Posted by CRBoyd91
I'm sure the UAE is thrilled.
"Grows in sandy soils."
__________________
formerly LAMRONH

"I never heard a truly wise person call themself wise."--Rush caller, 03JUN09

"I disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." --Evelyn Beatrice Hall, writing under the pseudonym of Stephen G Tallentyre in "The Friends of Voltaire" (1906)

"Can't...can't...can't...we all...just...get along?" --Rodney King

"Wake up, Amurrica!" --Earl Pitts, Amurrican
Neanderthal is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-08-2007, 07:37 PM   #15 (permalink)
6.2 Liter LS9 Supercharged V8
 
likearock00's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: NC
Drives: 2006 Chevy Silverado Crew Cab Z-71
Posts: 8,428
Re: Former weed may fill world's fuel tanks

Quote:
Originally Posted by gardnet1
I wonder what we can get out of dandelions as my lawn is full of them.
That and chickweed and crabgrass!! I'd love to see the day when that stuff becomes wanted!!
__________________
Not even worth putting one up.
likearock00 is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
Advertisement
 
Reply

  GM Inside News Forum > Press Room > Alternative Fuels and Propulsion News



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:26 AM.

Powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2009, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.1.0
©2008 GMInsidenews.com.
GMInsideNews.com is not affiliated with GM, General Motors or any GM Divisions in any capacity.
GMInsideNews.com is an enthusiasts' forum dedicated entirely to news about GM vehicles.