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Fleets show interest in all-natural fuel solutions

BevIndustry -- Since nearly the dawn of the automotive age, many “alternative” fuels have been tried, but virtually all have come up lacking when compared with petroleum-based diesel and gasoline. Apart from availability, portability and stability, one of petroleum’s key advantages is what engineers refer to as power density, which, in short, is a measure of how much work a given volume of a fuel will produce.

Two alternatives that are increasingly giving diesel and gasoline a proverbial run for their money are natural gas and propane

Although propane is best suited as an alternative for lighter-duty, gasoline-powered trucks, natural gas is a practical alternative for vehicles ranging from passenger cars up to Class 8 trucks

The availability of publicly accessible fueling locations has improved dramat

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Submitted Feb 20, 2013 By: bar1035

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ExplorerWA Champion Author Washington Posts:4,058 Points:793,170 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 7:35:47 PM Ignore ExplorerWA Report Abuse None of is going to be cheap.
slowtrain Champion Author Georgia Posts:3,642 Points:943,925 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 3:47:24 PM Ignore slowtrain Report Abuse They may be cheap now, but demand will drive the price up.
Sneakers55 Champion Author Houston Posts:51,247 Points:2,139,925 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 3:08:53 PM Ignore Sneakers55 Report Abuse On Feb 20, 2013 3:56:16 PM, crusty1 wrote: >Remembering "power density", nuclear is still best. Speaking about nuclear power density, around 115 pounds of U-235 is enough to make Hiroshima look just like it did the last time the Enola Gay paid a visit. That's a sphere a little bit bigger than a baseball.
TheThorn All-Star Author South Carolina Posts:812 Points:782,175 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 3:07:47 PM Ignore TheThorn Report Abuse wow, i never knew oil was unnatural
briinnc Champion Author North Carolina Posts:2,705 Points:834,820 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 3:05:20 PM Ignore briinnc Report Abuse Anything if it brings the price down.
Sneakers55 Champion Author Houston Posts:51,247 Points:2,139,925 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 3:00:35 PM Ignore Sneakers55 Report Abuse On Feb 20, 2013 3:39:08 PM, BIGREDNM wrote: >Get rid of greed and the prices would fall like >a rock in a lake. Get rid of greed and no gasoline would be available at any price. It is in people's DNA to do very few things without compensation. Among them are donating blood (though donating four units can get you a free USB thumb drive emblazoned with the blood bank's slogan in Houston, many people direct their gift points to help the blood bank get a new donor coach or to fund college scholarships for high school students who sponsor blood drives) and propagating the gospel (whatever they consider the gospel to be, the classic gospel of the church or the New Age gospel of tree hugging for two of many possible examples). Making gasoline, on the other hand, is nothing that anyone would do for free as it's dirty and dangerous work.
crusty1 All-Star Author Chicago Posts:657 Points:411,740 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 2:56:16 PM Ignore crusty1 Report Abuse Remembering "power density", nuclear is still best.
mrmike75 Veteran Author Las Vegas Posts:476 Points:61,795 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 2:49:51 PM Ignore mrmike75 Report Abuse If more trucking companies converted to propane or CNG we all would see grocery and consumer item prices drop.
Sneakers55 Champion Author Houston Posts:51,247 Points:2,139,925 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 2:42:51 PM Ignore Sneakers55 Report Abuse On Feb 20, 2013 3:29:30 PM, MarkJM wrote: >kinda makes you want to convert to CNG or propane If you think the seasonal price gyrations are bad for gasoline, you've seen nothing compared to propane. At least propane can be bought during the summer when it's cheap and stored until the winter when it's expensive. There is no need for summer and winter blends of propane the way there is for gasoline.
TNT2EC Champion Author Wisconsin Posts:4,974 Points:1,509,585 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 2:41:48 PM Ignore TNT2EC Report Abuse Controlled point to point and local service is great for this solution.
jep39 Champion Author California Posts:1,141 Points:1,222,965 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 2:39:58 PM Ignore jep39 Report Abuse Natural gas and propane have been in use for years. It is about time that we finally are develop an adequate countrywide infrastructure..
BIGREDNM Champion Author Albuquerque Posts:3,577 Points:842,760 Joined:Oct 2010	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 2:39:08 PM Ignore BIGREDNM Report Abuse Get rid of greed and the prices would fall like a rock in a lake.
Asbury09 Champion Author Iowa Posts:7,193 Points:1,526,305 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 2:39:07 PM Ignore Asbury09 Report Abuse makes sense, which ethanol does not
blazerbob91 Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:6,125 Points:1,879,670 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 2:37:15 PM Ignore blazerbob91 Report Abuse Makes good sense
Sneakers55 Champion Author Houston Posts:51,247 Points:2,139,925 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 2:34:55 PM Ignore Sneakers55 Report Abuse On Feb 20, 2013 3:05:36 PM, gas_too_high wrote: >Natural gas is the best alternative available. The technology and the >distribution network are in place,now. All we need are the end >fueling stations. Natural gas can be turned to liquid motor fuel now. They do it in Malaysia and South Africa already. You don't need a whole new fueling infrastructure and vehicle conversions, all you need is gas-to-liquids conversion plants that can be conveniently dropped in the existing pipeline network.
MarkJM Champion Author Little Rock Posts:1,442 Points:1,343,360 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 2:29:30 PM Ignore MarkJM Report Abuse kinda makes you want to convert to CNG or propane
no8c Champion Author Ohio Posts:2,784 Points:700,850 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 2:26:49 PM Ignore no8c Report Abuse Thanks for posting this article!
highdesertman Champion Author Albuquerque Posts:2,464 Points:1,714,380 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 2:26:13 PM Ignore highdesertman Report Abuse Sounds great except for the fact that natural gas prices will eventually rise on the added demand and we will end up paying as much as we are today for transportation energy and considerably more for uses such as electrical generation and home heating. Not a good thing.
mycar2 Champion Author Akron Posts:2,090 Points:2,354,115 Joined:Apr 2004	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 2:24:58 PM Ignore mycar2 Report Abuse good, they have the capability to have fueling stations
carefrey Champion Author Orlando Posts:5,515 Points:1,155,485 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 2:21:45 PM Ignore carefrey Report Abuse Okay
skysteve1 Champion Author Victoria Posts:1,122 Points:372,235 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 2:21:44 PM Ignore skysteve1 Report Abuse Good, we need a break
tpguess Champion Author San Diego Posts:1,581 Points:367,835 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 2:20:52 PM Ignore tpguess Report Abuse Especially when tax code is used to engineer the results
sjhman Veteran Author Atlanta Posts:409 Points:273,625 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 2:18:02 PM Ignore sjhman Report Abuse Good, let's make it happen
flatrock14 Champion Author Michigan Posts:2,630 Points:772,780 Joined:Oct 2010	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 2:16:20 PM Ignore flatrock14 Report Abuse will it be cost effective
beck12j All-Star Author Dayton Posts:971 Points:333,810 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 2:15:37 PM Ignore beck12j Report Abuse ok
DMG86 Rookie Author Dallas Posts:85 Points:74,175 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 2:15:30 PM Ignore DMG86 Report Abuse Interesting.
srchr Champion Author San Jose Posts:7,228 Points:1,615,075 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 2:15:01 PM Ignore srchr Report Abuse make all federally purchased cars run on gas and natural gas; see www.drbill.us
joezIN Champion Author Gary Posts:1,663 Points:330,960 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 2:11:46 PM Ignore joezIN Report Abuse ok
BeaconLite Champion Author Ottawa Posts:1,922 Points:366,250 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 2:11:09 PM Ignore BeaconLite Report Abuse Interesting
nru Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:1,719 Points:979,225 Joined:Feb 2006	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 2:09:02 PM Ignore nru Report Abuse yes
tonoplast All-Star Author Lexington Posts:805 Points:443,475 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 2:05:58 PM Ignore tonoplast Report Abuse Better hop on it. Sand is trickling through the global warming hourglass. Eventually the sand/time will run out.
gas_too_high Champion Author Columbus Posts:11,521 Points:1,929,440 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 2:05:36 PM Ignore gas_too_high Report Abuse Natural gas is the best alternative available. The technology and the distribution network are in place,now. All we need are the end fueling stations. GTH
BossPal All-Star Author Illinois Posts:527 Points:235,960 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 2:04:49 PM Ignore BossPal Report Abuse CNG is the way to go
BigDartMike All-Star Author Ohio Posts:565 Points:114,490 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 2:02:48 PM Ignore BigDartMike Report Abuse With the so-called boom in the shale and nat. gas, it only makes sense to go with this to power our vehicles, oh wait that means CNG prices will go up, go figure...
singlemom27 Champion Author Ventura Posts:3,088 Points:635,210 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 2:00:39 PM Ignore singlemom27 Report Abuse I would go with natural gas only because the infrastructure is already established.
NightRider Champion Author Dallas Posts:1,377 Points:74,920 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 1:59:38 PM Ignore NightRider Report Abuse Will we have the same situation with CNG and propane speculators that we now have with oil/gas? It seems like a pipe dream to believe otherwise. It's just another commodity market to be controlled by big corporations and speculators. Oh, BTW..... OK. [Edited by: NightRider at 2/20/2013 4:00:38 PM EST]
defense Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:1,350 Points:1,363,500 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 1:58:13 PM Ignore defense Report Abuse ok
FogCitySpotter Champion Author San Francisco Posts:2,468 Points:517,425 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 1:56:53 PM Ignore FogCitySpotter Report Abuse Ok
hibsaw Champion Author Mississippi Posts:8,022 Points:1,677,965 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 1:56:04 PM Ignore hibsaw Report Abuse I hope my next vehicle is CNG powered.
toxigas Champion Author Oakland Posts:1,192 Points:404,340 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 1:52:49 PM Ignore toxigas Report Abuse Once upon a time, nuclear was envisioned to power everything...
peapaw Champion Author Ohio Posts:4,020 Points:684,770 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 1:50:56 PM Ignore peapaw Report Abuse This too is obvious.
s6sputnik Champion Author Austin Posts:6,209 Points:1,304,395 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 1:50:55 PM Ignore s6sputnik Report Abuse It is cheaper!
oldiesman Champion Author New York Posts:6,412 Points:2,190,935 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 1:44:36 PM Ignore oldiesman Report Abuse There's got to be another way?
honkerman Champion Author San Jose Posts:44,168 Points:2,393,095 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 1:43:23 PM Ignore honkerman Report Abuse Grinch09 said "we need a new government" The voters spoke. We need citizens with more national interest instead of self interest at the expense of everyone else. Govt. can only give to someone that which it takes away from someone else. That is NOT a proper function, nor the intended function of government.
g747 Champion Author Mobile Posts:4,521 Points:929,670 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 1:43:21 PM Ignore g747 Report Abuse About time to drive our operating costs down!!!!.Increase our GPD output,put our American workers back to our factories,having a disposeable income to save & invest.Getting rid of major socialeconomic problems,just putting us back into the black.
JWHITE1937 Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:2,504 Points:993,005 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 1:41:57 PM Ignore JWHITE1937 Report Abuse Post office, UPS, etc. can save millions. Other smart truckers can also!
tarheelcoastie Champion Author Greensboro Posts:5,176 Points:1,107,155 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 1:38:57 PM Ignore tarheelcoastie Report Abuse Definitely makes sense for large trucks running local routes.
wulf2000 Champion Author Miami Posts:3,017 Points:1,385,830 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 1:36:02 PM Ignore wulf2000 Report Abuse At least this is a realistic replacement for diesel and gasoline.
bluetruck54 Champion Author Quad Cities Posts:1,453 Points:439,760 Joined:Apr 2010	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 1:31:10 PM Ignore bluetruck54 Report Abuse a breakthrough technology probably exists today, but getting that in to more than a handful of vehicles takes substantial funding and heaven knows, the government will not endorse this......better to throw money at destined-to-fail solar attempts.
ObieDog Champion Author Maryland Posts:1,956 Points:848,345 Joined:Sep 2010	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 1:28:32 PM Ignore ObieDog Report Abuse Maybe.