Kids Build Soybean-Fueled Car

mimo2005 · 03-01-2006, 07:18 PM

Quote:

"If you give kids that have been stereotyped as not being able to do anything an opportunity to do something great, they'll step up."

Students at "alternative" high school build soybean-oil-powered sports car that goes 0-60 in four seconds

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/...n1329941.shtml

more about the car :
http://www.realcities.com/multimedia...car/index.html

**Fox** · 03-01-2006, 07:49 PM

That is extremely cool. I've always thought biodiesel is the best alternative fuel, since it won't require an enormous change of infrastructure: most large commercial and industrial vehicles already run on diesel, and almost all diesel engines can run, unmodified, on biodiesel. The only problem is that in colder climates it tends to congeal.

Another pretty cool thing to think about- there are people who are farming a type of algae that can be easily converted into an oil compatible with the process of creating biodiesel, and they plan to grow it in large facilities in the desert, using human waste diverted from its path toward dumping in the ocean. The oxygen released during the algae growth makes up for the carbon dioxide released when the fuel is burned, and the other emissions are far less harmful and less offensive than those from petrodiesel, though there are slightly higher nitrous oxide emissions.

**forcifer** · 03-01-2006, 08:04 PM

also, with ethenal, it works the same way. and my cousins grow corn for ethenal

**Grove** · 03-02-2006, 12:12 AM

Cool. I suppose technology is really taking a boost at the moment.

ebackhus · 03-02-2006, 08:37 AM

The technology has been there, it's like they mentioned in the article, though: BIG OIL.

**Spatcher** · 03-02-2006, 08:40 AM

That is pretty darn cool. I just don't see us moving to Biodiesel anytime soon.

**Fox** · 03-02-2006, 09:07 AM

might as well start now... it'll save us a lot of trouble in 10 years when gasoline is 5 bucks a gallon.

dai · 03-02-2006, 09:14 AM

the move to alterantive fuels needs to be gathering momentum now,not a fews years down the track

bry623 · 03-02-2006, 11:14 AM

I agree with fox on this one. Move now while we can. I miss the days of $0.85 gas. My big SUV tat I drove long distances.

**Fox** · 03-02-2006, 12:57 PM

It would make it really easy, say, if a neighborhood pooled in some money to buy maybe a quarter acre to make a small production facility, and each distributed some of the production responsibility.

ebackhus · 03-02-2006, 01:02 PM

Here in Texas it'd be easy because there is lots of open land still. It's just a matter of converting cars. I don't know about you guys, but I like the car I have and won't replace it for a fugly new bio-diesel car, even if they are efficient.

**Fox** · 03-02-2006, 02:07 PM

You could always just do an engine and transmission swap if you like your car that much.

When you think about it, it would only take maybe 10 years to do a complete switch to biodiesel, considering that most cars only last 10 years depending on how much you drive them, and at the point where you have 225,000 or so miles on a gasoline engine, you don't have much of a choice other than an engine swap or scrapping the whole thing anyway.

03-01-2006, 07:49 PM	#2 (permalink)
Fox TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NJ Posts: 7,752 OS: XP Pro, CentOS My System	That is extremely cool. I've always thought biodiesel is the best alternative fuel, since it won't require an enormous change of infrastructure: most large commercial and industrial vehicles already run on diesel, and almost all diesel engines can run, unmodified, on biodiesel. The only problem is that in colder climates it tends to congeal. Another pretty cool thing to think about- there are people who are farming a type of algae that can be easily converted into an oil compatible with the process of creating biodiesel, and they plan to grow it in large facilities in the desert, using human waste diverted from its path toward dumping in the ocean. The oxygen released during the algae growth makes up for the carbon dioxide released when the fuel is burned, and the other emissions are far less harmful and less offensive than those from petrodiesel, though there are slightly higher nitrous oxide emissions. __________________ Antec Neo Power 500W, ABIT IP35-E, Intel E2180@2.66Ghz, Corsair XMS2 2x1GB DDR2-800, PNY 8800GT, 320GB Seagate * lazy college student alert *- If I've inadvertently ignored a thread, please Let me know about it Have I helped you solve your problem? Donate to Techsupportforums Klart Skepp!

03-01-2006, 08:04 PM	#3 (permalink)
forcifer good bye and good luck Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Kansas City kansas Posts: 3,486 OS: Vista Premium 32 My System Blog Entries: 1	also, with ethenal, it works the same way. and my cousins grow corn for ethenal __________________ im back...i guess...

03-02-2006, 12:12 AM	#4 (permalink)
Grove Professor/Moderator, TSF Design School Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 2,382 OS: Windows XP SP2	Cool. I suppose technology is really taking a boost at the moment. __________________ ========================================== Get Help: TSF Security Forum \| HijackThis \| MB's 5 Step Process Get Clean: AdAware SE \| Spybot S&D \| CWShredder \| Ewido \| CleanUp! Get Protected: SpywareBlaster \| SpywareGuard \| Windows Updates \| IE-SpyAd If TSF has helped you, please consider making a donation to help keep the board running.

03-02-2006, 08:37 AM	#5 (permalink)
ebackhus Manager, Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SATX Posts: 12,762 OS: WinXP Pro SP3 My System Blog Entries: 25	The technology has been there, it's like they mentioned in the article, though: BIG OIL. __________________ ----------------------------- There are no dumb questions, unless a customer is asking them. Help in the fight against cancer and other serious illnesses.

03-02-2006, 08:40 AM	#6 (permalink)
Spatcher Henry Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,467 OS: XP Home SP2 My System	That is pretty darn cool. I just don't see us moving to Biodiesel anytime soon. __________________ JohnThePilot: Cenedl heb iaith, cenedl heb galon (a nation without a language is a nation without a heart) John Butler Trio: Go take a step outside, see what's shakin' in the real world - Good Excuse Paul Kelly: Just add a dollop of tomato sauce for sweetness and that extra tang - How to Make Gravy

03-02-2006, 09:07 AM	#7 (permalink)
Fox TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NJ Posts: 7,752 OS: XP Pro, CentOS My System	might as well start now... it'll save us a lot of trouble in 10 years when gasoline is 5 bucks a gallon. __________________ Antec Neo Power 500W, ABIT IP35-E, Intel E2180@2.66Ghz, Corsair XMS2 2x1GB DDR2-800, PNY 8800GT, 320GB Seagate * lazy college student alert *- If I've inadvertently ignored a thread, please Let me know about it Have I helped you solve your problem? Donate to Techsupportforums Klart Skepp!

03-02-2006, 09:14 AM	#8 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 44,336 OS: vista 32x ultimate retail	the move to alterantive fuels needs to be gathering momentum now,not a fews years down the track __________________

03-02-2006, 11:14 AM	#9 (permalink)
bry623 Manager, The Conversation Pit/Analyst, Security Team Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: NW Territory circa 1787 Posts: 10,621 OS: winxp pro sp2	I agree with fox on this one. Move now while we can. I miss the days of $0.85 gas. My big SUV tat I drove long distances. __________________ "Government is not the solution to our problem. Government is the problem." -Ronald Reagan

03-02-2006, 12:57 PM	#10 (permalink)
Fox TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NJ Posts: 7,752 OS: XP Pro, CentOS My System	It would make it really easy, say, if a neighborhood pooled in some money to buy maybe a quarter acre to make a small production facility, and each distributed some of the production responsibility. __________________ Antec Neo Power 500W, ABIT IP35-E, Intel E2180@2.66Ghz, Corsair XMS2 2x1GB DDR2-800, PNY 8800GT, 320GB Seagate * lazy college student alert *- If I've inadvertently ignored a thread, please Let me know about it Have I helped you solve your problem? Donate to Techsupportforums Klart Skepp!

03-02-2006, 01:02 PM	#11 (permalink)
ebackhus Manager, Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SATX Posts: 12,762 OS: WinXP Pro SP3 My System Blog Entries: 25	Here in Texas it'd be easy because there is lots of open land still. It's just a matter of converting cars. I don't know about you guys, but I like the car I have and won't replace it for a fugly new bio-diesel car, even if they are efficient. __________________ ----------------------------- There are no dumb questions, unless a customer is asking them. Help in the fight against cancer and other serious illnesses.

03-02-2006, 02:07 PM	#12 (permalink)
Fox TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NJ Posts: 7,752 OS: XP Pro, CentOS My System	You could always just do an engine and transmission swap if you like your car that much. When you think about it, it would only take maybe 10 years to do a complete switch to biodiesel, considering that most cars only last 10 years depending on how much you drive them, and at the point where you have 225,000 or so miles on a gasoline engine, you don't have much of a choice other than an engine swap or scrapping the whole thing anyway. __________________ Antec Neo Power 500W, ABIT IP35-E, Intel E2180@2.66Ghz, Corsair XMS2 2x1GB DDR2-800, PNY 8800GT, 320GB Seagate * lazy college student alert *- If I've inadvertently ignored a thread, please Let me know about it Have I helped you solve your problem? Donate to Techsupportforums Klart Skepp!