Ever since I started this blog I wanted to show that the current system of emission regulation is not as good as it could be. If something is not done to change the current system the amount of automobiles and emissions will be too extreme for the atmosphere to handle. In the video below a few alternatives are mentioned that can be used in order to lower the missions of automobiles and the amount of cars on the road, which will also lower the emissions of automobiles. The video only shows a few alternatives that can be used to change the current system. If you would like to see a few more additional ways to change the current syste, visit the “What Can be Done” page.
Both China and the U.S. have the highest amount of automobiles on the road. If both of these countries do something to lower their emissions the rest of the world may follow. Last year, as discussed on NPR on December 13, 2007, China announced that it would be softening its stance against targets toward lowering automobile emissions. The Chinese have said that they are willing to lower their emissions rating by the year 2020, because they will not be ready for the next committment period, which is in 2013. If you would like to read more go to: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17196587 .
There is one argument that everyone will agree on, gas prices are rising. Along with alternate fuels there are alternate forms of transportation that people can use to get from place to place. Some of these include buses, trains, light rails, monorails, etc. The only problem with these types of transportation is that they do not accomodate everyone. For example, there is not a bus stop in everyones back yard. Many people have to figure out some way to get to the bus stations, train stations, etc. If public transportation was more convenient people would be more likely to use them. If you would like to learn more about the public transportation system you can visit http://www.apta.com/ or http://www.publictransportation.org/default.asp .
I was doing some research on some information for my blog and found some information about how a biodiesel Excursion will emit less CO2 than the Prius will. From “Random Musings” by RyanG, The National Biodiesel Board and information from the EPA ratings of the cars, it is found that a Prius will emit ~3492 lbs of CO2, an excursion running regular diesel will emit ~13453 lbs of CO2, and an excursion running bio-diesel will only emit ~2960 lbs of CO2. Also, an excursion can haul 3 more people than the prius, which can make it more efficient, if a carpool is used. (if you would like to see more about the calculations and where these numbers came from go to http://qwikrex.blogspot.com/2007/10/i-see-your-prius-and-raise-you.html)
Today while reading a four wheeling magazine called Low-Range, I read an article about how people who four wheel also enjoy the environment and, most, do what they can to keep the trails as they were. As mentioned in my original post about what this blog was about, I mentioned that even though changes to engines will not stop people from going out and running their old trucks and SUV’s that are trail capable but have not been properly liscensed. One thing that all people that go out four wheeling have in common is the fact that they do not want to harm the environment too much. Now there are a few people that get impatient and do not obey the common courtesy rules, but most do. Some of the things that are done to keep the trails the way they are is to clean up garbage that is brought for lunch, snack, etc., while on the trail, staying on the trail at all times, pulling over to allow uphill traffic to come down, allowing skiers to pass by while snowmobile, etc. If outdoor recreationalists do this everytime they go out the environment will be there longer and just as beautiful.
This week I was having trouble thinking of what to write about. Though I remembered I hadn’t actually written anything about Smog and Emissions Tests that are required in some states and not in others. One good thing that comes out of an Emissions test is that the state knows which cars, for those newer than a certain date, are properly taken care of and which ones are not. In order to get liscence tabs for your car, in states that do require the tests, cars must go through an emissions test. Although, as stated before some states do not require all of their cars to go through emissions tests. Some of the states that do not require tests are Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming. This information was found on the DMV main website at: http://www.dmv.org/smog-check.php . When you click on the states that do not require emissions tests, their main reason is that they do not feel that there is enough bad emissions being let out into the atmosphere. Not everyone takes care of their car the way it should be, which can cause bad emissions to get emitted into the atmosphere.
I just came across a statistic of the amount of cars on the road (in the world) is over 600 million, from the article “Global Warming, Focus on the Future”, 1997. There are other statistics about cars on http://hypertextbook.com/facts/2001/MarinaStasenko.shtml, if you would like to take a look feel free. Also at the end of this article is a link to an article entitled “Are ‘Alternative Fuels’ the Answer?” (http://www.nationalledger.com/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi?archive=3&num=7704). This article shows that in 2003 it was estimated that 204,000,000 vehicles in the US alone.
I recently just returned from the Con Expo in Las Vegas and saw that John Deere is coming out with a Hybrid Dozer. This seems to be a big step because from all of the other companies that were looked at not very many have used this idea. Also, there was a crusher made by Eagle Crushers that the tracks are run by diesel fuel but all the other components of the crusher are electric. Hopefully this will continue through the next few years and other companies continue to update their fuel economy in their tractors.
Earlier last week I was asked whether or not tractors can run on hydrogen. Doing some research today I found that Caterpillar actually produced a tractor that will run on a hydrogen/diesel mix. The system is being studied by engineering students at North Dakota State University. In the article that I found about this topic (if you would like to read the article: http://www.ndsu.edu/research/article.php?article_number=78) it says that there is even talk that one day manure from cows may even, one day, be used to fuel farm tractors. The hydrogen/diesel system may not come out for another few years, but like every invention it takes a while to perfect the product.
Posted by patbrock 
Posted by patbrock 
Posted by patbrock 
