Electric bike wins pikes peak event. Whhhuuuuttt???

[SachsGS]

Stu I live in south central British Columbia, Canada.

It gets windy in my neck of the woods not to mention temperature extremes of 38C in the Summer down to - 38C in the Winter. Nothing like dragging out the well pump when it's - 25C (and snowing) with the ATV chained to a tree and using the ATV winch.
I did notice during that joyous event that, at the ambient temp. the pump felt hot. Geothermal heat pump anyone? In the next few weeks I'll be hiring a local excavator to do the ground work for my installation.

In my area diesel prices vary over the course of a year by about 5 %. Gas prices are much more volatile, with a price spread approaching 40 % and being higher than diesel about half the time. Prices in my area always rise magically during long weekends. It's very satisfying to be able to make biodiesel and be somewhat immune to all the price gouging. 

[Stusmoke]

Stu I live in south central British Columbia, Canada.

It gets windy in my neck of the woods not to mention temperature extremes of 38C in the Summer down to - 38C in the Winter. Nothing like dragging out the well pump when it's - 25C (and snowing) with the ATV chained to a tree and using the ATV winch.
I did notice during that joyous event that, at the ambient temp. the pump felt hot. Geothermal heat pump anyone? In the next few weeks I'll be hiring a local excavator to do the ground work for my installation.

In my area diesel prices vary over the course of a year by about 5 %. Gas prices are much more volatile, with a price spread approaching 40 % and being higher than diesel about half the time. Prices in my area always rise magically during long weekends. It's very satisfying to be able to make biodiesel and be somewhat immune to all the price gouging. 

Those temperatures, holy ****? And I think that -3 is cold... Although in my defense, most Australia homes aren't built with double, triple glazings. No insulation in our old house. Whatever it is outside it usually is in my room. What exactly IS biodiesel anyway? How is it made?

[SachsGS]

When Dr. Diesel invented the engine that carries his name he envisioned a stationary engine primarily used by farmers. The farmers would grow the plants that provided the vegetable oil that would power the diesel engine. At about this time the gasoline engine was becoming popular and, one of the by products of gasoline refining is petroleum diesel, so this became the main fuel for diesel engines.

I take deep fryer fat (used vegetable oil) given to me by local restaurants, filter the stuff and add additives, mix it half and half with pump diesel (B50) and pour into my vehicles. It's fun and though it may sound like a lot of work there are some real savings to be had. And so, we've come full circle, Dr. Diesel's engine is once again running on the fuel it was designed for. Bio Diesel is also ,in theory, carbon neutral.

I can never figure out how my geese are able to wander about with bare feet when it is - 25C outside.

On the subject of electric vehicles in my area electric scooters are VERY popular and I'm starting to see the odd Chevy Volt. 

[Stusmoke]

When Dr. Diesel invented the engine that carries his name he envisioned a stationary engine primarily used by farmers. The farmers would grow the plants that provided the vegetable oil that would power the diesel engine. At about this time the gasoline engine was becoming popular and, one of the by products of gasoline refining is petroleum diesel, so this became the main fuel for diesel engines.

I take deep fryer fat (used vegetable oil) given to me by local restaurants, filter the stuff and add additives, mix it half and half with pump diesel (B50) and pour into my vehicles. It's fun and though it may sound like a lot of work there are some real savings to be had. And so, we've come full circle, Dr. Diesel's engine is once again running on the fuel it was designed for. Bio Diesel is also ,in theory, carbon neutral.

I can never figure out how my geese are able to wander about with bare feet when it is - 25C outside.

On the subject of electric vehicles in my area electric scooters are VERY popular and I'm starting to see the odd Chevy Volt. 

Thanks for that, its good to know. When you say the diesel the pumps put into the truck, are you saying that stuff is a byproduct of refining ordinary gasoline? If so, wouldn't that mean that fuel companies get to sell what is essentially waste for a higher price than the refined stuff?

[TMKIWI]

Like this Stu.



And http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_refinery

[TMKIWI]

Thanks for that, its good to know. When you say the diesel the pumps put into the truck, are you saying that stuff is a byproduct of refining ordinary gasoline? If so, wouldn't that mean that fuel companies get to sell what is essentially waste for a higher price than the refined stuff?

6 months ago Greenpeace started a campain to get ships to stop using heavy fuel oil and run on diesel. wtf. " title="Angry" class="smiley">
Idiots. Heavy fuel oil is pretty much a by product and the change to diesel would increase freight costs astronomically.

[Stusmoke]

Like this Stu.



And http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_refinery

Thanks for that its quite interesting. So they use heat to draw out these different elements of crude oil? Thats pretty cool. I had no idea that things like kerosene and naptha were drawn from crude oil. What is heavy gas oil?

[TMKIWI]

What is heavy gas oil?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_oil

[Stusmoke]

What is heavy gas oil?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_oil

Thanks. Makes sense.