President Bush in his 6 day visit to South America met with Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva today and toured a bio-fuel plant that produces clean ethanol fuel from sugar cane. The visit is not without its critics, some political and some concerned that expanding biofuels will risk turning rain forests into sugar plantations. Here at home the same concern is being express from users of corn. (corn prices have risen sharply as ethanol demand grows)
The meeting between the two presidents came as US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim signed a deal making ethanol an internationally traded commodity and promoting its production in Central America and the Caribbean. The goal is to “pool the experience and technology of the two countries, who are the world’s biggest producers of ethanol.” President Bush for his part commented, “we come to celebrate a strategic partnership between the United States and Brazil. We see the bright and real potential for our citizens being able to use alternative sources of energy that will promote the common good.” Both leader agree that increasing bio-fuel use will lead to more jobs, a cleaner environment and less dependence on oil. Combined, Brazil and the US produces about 70% of the world’s ethanol, a bio-fuel made from sugar cane or corn. (BBC)
EDIT: I’m including an On The Record segment highlighting ethanol and the President’s trip to South America. The program’s host, Greta Van Susteren, comments on today’s meeting in Brazil and will have a one on one opportunity with President Bush tomorrow. I’m looking forward to Greta’s opportunity to talk with the President since I’ve had the opportunity to exchange emails over the past year. Hopefully she’ll get a chance to mention biodiesel … my prodding.
🙂
Thinking winter was nearly over, I topped off my VW Jetta TDI with B99 (100% biodiesel / 1% petroleum diesel) this past week prior to leaving on a regular drive to northeastern Ohio. Unfortunately I didn’t realized that snow was in the forecast or that low temperatures were in the offing. In fact, the low was 11 degrees in Akron on Wednesday night. Nervously on Thursday morning I peeked under the hood to see what the ‘clear’ fuel line looked like — nothing unusual that I could tell?
Thankfully the engine started, so I gingerly headed for my appointment keeping my eye open for places to pull over just in case my fuel filter clogged and starved the engine … all was well. It wasn’t until I stopped that I remembered the B100 sample kept in the ashtray … or whatever the ‘catch-all’ tray is called nowadays. The sample test tube had already warmed a bit, but it still had significant clouding. (photo) I estimated that my biodiesel percentage was about 50/50; I consider myself fortunate not to have been sitting on the side of the road. From personal observation, untreated fifty percent soy-based biodiesel is too high of a percentage to use when temperatures dip into the low teens.
An Edmunds 2007 Geneva Auto Show post announced that the 2008 Touareg BlueTDI will be introduced in the US rather than in Europe. The new “selective catalytic reduction” or SCR, system that reduces nitrogen-oxide emissions by up to 90 percent, thus making it what VW asserts is “one of the cleanest diesel engines on the market.” The system is linked to a diesel 3.0-liter V6 TDI that makes 222 horsepower and will meet CARB state standards.
GENEVA — Volkswagen so badly wants to convince Americans to “go diesel” that it says it will forgo a European launch of its new Touareg BlueTDI and instead focus on selling the SUV in North America starting in 2008.
If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to a new Palm based smartphone and are a fan of Sprint and their EV-DO service (higher speed data), you might want to hold off until May 14 this year. According to Brighthand.com, the new phone will be a smaller antennaless version and will probably replace the 700p. (my current phone) Specifics are not known, but the “p” most likely indicates that it will run the Garnet OS (formerly Palm OS Garnet).
Oh-la-la — gimme this in a diesel and I won’t even ask for 4-motion! I spotted these photos on the Cars.com blog from the Geneva Auto show and thought a couple readers would like to navigate over for more. I like it even though the folks at Cars.com commented that “the front and profile seem to be in proportion, but VW just lost us with the bland back end. It looks like every other car on the road, not something unique.”
From a functional perspective though, the new Jetta is about perfect for many American families. The increased size over its A4 wagon predecessor will be a definite plus, especially since the floor folds flat and offers 55 cubic feet of space. The disappointment, in the short term, is that it will arrive in the US as a 2008 model next fall, and probably only as a gasser. (the inline 5 cylinder and performance four cylinder – the 2.0 liter turbo)
For me and many TDI owners, we’ll anxiously wait for the new diesel version … but so far I like what I’m seeing. (its about time)
Check out the other photos over at the gallery or click for a few larger photos:
Earthrace, a unique 78 foot biodiesel powered wave-piercing trimaran, is at the starting line in Port Charles, Barbados. The sponsored project is looking to break the world record for circumnavigating the globe in a powerboat, and intend to do it on renewable fuel.
The team is skippered by 41 year old New Zealander Pete Bethune, who intends to showcase a myriad of environmentally friendly technologies; the engines are two 540 hp Cummins Mercruiser diesels, the use of non-toxic antifouling and a fuel efficient hull design. The trimarans hull “pierces waves instead of riding on top of them. Piercing the waves gives a smoother ride, and allows the boat to run at high speeds even in rough seas.” Their goal is to top the world powerboat circumnavigation record of 74 days, 20 hours, 58 minutes which was set in 1998. Specifications
* Hull: Wavepiercing Trimaran
* Length: 24 m (78 ft)
* Beam: 7 m (23 ft)
* Draft: 1.3 m (4 ft)
* Range: 3000 nm (6000 km)
* Maximum speed: 45 knots (90 km/h)*
* Fuel: B100 Biodiesel (100%)
* Fuel Capacity: 10,000 litres (2500 imperial gallons)
* Displacement: 10 ton (10 t)
* Construction: Carbon, Kevlar composites
* Crew: 4
* Beds: 8
* Engines: 2 x 350 kW (540 hp) Cummins Mercruiser
* Gearboxes: ZF 305A (single speed)
* Air intakes: top of wings to remain above waves while piercing
* Windscreen: 17 mm laminated toughened glass
The world record attempt will begin on March 10, 2007 although I’ve heard the 6th in a email from Donna Lange today. (which is why I’m posting this early) The Turbo.com channel of Discovery.com is covering this like nobody else, so that’s probably the best place to get up to speed and stay up to date. Oh … and if you think everything is going like clockwork, just read some of the Earthrace team comments.
😉
Haven’t posted a video clip for a few days and thought I would post this one for Taylor — he would rather be one of these rats. (Does PETA regulate rats?)
Hey that’s my car! DieselBlog is featuring rotating headers on their website and has a photo of my Volkswagen Jetta TDI filling up at the Mt. Gilead Ohio biodiesel pumps!
😀
The site is a very informative site which includes updates on news relating to diesel vehicles and the technology which is making them superior to gasoline based vehicles. Dieselblog is a quick daily read and is well worth bookmarking. (its in my list of links — right hand sidebar)
WordPress, popular blog publishing software, is the latest to fall victim to a security problem. The problem only affects those who have upgraded to 2.1.1 over the last week. WordPress software has been corrected with the latest 2.1.2 release and an upgrade should alleviate the risk tied to a PHP exploit. Most who have downloaded in the past are probably fine, and the server exploit access point has been secured, but all users should review their version and upgrade to WordPress 2.1.2. (versions prior to 2.1.1 ‘should’ be ok)
According to Matthew Mullenweg at WordPress.org, “it was determined that a cracker had gained user-level access to one of the servers that powers wordpress.org, and had used that access to modify the download file. We have locked down that server for further forensics, but at this time it appears that the 2.1.1 download was the only thing touched by the attack. They modified two files in WP to include code that would allow for remote PHP execution.”
The rain has been coming down and it almost looks like spring is here in southwestern Ohio. Yesterday I soaked my leather seats tossing the umbrella in the rear door as I made a quick escape from the cold rain, so when I read an Autobloggreen Australian two part review on the Volkswagen Passat TDI, the umbrella holder caught my eye. (photo right) Its a nice touch in a car many diesel lovers in the US would like to test drive.
The two part review (Part One | Part Two) is written from a real world buyers perspective, more of a “why I (or why my father) bought this car.” If you’re not up to reading a two part ‘personal’ review, do yourself a favor and check out the great photos in the gallery.
For my part, I’m just going to list a few of the features Dane Muldoon mentions and put them in my personal Pros and Cons columns.
Pros:
* TDI isn’t priced much more than gasser (in Australia anyway)
* Middle of the road styling; not ostentatious
* Passat comes with a full-sized spare on an alloy rim
* Removable ‘plastic’ key inside keyless remote
* Hill assist feature, but is it really needed in a automatic?
* Automatic windshield wiper feature
* Dimming rearview mirror
* Dual Climate controls
* Comfortable cabin and seating (leather is attractive)
* Chillable Glovebox, center cup holders and umbrella holder
* Computer controlled ESP, ABS, EBD, and ASR (read article)
* Tire pressure monitoring
* Five star safety rating
* 6 speed DSG – 3-4 milliseconds for each gear change
* 2.0 liter 138 HP/236 lb-ft of torque
* Combined city / highway mileage = 35.6 mpg.
Cons:
* Passat 2.0 TDI Sedan 6 Speed DSG = AUD$44,990 (US$35,641)
* Size and looks very similar to lower priced Jetta
* ‘Pricey’ Key Fob used with push button starting
* Required Electric Parking brake; no manual parking brake
* Highway noise is a “bit high and wearisome”
* Not available in the US; no BlueTec yet
President Bush in his 6 day visit to South America met with Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva today and toured a bio-fuel plant that produces clean ethanol fuel from sugar cane. The visit is not without its critics, some political and some concerned that expanding biofuels will risk turning rain forests into sugar plantations. Here at home the same concern is being express from users of corn. (corn prices have risen sharply as ethanol demand grows) 
Thinking winter was nearly over, I topped off my VW Jetta TDI with B99 (100% biodiesel / 1% petroleum diesel) this past week prior to leaving on a regular drive to northeastern Ohio. Unfortunately I didn’t realized that snow was in the forecast or that low temperatures were in the offing. In fact, the low was 11 degrees in Akron on Wednesday night. Nervously on Thursday morning I peeked under the hood to see what the ‘clear’ fuel line looked like — nothing unusual that I could tell? 
If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to a new Palm based smartphone and are a fan of Sprint and their EV-DO service (higher speed data), you might want to hold off until May 14 this year. According to 
Hey that’s my car! 
The rain has been coming down and it almost looks like spring is here in southwestern Ohio. Yesterday I soaked my leather seats tossing the umbrella in the rear door as I made a quick escape from the cold rain, so when I read an 
