The decline of fossil fuels - and how that effects car enthusiasts

[Sprintey]

Originally Posted by EgoFG

About 100 years ago, there was a segment on a current affairs show that reported on a proprietary method and Australian lab had come up with to blend eucalyptus oil with alcohol in a manner that could burn in an un-altered engine.
Personally I think the industry has gone the wrong way with Electric and hybrid engines, and perhaps in looking to marginalise ICE.
One of these would be a better starting point
1. Hybrid - Should work more like an interurban train, small battery set, engine only drives a generator, all electric drive. - the majority seem to use the petrol engine to drive the car along with electric motors.
2. Full electric - should have something like a methane fuel cell - works like a battery, but it consumes methane (PEMFC), uses a liquid fuel, so preserves current infrastructure.
3. Alcohol ICE fuel substitute for largely unaltered engines (preserves our history)




Imagine pulling up to a fuel station, and choosing alcohol, with or without eucalyptus

The smell would be awesome! Now we are getting somewhere. Of note is that E85 and sometimes even the ethanol 94 blends can smell a bit like vodka to put in, which is nice.

[Sprintey]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

This entire debate is what happens when people get sucked in my the Gween Rhetoric.

Pay no attention to anything a Politician says. Their words are worthless.
Ignore all the token gestures. Yes they are a waste of money, but they reflect no fundamental change.
All we need to worry about are ACTUAL major changes, and currently there are none.
In fact Australia recently increased it's Strategic Reserve, and is actively working to INCREASE Fuel Security.

Natural Gas and LPG are obvious alternatives to OIL (whilst still being fossil fuels)
In terms of renewables there is Ethanol, Butanol, Amonia, and Bio Gas.

What about also converting the diesel fleet to CNG and producing it for domestic use up in the NW?

[b0son]

Originally Posted by Elks

There there is lot of evidence that the greatest influence upon birth rates is in fact wealth.

Yep. Hans Rosling has done some great talks on the subject.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FACK2knC08E

[Junkyard-Dog]

Originally Posted by Elks

is it OK to slide in a Windsor here and there.

As if you need to ask! Windsors? The more the merrier.

[Junkyard-Dog]

Originally Posted by Sprintey

And off topic - here's someone flogging a large piece of maritime freight equipment

80,000 tonnes
212,000 horsepower
32.69 knots

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQQnvn7brHU

The bow wave must be triple to quadruple head high! She is a beast.

I'd argue Normandie was greater, but can't find footage at flat tack.

Hell of a ship, that.

"From 8–14 December 1942, Queen Mary carried 10,389 soldiers and 950 crew (total 11,339). During this trip, while 700 miles (1,100 km) from Scotland during a gale, she was suddenly hit broadside by a rogue wave that might have reached a height of 28 metres (92 ft). An account of this crossing can be found in Carter's book. As quoted in the book, Carter's father, Dr. Norval Carter, part of the 110th Station Hospital on board at the time, wrote in a letter that at one point Queen Mary "damned near capsized... One moment the top deck was at its usual height and then, swoom! Down, over, and forward she would pitch." It was calculated later that the ship rolled 52 degrees, and would have capsized had she rolled another three degrees."