[vtsnowedin]

http://www.vnews.com/12292008/5277722.htm
The local paper had this story. If you do the math he is getting the equivalent of ten gallons of gas from a cord of wood so that would be about $20.00/gallon.

"It makes huge sense for farming"

[yesplease]

You have an extra T at the beginning of your link. As for the owner, I doubt they're paying market value for a cord of wood, probably getting it for free or near free.

[vtsnowedin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('yesplease', '[')b]You have an extra T at the beginning of your link. As for the owner, I doubt they're paying market value for a cord of wood, probably getting it for free or near free.

[yesplease]

It looks like someone (which mod?) deleted the T.

I don't think the point of the article was that everyone could switch over, especially at a few pounds of wood per mile and only six people in the U.S. w/ setups, so I still don't see the point of comparing it to the cost of buying cords at market.

[vtsnowedin]

I was just considering the viability of the technology. The truck really runs so it is doable, Wood is available but not in unlimited quantities. At a real cost of $20.00 per gallon equivalent it might have its day sometime in the future. It would be a lot better than walking behind a yolk of oxen.

[mos6507]

I wonder what the VT DMV thinks about this...

[vtsnowedin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mos6507', 'I') wonder what the VT DMV thinks about this...

[kpeavey]

what will the EPA think about it? Lisa Jackson thread

[Gerben]

Wood is cheaper than gasoline, so it should be possible to run a car on wood gas for a lower price. The problem is that it's not easy to get the system to run efficiently. I doubt his system is very advanced.

[vtsnowedin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Gerben', 'W')ood is cheaper than gasoline, so it should be possible to run a car on wood gas for a lower price. The problem is that it's not easy to get the system to run efficiently. I doubt his system is very advanced.

[smallpoxgirl]

It's cheaper for the guy that the article is about. As stated in the article, he's in construction and uses construction debris. Maybe once he gets laid off he'll have to go back to gasoline (and get a smaller car.)

Ohh...and I removed the extra T. Sorry for the confusion.

[nocar]

This seems a lot like the 'generator-gas' thingies that were used in Sweden i WWII. Sweden was cut off from oil or gasoline imports, and also coal, but wood is everywhere. I was born right at the end on the war so I have not actually seen one in operation, but I have heard about them and seen pictures.

Clearly, the wood gas thingies could make cars or trucks go. But usually slower than with gasoline, and they appearently were not very reliable. Ever so often you had to stop and go out and stir the charcoal. And they produced carbonmonoxide - very unhealthy and lots of people were poisoned. When gasoline became available again, the wood gas thingies disappeared completely again. For some reason, they are never mentioned when alternative transport fuels are discussed. I have have just assumed that they were too impractical - but possible the idea can fly with improved technology.

[mos6507]

They burn carbon monoxide directly. CO might make a good fuel for humanity if it weren't so toxic. I think that whole invention in the news that claims to create "fuel" via solar thermal is in fact splitting CO2 into CO out of the air. They talk about using it to synthesize hydrocarbons but in theory you could just burn the CO directly.

[yesplease]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('vtsnowedin', '8')) I was just considering the viability of the technology. The truck really runs so it is doable, Wood is available but not in unlimited quantities. At a real cost of $20.00 per gallon equivalent it might have its day sometime in the future. It would be a lot better than walking behind a yolk of oxen.

[vtsnowedin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('smallpoxgirl', 'I')t's cheaper for the guy that the article is about. As stated in the article, he's in construction and uses construction debris. Maybe once he gets laid off he'll have to go back to gasoline (and get a smaller car.)

Ohh...and I removed the extra T. Sorry for the confusion.

[vtsnowedin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('yesplease', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('vtsnowedin', '8')) I was just considering the viability of the technology. The truck really runs so it is doable, Wood is available but not in unlimited quantities. At a real cost of $20.00 per gallon equivalent it might have its day sometime in the future. It would be a lot better than walking behind a yolk of oxen.

[yesplease]

That depends on the trees you have on your land. If you're growing trees in a high yield area, then I think you could get a couple tons/acre/year, which would good for quite a bit of travel, but your range would blow due to the amount of wood needed. Depending on the type of wood on your property the yield may not get you any more than a few hundred or thousand miles per year if you just collect dead material. To put that into perspective just two acres of rapeseed would provide enough fuel to travel ten thousand miles in a small diesel car.

Far be it from me to tell ya what to do w/ your own land, but if I were in your shoes I'd look for a less labor intensive system. Having to deal w/ all 50 acres just to drive a fraction of the distance I would having to deal w/ a couple acres isn't something I'd go for. Besides, you could probably see some income selling the extra wood to others in a post apocalyptic zombie wonderland.

I'm still also confused about why you mentioned price. Were you going to charge yourself for your own cords of wood? It seems like something to do when price isn't an option, and ya don't mind lots of labor compared to alternatives, but not something for most.

[vtsnowedin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('yesplease', 'T')hat depends on the trees you have on your land. If you're growing trees in a high yield area, then I think you could get a couple tons/acre/year, which would good for quite a bit of travel, but your range would blow due to the amount of wood needed. Depending on the type of wood on your property the yield may not get you any more than a few hundred or thousand miles per year if you just collect dead material. To put that into perspective just two acres of rapeseed would provide enough fuel to travel ten thousand miles in a small diesel car.

Far be it from me to tell ya what to do w/ your own land, but if I were in your shoes I'd look for a less labor intensive system. Having to deal w/ all 50 acres just to drive a fraction of the distance I would having to deal w/ a couple acres isn't something I'd go for. Besides, you could probably see some income selling the extra wood to others in a post apocalyptic zombie wonderland.

I'm still also confused about why you mentioned price. Were you going to charge yourself for your own cords of wood? It seems like something to do when price isn't an option, and ya don't mind lots of labor compared to alternatives, but not something for most.

[mos6507]

If they ever come up with a way to do cellulosic ethanol then you could use the trees as a feedstock.

[cephalotus]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('nocar', '.').. For some reason, they are never mentioned when alternative transport fuels are discussed. I have have just assumed that they were too impractical - but possible the idea can fly with improved technology.