Diesels Verboten in Germany (heating, hybrid, electric, best)

[HappyRider]

Originally Posted by DCforever

The stone age didn't end because we ran short of rocks. Oil based economies are 20th century technology. Time to move on.

You think you are making a point but you are doing the opposite. The reason people retired their coal furnaces and switched to natural gas was not because we ran out of coal. It was because natural gas made sense without the government putting its thumb on the scale. When "alternate" fuels make sense people adopt. It has nothing to do with what century we are in.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by HappyRider

You think you are making a point but you are doing the opposite. The reason people retired their coal furnaces and switched to natural gas was not because we ran out of coal. It was because natural gas made sense without the government putting its thumb on the scale. When "alternate" fuels make sense people adopt. It has nothing to do with what century we are in.

now for the real question...

"government putting its thumb on the scale" seems to have been a bad habit for USA Alternative power adoption and technology (to a point).

But... economically power options are still too cheap to warrant investment in alternatives (in USA)
No economic incentive. +/-

The positive thing about that...
1) Newer technologies will aid in replacement options
2) the science can respond fairly quickly
3) artificial economics is not sustainable (government subsidies and mandates)

The negative thing:
1) infrastructure cannot respond very quickly to swapping OUT conventional petrol stations.
2) Pain / inconvenience (and potentially national security) will suffer
3) Odd man OUT... there may come a time when you must PAY (the gov) to Play (to get fuel resources)
4) risk of social unrest. (unlikely in the passive USA, but if people get HUNGRY, or someone cuts off their TV... Watch OUT!)

This discussion is NOT very accepting of a 'discussion' ((mis) guided censoring)

So... it is very shallow / void of reasonable options or opinions.

Quite sad.

Could be a valuable subject with lots of GREAT feedback.

[thecoalman]

Originally Posted by HappyRider

You think you are making a point but you are doing the opposite. The reason people retired their coal furnaces and switched to natural gas was not because we ran out of coal. It was because natural gas made sense without the government putting its thumb on the scale. When "alternate" fuels make sense people adopt. It has nothing to do with what century we are in.

The peak of anthracite production was around 1920, it was replaced with oil which is still widely used in the Northeast for home heating. The reason is simple, it was convenient and the price was right at the time. Natural gas only recently became competitive with anthracite, 10 years ago it would of been 2 or 3 times the cost. It's only marginally more expensive now.



The market for anthracite is now areas that do not have access to piped gas. Ironically usually to replace oil.

[pittsflyer]

I would love to ban diesel trucks, if you have even been behind a bull dog lifted F-650 super duty its nasty. Black smoke and you have to roll all your windows up and turn on air recycle before it gets too close.

I dont need a PhD thesis to know these trucks are nasty and need to go.

I dont know how they will do it with Semi's but relegating them to certian routes at certian times would be wonderful.

[DCforever]

Originally Posted by HappyRider

You think you are making a point but you are doing the opposite. The reason people retired their coal furnaces and switched to natural gas was not because we ran out of coal. It was because natural gas made sense without the government putting its thumb on the scale. When "alternate" fuels make sense people adopt. It has nothing to do with what century we are in.

Without the American military over in the Middle East how much do you think oil would cost? That's paid for by your taxes and far exceeds any government thumb on the scale of renewable energy.

[thecoalman]

Originally Posted by pittsflyer

I would love to ban diesel trucks, if you have even been behind a bull dog lifted F-650 super duty its nasty. Black smoke and you have to roll all your windows up and turn on air recycle before it gets too close.

That is mostly due to modifications they have made for performance and I'd agree they shouldn't be allowed on the road in that state.

I dont know how they will do it with Semi's but relegating them to certian routes at certian times would be wonderful.

Prepared to pay more for goods at the store?

[guidoLaMoto]

Originally Posted by pittsflyer

. Black smoke and you have to roll all your windows up and turn on air recycle before it gets too close.

I dont need a PhD thesis to know these trucks are nasty and need to go.

.

Or you could just not tailgate- simple solution to a minor problem. Getting rid of diesel trucks would mean higher shipping costs--> more expensive goods--> lower demand--> lower production-->fewer jobs--> repeat cycle. Roll up your windows and save us from another depression



All technological solutions are a compromise among conflicting factors meant to reach an optimum state balancing risks vs benefits.

[HappyRider]

Originally Posted by DCforever

Without the American military over in the Middle East how much do you think oil would cost?

Umm, $30 a barrel? Saudi Arabia could be taken over by Islamists tomorrow and they still need to sell their oil.

[thecoalman]

Originally Posted by guidoLaMoto

Or you could just not tailgate-

What the poster is likely referring to is a truck that has been modified for higher performance. You can be two blocks behind it and still be driving through a thick cloud of smoke, that is not an exaggeration. I'm a live and let live kind of guy but I have my limits. It's an unnecessary nuisance.

[DCforever]

Originally Posted by HappyRider

Umm, $30 a barrel? Saudi Arabia could be taken over by Islamists tomorrow and they still need to sell their oil.

You seem woefully naive about the stability of the Middle East.