U.S. switch to gas for heavy vehicles could 'save billions'

[Judi Lynn]

Source: UPI

U.S. switch to gas for heavy vehicles could 'save billions'
Published: July 15, 2010 at 1:47 PM

DALLAS, July 15 (UPI) -- A nationwide switch to natural gas as the principal fuel for heavy road traffic could save the United States tens of billions of dollars and reduce politically volatile dependence on foreign oil, billionaire campaigner T. Boone Pickens said Wednesday.

In a video presentation, the Texas oilman, 81, urged U.S. President Barack Obama to embrace natural gas as the fuel of choice for heavy vehicles.

Pickens' plan says switching the 8 million 18-wheel trucks in operation across the United States to run on natural gas could cut the United States' dependence on foreign oil by half.

Critics of the proposal say the switch will be too expensive and therefore unrealistic. Critics also questioned the wisdom of Pickens stirring up an emotive campaign with Arabic inscription and Middle Eastern music -- a reference to one of the chief sources of oil used by U.S. consumers.

Read more: http://www.upi.com/Science_News/Resource-Wars/2010/07/15/US-switch-to-gas-for-heavy-vehicles-could-save-billions/UPI-25881279216060/

[aquart]

1. How much does Pickens have invested in natural gas engines?

Just assuming all these vehicles would need new engines or adapters.

[rox63]

2. He has large investments in natural gas

Although I can't stand Pickens, I have to admit that NG would burn cleaner than gasoline.

[Lance_Boyle]

6. Heavy equip almost universally burns diesel, not gas.

On its face Pickens' idea is ludicrous - who would want to replace nice, stable, nonflammable diesel with sudden-go-boom nat gas? If he was serious, he's be talking up algae biodiesel. But then he doesn't own a large share of the nation's algae biodiesel production...

[Frisbee]

5. Gasoline engines can be converted fairly easily...

I can't say though regarding the heavy duty diesel engines used in over the road trucks. But just because Pickens is invested in NG doesn't make him wrong, to the contrary, he may be heavily invested because he knows he is right. It definitely does burn cleaner, though some states currently have laws limiting the system storage pressure which can be a real handicap. The gas needs to be stored at 5000PSI to be feasible, some states limit it to 2500PSI, which effectively halves the vehicles range.

[Schema Thing]

3. lol, you gotta admit, the ole sumbitch is persistent.

[BakedAtAMileHigh]

4. More Fracking! Awesome!

Yup, that'll solve the problem, all right.

[DetlefK]

7. It could work, but there is not enough natural gas for ALL trucks.

At least the buses could be switched to natural gas. It is a nice idea, but in the end, for example in Germany, only few vehicles will really run on it.

[madrchsod]

8. not really...fracking natural gas is`t very clean

[AtheistCrusader]

9. Semi's should be running biodiesel, not NG.

That doesn't make any damn sense at all

[hayu_lol]

11. Pickens is another of those...

old line pirates who really deserves tarring and feathering before he kicks the bucket.

This brainstorm must be a moneymaker for him alone. Certainly it would be no help at all to the heavy truck operators.

[madrchsod]

10. delete

[NickB79]

12. Wouldn't increased demand for nat. gas just drive up prices?

And offset any significant savings?

[AtheistCrusader]

14. SHHH quit looking behind the damn curtain!

[WinkyDink]

13. And hey! Doesn't Cheney have that Afghan gas pipeline?

[tanyev]

15. Hey, Boonedoggle! Whatever happened to your precious wind farm?

Hmmm?