Comments on: Bentley’s Biofuel Bargain

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 05:57:06 +0000

After reading your post, i've decidedly subscribe you in my Google reader . Will tightly following your post hereafter.
chinese date site

By: Shines

Shines — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 19:27:54 +0000

qqRockyBeans what good is 40 miles per gallon of gasoline if at the same time you must burn more than 5 gallons of ethanol?!? You are still burning a lot of fuel. It may be true that you are burning less foreign oil by using ethanol but it is far different story than say a hybrid Ford Fusion getting 40 miles per gallon of gasoline without burning any ethanol. I’m not a fan of using valuable cropland to produce vehicle fuels. Bio fuels are best created from waste or as a byproduct of food processing, not a replacement of it.

By: mpower830

mpower830 — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 17:28:27 +0000

Here's a thought; why not make the thing weigh less than 3 tons? Instant fuel savings. That's really the biggest part of the battle, we've got all of these high tech engines that really are pretty efficient, but they're stuck lugging around 5 and 6 thousand pounds! Throw whatever kind of eco-wizardry you want on the thing, something that heavy ain't gonna be efficient. This is basic physics.

I would be very supportive if someone, the DOT, the President, whoever, came out and mandated that by 2020, no passenger vehicle sold in the United States can weigh more than 4,500 pounds. Plenty of time to re-engineer, get on with it. You would see a huge savings in the amount of fuel this country uses and the green people would be happy because we would be killing less polar bears. I really wish someone would get ballsy and advocate some regulations that would actually make a difference.

By: Samie

Samie — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 02:42:38 +0000

No its not possible for all these things to coexist and compete with petroleum on a mass scale. Think about it in terms of production economies of scale along with the great rate of combustion, petroleum has over other inferior fuels. Nor is it possible to accurately subsidize all these fuels and technologies to dev. over 10-20 yr. period as resources are limited. I argue that everything is good philosophy slows down the rate of actual progress in moving towards non fuel sources and eventually renewable sources. The idea that everything is good only bogs us down with short-term ideas with special interest groups that don’t go away. You won’t look at imports that is the globe problems that evolve over fuels or starvation due to competition for land resources. Where does independence to produce your own energy like solar to power your car play into your reasoning or do we forever bend over and complaining about the Exon’s of the world as they shift to something like CNG? Hybrids can bridge the gap to EV’s and eventually hydrogen or water vapor sources to power cars either a internal or external renewable energy to power tomorrows vehicles. Lets think long-term instead of getting caught up in short-term scams.

By: qqRockyBeans

qqRockyBeans — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 01:35:25 +0000

9 mpg is for GASOLINE
With E85, fuel economy drops about 30%

So let's say that your BioBentley gets 6 mpg on E85
That's really 40 miles per gallon of GASOLINE
------------------------------
Still not great, though, considering a FFV Chrysler minivan:

taken from EPA website 2009 Town and Country, combined mpg
19 mpg on gasoline
13 mpg on E85

The 13 mpg on E85 is 87 miles per gallon of gasoline
------------------------------
If small cars were available as FFV's:
Take a small car that gets 30 mpg combined, on petrol
Say it gets only 20 mpg on E85
That is still 133 miles per gallon of gasoline!

Hybrids could probably do even better
-------------------------------
E85 isn't THE solution
It's A solution, or rather, PART OF the solution

There isn't only one answer to the energy problem!!

Hybrid-electric
E85
Biodiesel
EV's
CNG
can all coexist!

No, the Flex-Fuel Bentley isn't the greatest, most environmentally-friendly car available, but it IS a (small) step in the right direction

By: Samie

Samie — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 21:32:57 +0000

Alert: Green washing comment:
Brian Gush said "The US is more keyed–in on reducing its oil dependency, while Europe is more aimed at reducing CO2 emissions. Biofuels address both of these concerns in the most comprehensive way, we believe.”

Hello what planet is he from? How dumb does he think people are? Most should put this together but lets remind ourselves that any transferable energy source that can be imported will change the way we think of a domestic source of energy, meaning that like it or not biofuel, cng or ethanol will be imported into the U.S due to cheaper supply hitting the market. How does that give us optimism for energy independence? As for CO2 with biofuels that's not always easy to understand if one does not consider total energy in production, and transportation along with CO2 output of a vehicle.

When Bentley Motors says its going with biofuels, at this time shows no real mass production capabilities or great innovation but only showing a quick get rich scheme by a few special interests. Its sad that Bentley has turned its back against technologies that show greater potential. You would think that some of the greatest luxury brands out there would show a bit more responsibility and innovation instead of nonsense like a V8 or 12-cylinder 6.7-liter vehicle.

By: Lost Prius to wife

Lost Prius to wife — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 17:13:48 +0000

Hand crafted wood and leather, 286 to 313 miles per tank (23.8 US gallons) of 95 octane, 600 hp engine, 0 to 60 in 4.5 seconds, and top speed 200 mph. And biofuel reduces CO2 by 15% for those “requirements”. The top speed of 200 mph (Autobahn speeds) and reduction of CO2 by 15% means this car is really only destined for sale in Europe. Or the very rich in the US.

By: PatrickPunch

PatrickPunch — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 05:45:10 +0000

9, 10 or 15 mpg is wasting energy. Biofuel or any other fuel.

By: Ross Nicholson

Ross Nicholson — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 05:26:05 +0000

Bentley is one of the finest names in the entire world. Anything those wizards want to do, they can do. Bentley could make velomobiles if they wanted and the entire world would desire them.

By: Giant Sucking Noise

Giant Sucking Noise — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 05:02:22 +0000

9 to 15 mpg... I'd be curious what is the range of this vehicle. The car sure will get a smooth ride when carrying all that fuel. At that mileage, I think this car should belong in a museum!

As far as relying on bio fuel goes, the thought of people going hungry because of bio fuel demand is unsettling.