So the U.S. is dependent on the Middle East for oil, which leads to geopolitical instability. Biofuels can run in your car and are made out of stuff that grows from the earth. But the problem with that is that we can’t displace food crops that feed humans so we can make oil, and we can’t encourage deforestation. So what do you do? Genetically engineer algae that ingests carbon dioxide (added benefit) and spits out oil, with little or no dependence on organic feedstock (folks at Solazyme are working on this). The result would be a clean burning biodiesel fuel, which works in any diesel engine car, old or new. Interestingly, a new push was made this year at the auto show to promote new diesel and turbo diesel powered cars. Some are ready now, and some won’t be until 2010 or so…either way, supporters argue they will have as good or better mileage than hybrids, and drive more like a real car with serious power. If you live in California or in the farm country down south, you may already see biodiesel as an option at the pump…but good luck finding it in New York City…for now that is…TriState Biodiesel is working on it for the future.
Click here to check out the Mercedes Benz BluTEC Clean Diesel.
Tags: 2010, algae, auto show, biodiesel, biofuel, biofuels, blutec, california, car, carbon dioxide, co2, corn, crop, crops, deforestation, diesel, diesel engine, diesel engines, diesel fuel, economic power, economy, ethanol, farm, farm country, farmland, geopolitical, geopolitical instability, instability, middle east, oil, power, solazyme, soy, soybeans, tristate biodiesel mercedes benz blutec, turbo diesel, u.s.
May 30, 2008 at 10:10 am |
[...] Biodiesel from algae? Ask Solazyme…7 Apr 2008 by delsonic So the US is dependent on the Middle East for oil, which leads to geopolitical instability. Biofuels can run in your car and are made out of stuff that grows from the earth. But the problem with that is that we can’t displace food crops …Delsonic – http://delsonic.wordpress.com [...]