This page has been archived and commenting is disabled.
Cleaner Than A Volkswagen
- advertisements -
Contact Information:
Tips: tips [ at ] zerohedge.com
General: info [ at ] zerohedge.com
Legal: legal [ at ] zerohedge.com
Advertising: ads [ at ] zerohedge.com
Abuse/Complaints: abuse [ at ] zerohedge.com
Suggested Reading:
Make sure to read our "How To [Read/Tip Off] Zero Hedge Without Attracting The Interest Of [Human Resources/The Treasury/Black Helicopters]" Guide
It would be very wise of you to study our disclaimer, our privacy policy and our (non)policy on conflicts / full disclosure. Here's our Cookie Policy.
Nitric oxide is a colorless and (presumably) odorless gas, at least at the levels emitted by high temperature combustion processes (1-2,000 ppm). It oxidizes to nitrogen dioxide within seconds to minutes of being emitted, as the temperature drops. Nitrogen dioxide is a reddish brown gas with a sharp, acrid olfactory response. It forms nitrous acid within the lungs and can cause fatal lung damage, although death would not normally occur for hours to days (think mustard gas). The main source of nitric oxide in every major metropolitan area worldwide is electric energy generation. Carnot cycles are more efficient at higher temperatures, so generating stations have progressively been designed with higher steam temperatures, resulting in significant increases in nitrogen oxide emissions. There is a natural gas fired power plant at Baycliff, Texas which on clear days I used to use as a landmark, as its brown plume could be seen from 20 miles offshore. Vehicles contribute about 40% of NOx emissions, and diesels contribute several times more NOx than gasoline engines, also due to the higher compression ratios and combustion temperatures used (which is also why diesels are so much more efficient than gas engines - see Carnot comment above). NOx by itself at typical atmospheric concentrations (0.05 ppm) is pretty harmless, but sunlight catalyzes the formation of complex organic molecules called peroxyacetalnitrates (PAN) when NOx combines with organic molecules. PAN molecules can have molecular weights in the 000's of Daltons, and these molecules become liquid particulate in the .05 to .35 micron range, where they attenuate light in the visible frequency spectrum, becoming visible smog. These particulates breathe deep into the lungs, where they cause longterm damage. Cars are politically easier to regulate than power plants, so the EPA tends to direct public ire against them. Longterm (thanks ZH for the perspective) diesels get better (less damaging) emissions per mile than gas engines, and they have another advantage in that they can run on biofuels which are somewhat renewable and cheaper to produce than gasoline, which will become important once peak oil is admitted...
Fishhawk
Take a look at the burn rates for ethenol and regular gas. Blending them is a scam. Basically the ethenol burns to slow.
What are the byproducts of burning ethenol? Hint they are nasty too.
If pollution is really the concern the two biggest factors are mpg and how long the car lasts. Third on the list is stop and go traffic.
I wonder when the lawyers are going to start a class action suit..representing everyone in America..who has suffered health issues from VW diesel emissions... at least we should all be paid to take a physical exam to make sure our health is OK..I have more to say..but let me finish my cigarette first...
Don't bash VW ZH's blames the EPA for being meanies. Zh'ers crack me the fuck up.
Me 2 I R 1
I blame the players and the game. This is a big part of why I dont work on cars anymore. I will not be a party to this BS.
Just that you all know most of the best honest techs bailed years ago. Only a handfull are left in the industry.
Thank God the US government is protecting its citizens from cheap economical 4 cylinder Diesel engines and makes sure everyone can drive the gas guzzling V6 and V8 products that Government Motors has in store for them.
FWIW, none of the US built engines I owned, ever came close in fuel economy to what the US manufacturer was saying.
Not sure what the Beijing picture is supposed to suggest. China is one fucking polluted place by its own making. VW had little to do with it.
Right. Pollution testing does not take into account pollutants per mile driven.
pollutants per mile driven...
Exactly. I can hardly wait for the tears and class action lawsuits to be filed when all the electric vehicle owners get the news their electricity from the cord was generated at a far greater "cost" to the environment than billed. And unlike central bank products, solar panels and wind turbines don't make themselves out of thin air either. Those silent 80mph golf carts are simply gliding on upfront environmental expenses far removed from the cocoon their drivers experience so it's easy for them to believe they're not responsible for it.
And by the way, this VW study was conducted nearly two years ago, but it’s only just now being jumped on? Please, this has politics written all over it.
jmo.
"And unlike central bank products, solar panels and wind turbines don't make themselves out of thin air either"
No, but, unlike conventional electricity generation methods (Eg.coal/natty), once manufactured, delivered and installed the pollution to energy production ratio (not to mention ROI) of solar panels and wind turbines becomes essentially a function of their longevity.IE the longer they last the closer that ratio gets to zero (unlike conventional electricity generators) with the only inputs during the lifespan of their service coming from maintenance (also unlike conventional electricity generators). Naturally with such a comparatively nascent (and suppressed) tech the initial cap-ex is high for now, but on a long enough timeline....
And thanks to simplicity of design and operation (wind turbines) and/or lack of moving parts (solar panels) both last a LONG time. Geothermal fits in here too. As do wave/tidal systems.
I agree that there is something 'state of Denmark'-ey about the Vdub 'expose'.
The pollutants in question aren't particulates or even visible. Nitrous oxide, odorless, colorless.
You're confusing Nitrous Oxide with Nitrogen Oxide.
Nitrous Oxide is oderless, colourless and harmless, also known as laughing gas. Wouldn't it be nice if cars produced that ?
Nitrogen Oxide is a particulate that comes from diesel fuel in several forms, all of them toxic.
"Nitrous oxide. odorless, colorless"... not to mention giddy, euphoric.
I've haven't heard what the real numbers are yet and all we're going on are weak news stories. They screwed up, but I'd like to know just how bad.....
Still cleaner than Goldman Sachs' relationship with the Fed and Washington.
Nice. Well done.