UK’s Lotus is Rocking my World
June 2nd, 2008 | by Jet Netwal |This is one sexy damn car, kids.
Ultimately, the sports car could be ‘carbon-neutral’, says Lotus Engineering. Its emissions would be balanced by recovering waste carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to make methanol. Within 15-20 years, Lotus hopes to see large-scale methanol production ‘recycling’ the carbon dioxide produced by factories.
Geraint Castleton-White, Head of Powertrain at Lotus Engineering, said the model marks a step forwards in the hunt for cleaner fuels, especially because the technology can slot into any conventional car. He said: “For car companies and the motorist, the use of sustainable alcohols like synthetic methanol requires relatively few changes to the vehicle. It can also use the current fuel distribution infrastructure, which is a huge advantage for suppliers.” — Just Auto
I’ve been talking methanol for a couple of years now. While America pursues the inefficient and irresponsible (but probably profitable for a few) ethanol, the Brits take the lead with the fuel that has the most potential. This is what happens when you treat science as a red-headed step-child. The economic impact of such foolishness will be with us for decades. More evidence of a country on the skids. Remember when we were innovation giants?
Blimey. Those were the days, Mate.
7 Responses to “UK’s Lotus is Rocking my World”
By rube cretin on Jun 2, 2008 | Reply
Very interesting photo. My guess is this auto weighs about 2000 lbs and when crushed and turned into scrap will be worth about $350 dollars. It will be crushed or cannibalized for parts because there will be very limited fuel, including methanol in 20 years. Net energy is the next term to be understood now that “peak oil” is beginning to be realized. Methanol like ethanol is a net energy looser! Sorry.
By Jet Netwal on Jun 2, 2008 | Reply
It’s a tri fuel car, Rube, which positions it as a transitional choice. Show me your data on Methanol being a net energy loser, please. Thanks.
By rube cretin on Jun 2, 2008 | Reply
An acre of switchgrass can produce about 5 to 10 tons of biomass per year. If these yet-to-be-bioengineered organisms can break this cellulous down to 50 - 100 gallons of ethanol per ton, then the ethanol yield would be about 500 gallons per acre - or about 320,000 gallons per square mile. This is the same ballpark that we derived for corn based ethanol. (End of 3/9/2007 addition) http://www.durangobill.com/Rollover.html
and this does not include the hundreds of gallons of water needed to produce the final product. will send more sites.
By rube cretin on Jun 2, 2008 | Reply
jet,
check out the capital cost of methanol facilities in the article linked below. read the whole article and the comments from one of the most reliable sources on the subject. I have hope, but have looked at this potential source fairly carefully during the past few years and it just don’t meet the net energy requirements from what i have read.
tp://www.theoildrum.com/story/2006/10/22/211321/89
By rube cretin on Jun 2, 2008 | Reply
jet,
the latest post from the oil drum. Suggest you read the article and the comments. youthhttp://www.theoildrum.com/node/3721
By steve on Jun 2, 2008 | Reply
So we should drill in Anwar, Rube?
Jet,
Porsche is coming out with a hybrid Cayenne getting 30 mph with 350 HP. I think that is the start… Finally a hybrid with some muscle and looks. It’s a step and hopefully in 5 years there is more technology innovation. I don’t care where they come from and the US manufacturers need to get on the ball quickly or lose out. Imagine Ford and GM bought out by the Japanese or Koreans because of their cool money saving products.
By rube cretin on Jun 2, 2008 | Reply
yes Steve, we are going to drill Anwar. “We’re right in the middle of a fucking reptile zoo! And someone’s giving booze to these goddamn things”-Hunter S. Thompson