Honda's Green (Diesel) Machine

Business Week ^ | Oct 30, 2006 Issue | David Kiley and Ian Rowley

[miliantnutcase]

Yeah, looks great. So is GM with their from the ground up light duty truck diesel. I can't wait for a 600lb 350hp 1/2 ton diesel trucks Muhahahahaha...Can you say 13 second 1/4 mile stock?

[thackney]

But they still add soot to the air I breathe.

So what kind of magical engine do you drive now that produces no pollution?

[oceanview]

MB still cannot meet the NOx standards for the "California" states. I am not sure how Honda does that with this engine, the germans are looking at urea injection.

[proud_yank]

Turning to biodiesel and/or ethanol will likely result in higher food prices and/or increased food imports, since the two uses would be competing for the same farm land.

We could always stop subsidizing agriculture :-)

[proud_yank]

I think making biodiesel from waste is smart.

I agree, a friend told me that you really don't have to make major engine modifications to run it either.

[thackney]

From the article, also MB BlueTec will meet CA standards:

Honda's engines have a catalytic converter that filters out enough nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions to meet California's new standards -- the most stringent in the nation -- due to come into effect in the state next year and nationwide in 2009. Unlike other diesels that will meet California's standards, such as a Mercedes-Benz (DCX ) BlueTec expected to go on sale in late 2007, Honda's doesn't require a separate tank of urea, an organic compound that helps absorb NOx but needs to be replenished occasionally. Instead, its diesel converts some of the NOx into ammonia, then recombines that with what's left of the NOx to make relatively harmless nitrogen. Honda says the technology will reduce exhaust emissions to levels on a par with gasoline engines.

[thackney]

Quite a few kits available for the french-fry fuel.

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=t&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLJ,GGLJ:2006-37,GGLJ:en&q=biodiesel+conversion+kits

[chilepepper]

What about the particulates (soot)?

don't worry, be happy - the particulates come out in a ecologically friendly green color...

[TChris]

We could always stop subsidizing agriculture :-)

While I like this idea in principle, I haven't taken the time to think the whole thing through.

There are certainly many things that should be done to fix the agricultural subsidy situation. I'm not completely convinced that eliminating them would be a good long-term idea.

Is there a point where agriculture would become like the electronics industry, where nearly 100% is imported? I don't mind that situation for televisions, but the idea of the whole country being dependent on imports for food doesn't sound very smart.

I think some products, like food, are so critically important that they deserve perhaps some different treatment in terms of economics. Of course, I think steel is nearly that important in our time too. There is a thought-provoking article I read recently that discusses the dependence we have on China for many rare minerals. That seems to be a strategic mistake, IMO.

[oceanview]

yes, with urea injection. yet another system the car has to carry. and CARB wants the car to be undriveable should the urea cannister be empty, having not been serviced by the owner.

the honda system sounds better.

[RoadTest]

ut they still add soot to the air I breathe.
So what kind of magical engine do you drive now that produces no pollution?

They still put out soot. Gasoline engines don't put out soot.

[thackney]

They still put out soot. Gasoline engines don't put out soot.

Gasoline engines do have particulate emissions. And the new diesel emission requirements are comparable to the existing gasoline engines. You do not appear to understand how drastic the new requirements are.

[CPT Clay]

Not a tough sell for me

[Mr. Lucky]

You'll forgive my saying so, but it's generally a mistake to assume that radical tree hugger websites provide accurate information.

The production figures for corn and soybeans are about 10 years out of date.

[thackney]

I would welcome more recent comparisons. I was searching for a single source to compare both, but would appreciate any suggestions.

[Mr. Lucky]

Google on something to the effect of: "2006 crop forcast".

The corn yield is generally expected to fall in the mid-150 bushels per acre range, with beans in the low 40's.

[B Knotts]

I am not sure how Honda does that with this engine, the germans are looking at urea injection.

The Honda engine is simply smaller. That's how they managed to do it without urea. Mercedes-Benz almost made it with the E320, but fell just short.

[B Knotts]

They still put out soot. Gasoline engines don't put out soot.

Yes, they do. It's just finer soot. And, quite possibly, more harmful.

[oceanview]

and VM/Audi isn't doing anything with their TDIs in the 5 CARB states, from what I have read.

[B Knotts]

They are going to have common rail diesels available for the 2008 model year, from what I've read.