Low cost American fuel

[jmac2000]

Hi, I was just at a meeting with oilman T. Boone Pickens. He claims if we shifted from diesel to natural gas to fuel our heavy trucks we could cut our oil imports by 38% and trim fuel costs by 50% - 75%.

Assuming you could get fuel at any truck stop, how many truckers would convert to natural gas if it cost them $40,000?

[rocknsand]

Would not the increased demand just push the price up? I think the first step in going to natural gas,would be to convert mid sized local type trucks.
Seems I remember some years back there were people running pickups on natural gas. Took a special tank in the bed to make it work. No doubt it has some merit for specialized situations.
Have you seen that web site regarding water for gas? Seems to be a interesting concept. My Father in Law was a mechanic, and back in the 60's he was talking about a similar concept.

[Lilbit]

One of the cab companies here in my town run on propane.

[jmac2000]

Thanks rocksnsand - mid-sized local fleets (gravel trucks, cement haulers, etc) would be the next logical approach.

I suppose the demand would drive up price but it seems if the price doubed from where it is right now it would still save the operator $2 per gallon. I did some research - 8.5 million vehicles in the world running on natural gas. 150 thousand in the US. Largest manufacturer of natural gas vehicles in the world? GM - but they don't make a single one in the US.

[GasHauler]

Most likely NONE. $40,000 is alot of money for a conversion. You have to look at when the cost would be paid back. How much savings is it going to be for that truck in one year. And just about all the companies look at 5 years to replace the power unit. So if you're not getting a $10,000 pay back a year no trucking company would even consider this.

[Lilbit]

That's the whole problem with a lot of these ideas, is the conversion cost. Businesses always look at the effect on the bottom line and recouping expenses. They have some busses here in Madison that are experimental. They are not planning on adding anymore, as they cannot recover the costs quick enough on them. I don't remember what the technology is for these busses.

[goin2fast10]

Originally Posted by jmac2000

Hi, I was just at a meeting with oilman T. Boone Pickens. He claims if we shifted from diesel to natural gas to fuel our heavy trucks we could cut our oil imports by 38% and trim fuel costs by 50% - 75%.

Assuming you could get fuel at any truck stop, how many truckers would convert to natural gas if it cost them $40,000?

Two things; No.1, I wouldn't trust T.Boone Pickens as far as I could throw him. His "windmill crap" is just a welfare program for him and nancy pelosi.
No.2, MPG's for natural gas is a big problem, and reliability is still suspect. A lot of city buses have been running it for years (they are in the shop a lot).

That's not to say it can't be done, or shouldn't for that matter...just pointing out some significant issues.
If it is made marketable...and is reliable....