Category Archives: Trucks

Off Road vehicles and equipment need diesel fueled engines for power, mobility, and efficiency

Posted on March 24, 2017 by

[ I’ve written many articles on why trucks are not likely to ever run on batteries or overhead catenary wires (and why a 100% renewable electric grid is probably not possible). Nor can trucks run on biofuels, liquefied coal, natural … Continue reading →

Posted in Fuel Efficiency, Infrastructure, Transportation, Trucks | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Matchmaking for trucks so fewer run empty after deliveries

Posted on February 3, 2017 by

[ These apps have the potential to prevent some trucks from returning empty after their delivery, which wastes finite diesel fuel.  See the full article here. Alice Friedemann   www.energyskeptic.com  author of “When Trucks Stop Running: Energy and the Future of … Continue reading →

Posted in Fuel Efficiency | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Agricultural Transportation and Energy Issues. Senate hearing 2005.

Posted on January 25, 2017 by

[ After reading this hearing, I can’t help but wonder if the main reason for ethanol is to subsidize farmers.  It certainly does nothing for the energy crisis since the net energy is probably negative and at best break-even.    Since … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy Dependence, Transportation, Transportation, Trucks | Comments Off on Agricultural Transportation and Energy Issues. Senate hearing 2005.

U.S. House looks at how to improve the nation’s highway freight network

Posted on November 23, 2016 by

[ Like all books and articles I read on transportation for my book, this session assumes endless growth and worries about future congestion, which will not be a problem on the other side of peak oil, which is coming soon.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Transportation, Trucks | Tagged , , | Comments Off on U.S. House looks at how to improve the nation’s highway freight network

Effects of biodiesel on diesel engines: John Deere

Posted on September 29, 2016 by

[ Since petroleum is finite, the most important focus of U.S. energy research ought to be keeping trucks operating, since civilization ends when trucks stop running.  Ideally this would be done with a “drop-in” fuel that can be burned in … Continue reading →

Posted in Biodiesel, Trucks | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Effects of biodiesel on diesel engines: John Deere

Heavy-duty hydrogen fuel cell trucks a waste of energy and money

Posted on September 3, 2016 by

[ Fuel cells are seen as an alternative to batteries, because batteries may always be too heavy to move trucks: Battery electric trucks (BEV) may never work out. Even if 5 to 10 times as much battery energy density (Wh/kg) … Continue reading →

Posted in Batteries, Electric Trucks, Electric trucks impossible, Hydrogen | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Heavy-duty hydrogen fuel cell trucks a waste of energy and money

Just 16,000 catenary trucks would use 1% of California’s electricity generation, all vehicles 2.5 times more power than available

Posted on August 22, 2016 by

We must electrify trucks since fuel from oil, coal, and natural gas is finite, and biomass doesn’t scale up.  Without transportation, electricity contraptions like wind turbines, solar facilities, and nuclear power plants can’t be built. A wind turbine, for example, … Continue reading →

Posted in Electric Trucks, Electric trucks impossible, When Trucks Stop Running | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Diesel is finite. Trucks are the bedrock of civilization. So where are the battery electric trucks?

Posted on July 1, 2016 by

[ Related articles Just 16,000 catenary trucks would use 1% of California’s electricity generation, all vehicles 2.5 times more power than available Off Road vehicles and equipment need diesel fueled engines for power, mobility, and efficiency Hybrid electric trucks are … Continue reading →

Posted in Batteries, Electric Trucks, Electric trucks impossible | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Hybrid electric trucks are very different from HEV cars

Posted on June 7, 2016 by

[ This document explains why it is hard to transfer auto hybrid technology to trucks.  They are entirely different animals — medium-duty trucks weigh up to 10 times more, have up to 10 times the horsepower, and a far longer … Continue reading →

Posted in Batteries, Electric Trucks, Electric trucks impossible | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Hybrid electric trucks are very different from HEV cars

Electric truck range is less in cold weather

Posted on June 4, 2016 by

[ What follows are excerpts from Calstart’s study of the effects cold weather had on lithium and Sodium Nickel Chloride e-truck batteries Alice Friedemann   www.energyskeptic.com  author of “When Trucks Stop Running: Energy and the Future of Transportation”, 2015, Springer and … Continue reading →

Posted in Batteries, Electric Trucks, Electric trucks impossible | Tagged , , | 3 Comments