Category Archives: Trucks

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

Posted on July 30, 2020 by

Preface.  Hydrogen fuel cell trucks are incredibly inefficient. Turning hydrogen back into electricity with a fuel cell is only 24.7 % efficient (.84 * .67 * .54 * .84 * .97) as shown in figure 1. There are multiple stages … Continue reading →

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

Super heavy trucks ruin roads

Posted on July 18, 2020 by

Preface. I’m writing a book now which concludes that only biomass and biofuels can replace diesel and other fossil fuels.  But 3 billion people are expected to arrive by 2050, consuming a good chunk of the biomass, plus it will … Continue reading →

Posted in Roads, Trucks | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Tesla pickup truck claims defy the laws of physics by John Engle

Posted on November 16, 2019 by

In 2017 scientists questioned whether the Tesla Semi could meet Musk’s claims (see post “Given the laws of physics, can the Tesla Semi really go 500 miles, and what will the price be?”). I suspect this is why Tesla has … Continue reading →

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

Given the laws of physics, can the Tesla Semi really go 500 miles, and what will the price be?

Posted on November 21, 2017 by

Preface: Most people think that electric truck makers need to tell us the specs — the battery kWh, price, performance, and so on — before we can possibly know anything about their truck. But that’s simply not true.  We know … Continue reading →

Posted in Electric Trucks, Electric trucks impossible, Fuel Efficiency, Lithium-ion | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

What would happen if trucks stopped running?

Posted on October 1, 2017 by

Preface. In “Why You Should Love Trucks” I showed that essential supply chains depend on trucks nearly completely. Because of little inventory and dependence on just-in-time deliveries, our civilization would almost immediately feel the repercussions of trucks stopping.  That sounds … Continue reading →

Posted in Cascading Failure, Dependence on Oil, Electric trucks impossible, Infrastructure, Oil Shocks, Transportation, Transportation, Trucks | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on What would happen if trucks stopped running?

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 , , | 6 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