Hybrids + biomass = US energy independence - Hybrid Cars and Plug ...

Are American leaders afraid of real energy change?

A new, simple biomass-to-wheel efficiency analysis by Virginia Tech?s Prof. Y-H Percival Zhang suggests that the US could embark on a very real path towards energy independence, today. More important, the path helps address the legacy impacts of America?s several hundred million vehicle fleet and our fueling infrastructure.

And for now, the keys are biomass, cellulosic ethanol, natural gas and hybrid cars.

Ultimately, Zhang?s study tries to simplify the energy efficiency analysis of biomass and cellulosic ethanol coupled with various powertrains. In the end, using biomass or cellulosic ethanol to create electricity for plug-ins, or for sugar-to-hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, offers the greatest efficiencies, but Zhang notes that cost analysis is still the most critical element to such a discussion.

When considering all costs, Zhang suggests sugar fuel cell vehicles offer a number of cost-gains versus electric vehicles. For instance, since cellulosic ethanol and biomass can be converted into a sugar slury that can be transported through our current fueling infrastructure, such fuel cells vehicles don?t require new infrastructure, unlike the more conventional hydrogen highway, or the super grid needed for EVs.

Nevertheless, sugar fuel cells or electric cars are still a more long term focus. In the short term, Zhang notes that ?cellulosic ethanol plus HEV-gas and methane-HEV-gas may be the most promising options.?

Of course, the interesting thing about ethanol and methanol is that both can be used by almost every vehicle in America?s multi-hundred million fleet of vehicles, essentially the way E 10 and E 15 are used today, as well as via syngas and other fuel conversions. Add flex fuel technology and M85, perhaps even M100, is possible. Couple that with hybrid technology and massive, cost-effective reductions in foreign oil dependence can be achieved immediately and exponentially over time, particularly as more cars are hybridized, and battery and fuel cell costs decline and join the new vehicle mix.

Likewise, while Zhang focuses on biomass-derived methanol, for instance, shale offers massive methanol potential, especially as a bridge to more sustainable methanol production possibilities, such as CO2-derived methanol or methanogenesis. Likewise, shale opens many natural gas doors.

The fact is, the technologies to drastically and cost-effectively begin to change America?s energy paradigm significantly are now available, and they work with America?s current energy infrastructures and legacy fleets. More important, they naturally nurture battery and fuel cell technologies, providing a bridge from today?s energy paradigm to tomorrow.

Recently, President Bill Clinton said that nothing offers the ability to transform the US economy more than energy. Such change is within America?s grasp right now, just as our economy needs it more than ever. Moreover, the kind of change that is available today ? legacy-friendly and technology-advancing ? is exactly the kind path that recent Accenture studies have claimed offer the most benefit for the US auto industry, the most important manufacturing industry left in America.

So, why are 2025 CAFE discussions the key US energy conversation today when so much disruptive potential exists right now? With aggressive and innovative US energy policies, the US might be energy independent by 2025. How many trillions would that cut off the deficit by 2030?

Source: http://www.hybridcarblog.com/hybrids-biomass-us-energy-independence/

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