Monday, May 14, 2007
Hybrids Do Not Save You Money
Hybrids: Don't buy the hype
Sure, hybrids save gas but they won't save you money. There are smarter ways to go, says By Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN/Money staff writer
With gasoline prices at a high, you might think it makes a lot of sense that hybrid cars are hot sellers.
They may make a social statement you're interested in, but if you want to save money because of rising gas prices, you're heading down the wrong road by buying hybrid autos, at least for now, says this report.
This kind of gets me thinking about the prices of various alternative energy sources right now...and in almost every case, the prices are higher than what we get from conventional sources and fossil fuels.
For instance, in the case of hybrids, I understand that they don’t save much at highway speeds, and many Americans commute at highways speeds. The capital costs on hybrids are higher as well. And it is not just with hybrids...I live in a hot (not sexy, but 105 degree F hot) city in India, and may be I can simply capture all the sun's heat and convert into electricity...maybe, but solar panels aren't cheap. Geothermal perhaps, way too costly.
You go across the spectrum, and analyse other alt energy sources - wind energy, wave energy, biofuels, all these cost relatively more right now...
Now don't get me wrong, I am not complaining, just stating a fact. This does not unduly worry me though, the prices are higher but not unaffordable, which in itself is great...when you consider that we are just on the threshold of exploring new sources of energy, I am optimistic the prices will fall quickly, and all the time, the prices of fossil fuels will be rising...
Back to hybrids. A further search on the cost of ownership of hybrids landed me on an interesting post on hybrids which said, "The Time for Hybrid has Come". The author cites an Edmunds.com report which gives the following reason why the hybrids are more economical now:
1. Now is the time when the prices and expenses on hybrid vehicles are at its lowest because there is now more supply than demand.
2. Incentives are now being offered on most of the popular hybrid vehicles.
3. Tax credits would be way lower especially later in the spring.
4. Gas prices are going up again.
So, perhaps right now hybrids might be more attractive than what they could be a couple of months lower, especially if gas prices go down again (optimistic thinking, I admit), but we need a far more stable price differential than that. Overall, I am not sure the time for hybrids has come, but perhaps what that day is not far into the future.
If I write a similar post perhaps a couple of year later the title in all probability will be, "Of course Hybrids save you money".
Read the full post here @ Hybrid Cars News
Sure, hybrids save gas but they won't save you money. There are smarter ways to go, says By Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN/Money staff writer
With gasoline prices at a high, you might think it makes a lot of sense that hybrid cars are hot sellers.
They may make a social statement you're interested in, but if you want to save money because of rising gas prices, you're heading down the wrong road by buying hybrid autos, at least for now, says this report.
This kind of gets me thinking about the prices of various alternative energy sources right now...and in almost every case, the prices are higher than what we get from conventional sources and fossil fuels.
For instance, in the case of hybrids, I understand that they don’t save much at highway speeds, and many Americans commute at highways speeds. The capital costs on hybrids are higher as well. And it is not just with hybrids...I live in a hot (not sexy, but 105 degree F hot) city in India, and may be I can simply capture all the sun's heat and convert into electricity...maybe, but solar panels aren't cheap. Geothermal perhaps, way too costly.
You go across the spectrum, and analyse other alt energy sources - wind energy, wave energy, biofuels, all these cost relatively more right now...
Now don't get me wrong, I am not complaining, just stating a fact. This does not unduly worry me though, the prices are higher but not unaffordable, which in itself is great...when you consider that we are just on the threshold of exploring new sources of energy, I am optimistic the prices will fall quickly, and all the time, the prices of fossil fuels will be rising...
Back to hybrids. A further search on the cost of ownership of hybrids landed me on an interesting post on hybrids which said, "The Time for Hybrid has Come". The author cites an Edmunds.com report which gives the following reason why the hybrids are more economical now:
1. Now is the time when the prices and expenses on hybrid vehicles are at its lowest because there is now more supply than demand.
2. Incentives are now being offered on most of the popular hybrid vehicles.
3. Tax credits would be way lower especially later in the spring.
4. Gas prices are going up again.
So, perhaps right now hybrids might be more attractive than what they could be a couple of months lower, especially if gas prices go down again (optimistic thinking, I admit), but we need a far more stable price differential than that. Overall, I am not sure the time for hybrids has come, but perhaps what that day is not far into the future.
If I write a similar post perhaps a couple of year later the title in all probability will be, "Of course Hybrids save you money".
Read the full post here @ Hybrid Cars News
Labels: analysis, autos, costs, hybrids, prices
Monday, April 30, 2007
New Enzyme Discovery Could Make Ethanol Cheaper
New Enzyme Discovery Could Make Ethanol Cheaper
A new plant enzyme has been discovered by Cornell University researchers, which could make the production of cellulosic ethanol less expensive.
A critical step in producing cellulosic ethanol involves breaking down a plant's cell wall material and fermenting the sugars that are released. This enzyme, according to scientists, could potentially allow plant materials to be broken down more efficiently.
The new class of plant enzymes has a structure similar to the microbial enzymes called "cellulases" which are used to digest the cellulose in grasses and similar plants.
While the scientists found the new enzyme in a tomato plant, they are confident that such proteins are present in other plant species that could be used for biofuel production.
A new plant enzyme has been discovered by Cornell University researchers, which could make the production of cellulosic ethanol less expensive.
A critical step in producing cellulosic ethanol involves breaking down a plant's cell wall material and fermenting the sugars that are released. This enzyme, according to scientists, could potentially allow plant materials to be broken down more efficiently.
The new class of plant enzymes has a structure similar to the microbial enzymes called "cellulases" which are used to digest the cellulose in grasses and similar plants.
While the scientists found the new enzyme in a tomato plant, they are confident that such proteins are present in other plant species that could be used for biofuel production.
Labels: cellulose, ethanol, prices, research
PermaLink - New Enzyme Discovery Could Make Ethanol Cheaper posted by Ecacofonix : 7:51 AM
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Saturday, April 21, 2007
Palm oil boon may well be biodiesel bane
Palm oil boon may well be biodiesel bane
By Zaidi Isham Ismail
April 19 2007, Business Times, Malaysia
Malaysia's crude palm oil (CPO) prices have soared to record levels, but, ironically, may also hurt another equally lucrative and rejuvenated sector - palm oil-based biodiesel.
This is because CPO, the main raw material needed to make biodiesel, is set to become more expensive than the selling price of biodiesel, says this report.
Read the full news report here @ Business Times, Malaysia
By Zaidi Isham Ismail
April 19 2007, Business Times, Malaysia
Malaysia's crude palm oil (CPO) prices have soared to record levels, but, ironically, may also hurt another equally lucrative and rejuvenated sector - palm oil-based biodiesel.
This is because CPO, the main raw material needed to make biodiesel, is set to become more expensive than the selling price of biodiesel, says this report.
Read the full news report here @ Business Times, Malaysia
Labels: asia, economics, malaysia, prices, sustainability
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Biofuels increasing food prices globally
Biofuels increasing food prices globally
Lester Brown, 21 March 2007, Cherry Creek News
The escalating share of the U.S. grain harvest going to ethanol distilleries is driving up food prices worldwide.
Corn prices have doubled over the last year, wheat futures are trading at their highest level in 10 years, soybean futures have risen by half. A Bloomberg analysis notes that the soaring use of corn as the feedstock for fuel ethanol “is creating unintended consequences throughout the global food chain.”
Food prices are also rising in China, India, and the United States, countries that contain 40 percent of the world’s people. While relatively little corn is eaten directly in these countries, vast quantities are consumed indirectly in meat, milk, and eggs in China and the US.
Read the full report from here @ Cherry Creek News
Lester Brown, 21 March 2007, Cherry Creek News
The escalating share of the U.S. grain harvest going to ethanol distilleries is driving up food prices worldwide.
Corn prices have doubled over the last year, wheat futures are trading at their highest level in 10 years, soybean futures have risen by half. A Bloomberg analysis notes that the soaring use of corn as the feedstock for fuel ethanol “is creating unintended consequences throughout the global food chain.”
Food prices are also rising in China, India, and the United States, countries that contain 40 percent of the world’s people. While relatively little corn is eaten directly in these countries, vast quantities are consumed indirectly in meat, milk, and eggs in China and the US.
Read the full report from here @ Cherry Creek News
Labels: economics, ethanol, food, prices
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