<![CDATA[Jalopnik: Biodiesel]]> http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/jalopnik.com.png <![CDATA[Jalopnik: Biodiesel]]> http://jalopnik.com/tag/biodiesel http://jalopnik.com/tag/biodiesel <![CDATA[For $3,950, this big Benz is a fuel slut]]> They say waste not, want not, and there's no better example of that than a WVO or bio-diesel-powered car. Today's Nice Price or Crack Pipe Mercedes can go vegan, but does its price make you say, what a waste? More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5782379&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Neil Young Looks in on Early Stages of LincVolt Rebuild]]> Last month we told you Neil Young's 1959 Lincoln turbine-charged electric hybrid was damaged in a fire it may have started. Determined to rebuild the LincVolt, we saw Young on webcam this week visiting the remains of his charred dream. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5721783&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Neil Young's LincVolt Damaged In Fire Started By... LincVolt?]]> Rocker Neil Young has spent years converting a 1959 Lincoln Continental into a turbine-charged electric hybrid, even releasing a green-car song album. Last week, a fire at his California warehouse severely damaged the LincVolt. The apparent cause? The LincVolt's charger. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5690281&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Zero South:The Biodiesel Electric-Tracked Hummer]]> Meet the Zero South PHE-PTV, a biodiesel-powered, series-electric Hummer with tracks designed for a South Pole expedition set for next year, which will apparently be filmed by the director of the Who Killed/Revived The Electric Car movies. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5680789&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Eco-Friendly Chocolate-Powered F3 Car Will Race At Brands Hatch In October]]> Really. The WorldFirst car or "Flying Carrot" is partially constructed from cellulose nanofibres—from carrots!— runs on chocolate biodiesel and debuts at Brands Hatch on October 17th. It may even be competitive, it says here. [Pistonheads] More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5355504&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Used Coffee Grounds The Fuel Source Of The Future?]]> A study published by the American Chemical Society has shown the power of coffee grounds as a source of biodiesel, possibly ending America's dependence on the unfortunately named rapeseed. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5108459&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Biodiesel Spill Causes Chaotic Crashing At The Nürburgring]]> The huge pileup in this video was the result of about 30 gallons of biodiesel fuel being spilled onto the track during a recent race at the Nürburging. It happened when a BMW 120d racer crashed, cracking his fuel tank open. The track was already wet, so the resulting oil slick, inconveniently located on a turn, was enough to cause the ensuing chaos. The shaky amateur video may not be the best quality, but the carnage is still clear to see. [via BridgeToGantry] More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5051139&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[WillieRun 2008: Coast-To-Coast Trip To Promote BioWillie Diesel Fuel]]> Reader Nik writes us about an adventure of sorts he's planning to undertake: He and an associate will be driving across the country, non-stop from Manhattan to LA on one tank of BioWillie biodiesel. BioWillie, in case you aren't aware, is Willie Nelson's premium brand of biofuel. The trip is intended to raise awareness of the product and promote the benefits of biodiesel over more buzz-generating alternatives like hybrids. They intend to set off September 22 in a 2006 Jetta TDI equipped with a secondary high-capacity fuel tank filled to the brim with BioWillie. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5039613&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Algae Diesel Passes Final Exam, Plans For Weekend Bender]]> When we covered the magical algae-powered VW Westfalia, we didn't imagine there would be a commercially viable version of the faux dino-juice available anywhere in the near term. Little did we know about the happenings over at Solazyme, which has just completed the rigorous ASTM D-975 (nerd speak for standard test) certification for diesel fuels. This new green diesel is made with a combination of algae and enzymes in a big enclosed vessel with all kinds of industrial leftovers as the feedstock. Huh, sounds like some kind of silver bullet. We, for one, welcome our new algae-baron overlords. Presser below the fold. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=397266&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Behind Audi's Biodiesel Victory At The 24 Hours Of Le Mans]]> One of the more interesting but overlooked facts from the 2008 24 Hours of Le Mans was that the Audi R10 TDI cars not only ran, but won, on a mixture of Shell V-Power Gas-To-Liquid (GTL) racing diesel and a newly designed Biomass-to-Diesel (BTL) fuel. We've been fascinated with prospects of biomass diesel since taking a trip to the Sears Tower in the algae van, as BTL offers cleaner output, has no fossil-fuel base and doesn't interfere with the food chain. The version used in the race cars was also 90% cleaner than American low-sulfur diesel. We talked with Audi of America's Christian Bokich about his experience at Le Mans with the winning diesel team. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=397149&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Interview WIth The Teacher Behind The Algae-Powered VW Van]]> Since everyone has been so enthusiastic about the Algae-Veggie Van I thought I'd follow up with some bits that didn't make it into the original feature article, specifically a Q&A I did with teacher David Levine, who originally came up with the idea to do this with project his students. He's one of the incredibly committed and intelligent teachers that I've met in the Chicago area who decided to postpone going out into the corporate world (where they'd clearly be successful) and instead make a measurable impact on society through the Teach For America program. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=394829&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Sears Tower Or Bust: My Algae-Powered Car Adventure]]> It was when the oil light came on that I started to run through the appropriate next steps in my head...and realized that there aren't any appropriate next steps when warning lights start going off in a 1982 VW Vanagon camper. Particularly one converted to run on a mixture of vegetable oil and algae biodiesel grown and refined by a group of Chicago high school students. As the Sears Tower, our goal, loomed in the distance, a question loomed in my mind: Was our shared belief in the future of petroleum alternatives and, more importantly, in the fuel processing abilities of public school students and their teachers, strong enough to convince us to push further into the knot of congestion forming around the city? More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=394479&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[GM Says Challenge X Is The Future, We Say We Want It Now]]> Looking at the array of biodiesel hybrids, ethanol hydrogen hybrids and fuel cells on display in Central Park this morning, the impression we got was GM is looking to these technologies as the future. All we could think was how much they should be the present. You see, this wasn't a display of pie-in-the-sky concepts or prototypes, but actual vehicles capable of competently carrying humans and all of them designed and built by students on a limited budget. If a couple of pubescent geeks still waiting for their first pocket protectors can put a functioning biodiesel hybrid on a driveway, why isn't GM doing so right now? More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=391294&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[What Should Mad Science Drive To Work?]]> We're all about helping out our fellow Jalop, and Mad_Science has more than proven his bona fides yesterday as a worthy commenter. When not getting all verklempt over abandoned racers, Mad has to commute about 60 miles round-trip on Southern California freeways and, as we all know, gas isn't getting any cheaper. Says Mad:
I'm looking for input from my fellow Jalopniks on the best "alternative" commuter car. The obvious choice would be either a bike or something like an old CRX or Civic Hatch, which can be entertaining in their own right, but I'm looking to get a little more creative. Electrics, bio-diesel/veg oil (but what car?), bike-powered kit cars are all on the table. It's gotta be reasonably reliable and cheap, like under $15k and preferably under $10k, with the goal of minimizing $/mile while keeping me out of a soulless Prius. I've got tools, skills, space and (some) time to make it work, but I need some ideas.
More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=386572&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Man Arrested For Stealing Burker King's Grease, Biodiesel Blamed]]> A man was arrested Tuesday for allegedly stealing a South Bay, Ca Burger King's used cooking grease. Burger King normally pays contractors to remove and dispose of the inedible and previously worthless oil, but the franchise's manager called police when he found 49-year-old David Richardson pumping the storage bins behind the burger joint clean. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=375815&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Grassolean Helps You Find Hippie Fuel Stations]]> Need to find a station to fuel up your Mercedes 300D with biodiesel? How about tips on how to prevent all that soy based fuel from gelling up when the hard freeze hits? Well now you can find out where all the professional hippy fuel buyers get their fix at Grassolean (it's funny cause they replaced the word gas with grass and came up with a clever wordplay version, see how they did that?). The site offers everything you need to know about the art and science of being a veganfueler. As an added bonus, the eco-warrior himself Bill O'Reilly interviews BFF Darryl Hannah about biodiesel in this clip from 2003. You can tell it's that old since Bill quotes LA gas prices that aren't a thousand dollars a gallon. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=361374&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Turn Your Pitiful Valentine's Day Into Biodiesel Fun!]]> With Valentine's Day creeping up on us, Russel Stover of eat-my-f'ing-chocolates fame should look into getting into the automotive industry by teaming up with Andy Pag and John Grimshaw, two blokes who recently drove a modified 1989 Ford Iveco Cargo from the United Kingdom to Timbuktu, all on biodiesel created from... chocolate. Mmmm... Timbuktu is in West Africa, by the way. Some info for those (like myself) who had no idea prior. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=352417&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Daryl Hannah's Biodiesel El Camino For Sale, Our Heads Explode]]> While someone named Daryl selling an El Camino isn't usually news, it is when it's Daryl Hannah's matte black Biodiesel El Camino. World colliding man. Worlds colliding. The Chi-town native, actress and environmentalist will gladly sell you this factory diesel bio-conversion, along with the "fueling station" (read: storage drum and filter) and a guide to finding biodiesel in your area. WANT! It goes on sale later this month, but no price yet. Oh, and she's also selling a biod "ranch biobeast" for the low price of $14,999. Full pics and spelling error-filled details below (we're not hating, in fact we think her spelling matte black "matt black" is a sign she secretly likes us): More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=332433&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Neil Young to Convert Classic Lincoln to Bio-Diesel Hybrid]]> Somewhere on a desert highway, she rides a Harley Davidson 1959 Lincoln Continental Bio-Diesel-Eletric Hybrid. Neil Young is taking a look at his life and realizing that his classic Lincoln is just burning too much fuel, so he's taken it to H-Line Conversions to get it converted to a hybrid that he claims will get 100 MPG. With a length near 20 feet, the only bigger hybrid on the road is likely to be an articulated bus. Press release about the car and his appearance on CNN below the jump: More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=325009&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Which Alternative Fuel Are You Most Excited About?]]> We've been talking an awful lot for the past few days about Honda's FCX Clarity. OK, fine — I've been talking a lot about it. Still, I filled up my car today to the tune of $3.56 a gallon — which is whack — and those numbers don't look like they are headed down any time soon. Oil is over $100 a barrel. The UN says that global warming is about to start torturing poor people. Game theorists are predicting that $7 a gas will lead to the end of society as we know it. That said, what are you putting your faith into? Is internal combustion still the way to go? Batteries? Alien tech? Bicycles? What? I've swallowed the Clarity Kool-Aid, just so you all know. Go Hindenburg. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=324748&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Transmogrification: Biodiesel-man Or Astro-man?]]> Rob Del Bueno used to play bass for Man or Astro-man? He also built all their stage props ('member the Tesla Coil?) and even their theremin. These days however, he can be found hocking grease in Atlanta. But not just any old grease. No, Del Bueno is involved with the first first biodiesel retail station in the Southern half of the country. He also built his own biodiesel plant where he refines his own green gold. The LA Times has the whole story, so be sure and check it out. Two things of interest: for our right wing readers, Del Bueno's biofuel empire is being bankrolled by none other than Hanoi Jane's daughter! Can I get a Drudge style squeal of disapproval? The other thing is, last year I saw Man or Astro-man? play in Chicago at the Touch & Go 25th Anniversary Party. How do I put this nicely? Killdozer! Fuck the other bands! Mr. Del Bueno's day job seems interesting. [Los Angeles Times] More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=305842&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Biodiesel Beemer Sets Speed Record]]> Although we'd imagine breaking the land speed record among diesel-powered motorcycles was a matter of showing up, an oil-burning BMW was recently crowned with that honor nonetheless. This past week, A custom-built R 1150 RT, powered by a two-liter diesel mill from the company's European 3-Series, set the record at the BUB International Motorcycle Speed Trials at Bonneville Salt Flats, hitting 130.614 miles per hour on biodiesel. The bike, dubbed "Die Moto," was designed and built by Oakland-based industrial arts collective The Crucible. Stormy weather and a faulty engine-management computer reportedly stymied the bike, which the group says will be able to hit 160 next time out. [Motorcycle.com] More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=301790&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[BioConcept Mustang GT RTD]]> Take one racing-tuned Ford Mustang, add a dollop of environmentally sensitive pretense and what do you get? If you said Steve McGreen, give yourself a slap. If you said the BioConcept Mustang GT RTD you were obviously looking over our shoulder. Ford's bringing the biodiesel-powered racer to the Frankfurt show next week. Under the hood, there's a 2.0-liter, 280-horsepower oil burner producing 369 foot pounds of torque. The plastic body shell was derived from natural plant fibers, in partnership with Germany's aerospace center, and top speed is in range of 152 mph. And it's not just a green trailer queen. The Mustang BioConcept has apparently already withstood the Nürburgring 24-hour endurance race, with former DTM driver Thomas von Löwis at the wheel. [Auto Motor und Sport via Motor Authority] More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=297557&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[What's With the US Market? Bosch's Trendspotting]]> We didn't make it to Bosch's annual technology colloquia and pot-luck luncheon this year, but that didn't stop the Boxberg proceedings from proceeding as scheduled. Our absence means we missed a symposium to suss out changes in the US market car companies must manage to make it into the post-SUV age. Major talking points included usual suspects rising gas prices and an entrenchment of the environmental movement against C02 emissions, as well as projections that the US government will indeed enforce conservation in the name of national security. Following are the key points, presumably based on Bosch's own market bets: More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=270697&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Fill 'er Up... With Jatropha!]]> Most of the talk we Americans hear about biofuels for vehicles has to do with ethanol- after all, it can be burned in gasoline-engines with minor modifications, plus the technology for producing ethanol relies on good ol' familiar whiskey-still expertise. But in the diesel-fueled parts of the world, particularly those located near the equator, the talk is all about the jatropha bush. Turns out jatropha likes hot, arid climates and its seeds have an impressive 30% oil content. It's inedible, so there shouldn't be many squawks about diverting food from stomachs to fuel tanks, and the process of turning it into a diesel fuel is relatively uncomplicated. Farmers in China, India, and Brazil are gearing up to grow plenty of the stuff. – Murilee Martin More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=258772&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Bio-Diesel Baja! Veggie Monsters Aim for Run in Baja 1000]]> We just got a tip from our guy Skiny (above), idea man and Audi Avant road-rallyist. His latest project involves a ragtag group of diesel engineers, celebrities and related cohorts. Their mission is to field a 100% biodiesel team to run the Tecate Baja 1000 in November. Heavyweights Bosch and Gale Banks Engineering are reportedly on board to work up three stock truggies (those are the half truck, half dune buggies Baja types use for their intradesert runs). And there's talk of biodiesel proponent and driver of a veggie El Camino Daryl Hannah, and Hayden "That Anakin Guy" Christensen, being involved in some capacity. More details to come when Skiny decides to spill the whole thing. No word on whether the bio juice will come from corn or cactus hooch. – Mike Spinelli More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=251373&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Deep-Fryer Oil Change: Tastes Better Than BioWillie!]]> Midwestern Hoons + Beater Bonneville + Deep-Fryer Oil = Breaking our addiction to foreign oil! These hoons figure that Pontiac 301 will purr like a kitten with a crankcase full of used Melfry, and maybe they're right. Well, no. But let's hope they throw some wheels on and take the ol' Bonneville out for some off-road jumping action when the snow thaws. – Murilee Martin More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=247589&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Alternative Fuel Ulster: Northern Irish Biodiesel Plant Online]]> Ah, a "green" fuel with an "orange" tint to it created in a land where walking through the wrong neighborhood while "green" or "orange" could get things hurled at you, including bullets. But since the strife in Northern Ireland has died down and economic development in the Republic is moving at a speedy pace, the time apparently seemed right to build a biodiesel plant in Ulster. Currently, however, the facility is strugging to find enough used cooking oil to meet demand. Yes, that's the Ulster we know and love — a place where nothing works quite like it's supposed to. – Davey G. Johnson More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=242733&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[It's a Diesel EXP! Are You Asking For a Challenge?]]> In the annals of mostly-forgotten Ford Product of the 1980s, there lies the EXP, the front-drive two-seater for active singles or childless couples on the go. And as with any car, it has its own enthusiast group. Now, add biodiesel to the Venn diagram and in the overlap, you'll find the vehicle utilized by the Ford EXP/Mercury LN7 owners' club, who've yanked the petrol mill in favor of an Escort diesel unit, in hopes of winning The Northeast Sustainable Energy Association's annual Tour De Sol Challenge, followed by a record attempt at Bonneville. – Davey G. Johnson More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=239187&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[India Walks Walk, Talks Talk on Renewable Fuel]]> While D.C. fat cats here in the land of the free bluster on about the political bandwagon that is ethanol, several organizations in India actually seems to be doing real work on the subject of renewable fuels. Instead of playing into the hands of the "ethanol has super potential" crowd, the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), is working with some fungi and a plant called the Jatropha curcas to develop a self sustaining biodiesel industry. The best part? If you eat one of the nuts from the plant, you feel ill, two, and you may blow chunks, and four you may die... cool. Oh and it also produces oil that can be readily modified into fuel oil with heating energy of up to 26400 kwh/ha (which comes out to about the energy equivalent of 252 gallons of petroleum diesel per acre). Yowza. Scientist Alok Adholeya (snicker) and others at TERI spent five years... More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=225060&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Scoopy Scoop Scoop! Bio-Diesel Boffins Lovecraft Expanding to Ten More Cities]]> Our source, who we'll just call Deep Pelvis, hipped us that Lovecraft Biofuels is going nationwide. Details are sketchy, 'cause Deep Pelvis cares as much about cars as OJ does about finding the real killer. But here's what we know for certain; "They're opening up ten stores, one in Seattle, and Portland... uh, Houston. I'll tell you the rest tomorrow." Following that bombshell we learned, "The chick that opened up all the American Apparel stores — she's putting it all together." And there you have it. So, if you happen to live in one of the three cities mentioned (or, like, Chicago, possibly) dust off that M-B 300D Wagon filled with all your old high school junk that's rotting away peacefully in your folks' garage and covert it to run on french fry grease. Why the hell not? And yes, that's Donita Sparks from L7 and her Lovecraft Biofuel conversion. No, she's not Deep Pelvis. Remember Jalopniks, you read it here first. – Jonny LIeberman More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=229869&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[James May Buys Panda, Saves Blighty]]> Captain Slow has cashed in his Range Rover and picked himself up 1.2L petrol- powered Fiat Panda in the interest of saving England from what he feels is the biodiesel scourge. You see, the estimable Mr. May doesn't like the look of British biodiesel's prime ingredient: oilseed rape. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=224683&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[24 Heures du Frites: Audi to Run R10 on Biofuel at Next LeMans]]> Audi's motorsports techies, titans of the oil-burning racecar scene, say they want to run the R10 racer on biofuel at next year's 24 Hours of Le Mans. It's part of a companywide move, says Audi Sport's head of engine technology Ulrich "Torquenstein" Baretzky, to develop biofuel combustion technology for VW/Audi. But they won't be using leftover horse lard from the local bistros; they're planning to use Biomass to Liquid (BTL) fuel, or a synthetic derivative of plant-based oil, the producers of which are owned by team sponsor Shell. Oh, now we gets it. – Mike Spinelli More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=221774&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Riding the Post-Apocalypse in Style, Greenness: Ai Design's Biodiesel Chevy Suburban Show Truck]]> The third in a trifecta of showcase cars from NY local boys, Ai Design, is a Chevy Suburban that would be a perfect complement to the Official Jalopnik Unibomber Shack(TM). Ai Founder Matt Figliola calls it a "post-apocalyptic road rider." The tricky truck started life as a 2002 Suburban gas V8 (Chevy didn't offer Duramax diesels that year). It was fitted for oil burning by a Colorado outfit, Duramax Suburban, with the engine modified to sustain biofuel's more corrosive properties (we did not know this was a problem). Then Ai installed a mess of performance tweaks, including transmission, turbochargers, exhaust system, fuel injection, and ECU mods. Next stage, Brembo brakes and 12" lift kit, followed by an entirely custom interior with carbon-fiber trim and switches for everything from the climate control to the engine management system relocated to a hand-fabricated console. Finally, it's Alpine F-1 audio, satellite antenna and enough AV tech to keep the Jalopniks on the road, and out of the shack, permanently. Or until Lord Humungus gets all the biofuel. – Mike Spinelli More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=215546&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Greasel Dusts El Mirage]]> The Yahoo! turbogreasel Chevy pickup rolled out onto the dusty dry lake bed of El Mirage yesterday for its first measured shakeout runs. Driver Tommy Hodges stepped out of his usual blown Camaro and into the alternative fueled entry. The peanut oil powered diesel posted a 98 mph blast with on its second run ever. While no french fries were served, neither were high speed donuts out on the big end of the course. With a solid baseline established the Orange County Customs crew plans on more action along with maybe a few more cylinders next season. "Who knows what peanut oil will do in the future", said Tommy. Even Pop from the other Orange County would have to agree the whole deal was pretty awesome. – Mike Bumbeck More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=214412&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[SEMA Show: 3,000 hp Chock Full 'O Nuts Turbogreasel Pickup]]> From the alternative-fuels-going-wicked-fast department comes this 3,000 hp greasel Chevy pickup. Designed and built to run flat out for land speed racing the Silverado packs a V6 Detroit Diesel mounted amidships that huffs fuel peanut oil and air, first though a 8:71 blower at 35 psi and then through twin Schwitzer turbos running at 70 psi for 65 psi overall. The delicious, yet good-for-the-old-ticker peanut oil is force-fed into the engine via a top fuel dragster-style fuel pump at 300 psi. Final torque values register in the 6,000+ lb-ft range. The pickup rolls on shaved tires from a Boeing 747 out back, with some smaller Learjet versions in front for a target speed of 240 mph. Orange County Rod and Custom built the monster as a vehicle for the new Yahoo! Autos Green Center with full testing to commence at El Mirage in early November. French Fries were served up at the unveiling for the peanut oil tie-in. We hope they install an inline Hobart deep fryer for some funnel cake action out at El Mirage. [Gallery] – Mike Bumbeck More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=211746&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[The EcoJet: Jay Leno's New GM-Outsourced Supercar]]> Yes, that's Jay Leno, comedian and talk show host. Yes, that's Ed Welburn, GM's veep of Global Design. But the silver bullet with the Grateful Dead-looking logo in between them is what I came to see at the Wynn Casino late last night, mere hours before SEMA's official starting gun fires. It's the 650 hp (400 lb.-ft. of torque), bio-diesel monster supercar named the EcoJet. The mid-engined beast, originally sketched by Leno and Ed on the back of a napkin, shares design cues with everything from jet aircraft and Formular One racecars, and even, it would appear, the nose of a Cadillac STS. The Leno-Welburn love child is powered by a Honeywell LT-101 turbine engine running in a modified Corvette Z06 hydroformed aluminum frame with aluminum and magnesium structural and chassis components. The shell's composed of a carbon fiber over Kevlar skin. We've got the full press release after the jump, but check out the gallery via the link below to see the real goods in person. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=211247&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Greasecar Dealership in Los Angeles]]> Brian Friedman has a reputation for weirdness. The entrepeneur formerly owned Haight Street hipster emporium Anubis Warpus, then bailed out and travelled around and camping in a customized Airstream pulled by a fuel-sucking van, leading him to design a single-tank vegetable-oil conversion for the old Mercedes diesel. Finding a plentiful supply of the cars in LA, he founded Lovecraft Biofuels, a conversion-company and dealership. Old-line grease-fueled-vehicle types have gone on record calling him a pinhead. But the Silver Lake crowd loves it. Of course they do. For what is Silver Lake but the Haight with better weather? More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=187184&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Report: Corn, Soybeans? Not So Much, Scientists Bullish On Other Biofuel Supplies]]> Their band is scientist rock, and their prognosis on soybean-derived biodiesel and corn-sourced ethanol isn't good. Besides saying it'll all wash away, which we don't believe anymore, scientists say that switchgrass actually is a great ethanol source that can perform much better than corn-based ethanol in an energy-in/energy-out comparision, as it can be grown on more arid land without fertilization. The one thing we don't get is that the report mentions that growing switchgrass won't affect food supplies. But wait, aren't we already paying farmers to grow corn that we're not going to eat? Meanwhile, we've got our recruits and our green mohair suits, so please show ID at the door. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=186677&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[SiliValley to Sacto on Alternative Energy: AAA's Greenlight Initiative Rally]]> "Fahr up that there fuel-cell bus, Earl — we'll be tappin' the keg on the banks of the 'Merican River tonight!" A biodiesel Beetle, a plug-in Prius and yes, a fuel-cell-powered AC Transit bus that also features hybrid-style regenerative braking all made the trek from Santa Clara, in the heart of Silicon Valley to Sacramento to raise awareness of alternative fuel options for the nation's fleet of vehicles. Most interesting to us is the hydrogen-powered public bus, which can run 350 miles before refueling (one of the nation's few hydrogen filling stations is in Richmond, CA, which is served by AC Transit, and Chevron has just built a facility in Oakland). No word, however, on if the bus' driver did indeed tap a keg on the riverbank that night. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=186565&view=rss&microfeed=true