[geeks] electric cars

[velociraptor]

On 10/23/06, James Fogg <James at jdfogg.com> wrote:
> > > A careful calculation of the requirements for 100% soybean oil
> > > conversion from fossil fuel showed that a beanfield equivalent to a
> > > square 500 square miles on each side in size could replace all our
> > > fossil fuel needs.
> >
> > I am having trouble parsing that sentence, James.
>
> Soy oil is an excellent direct substitute for diesel fuel.
> If the USA were to decide to switch from fossil oil to soy oil we would
> need a soybean field 500 square miles in size. Such acerage would
> produce enough soy oil to meet our current fossil oil demands. This
> includes the the demand if all gasoline engines were converted to
> diesel, or if soy were converted to a lighter fuel to replace gasoline.

That's what I thought you meant, but wanted to make sure.  Does that
estimate take into account the energy requirements for the cultivation
of said soybeans and the lower energy output of said oil vs. diesel?

> I think it's a good use for Texas myself :-)

Except that soybeans don't grow well in many parts of Texas.  You're
looking more at Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, and the like.

=Nadine=