RE: power and petrol

["Komaragiri, Param (Param)** CTR **" <param@lucent.com>]

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	PadmaNabha Rao wrote thus :

	<<This might be useful at a small scale since it will be difficult
to produce for the whole or substantial part of the economy, so much
> vegetable oil for fuel *and* cooking. Do you know of any study that has
> figured the land requirements if the fuel is adopted in a big way ? That
> would throw some light on its viability. I doubt if it's going to be
> better than petrol, but certainly it's more easily produced than petrol,
> without depending on imports! We have to consider the fuel for producing
> the vegetable oil from plants or the fuel used in cleaning the waste
> vegetable oil. But it seems a good idea for a community bus or two.>>
> 
Agreed.By the way, the following link gives some additional information abt
the trend.
http://www.uni-muenster.de/Energie/bio/neu/neu992e.html

	<< Two wheelers are among the most inefficient vehicles on our
roads. >>

	No sir, already our four stroke mobikes of 100 CC class are very
fuel efficient.
	Research has already squeezed the vehicles out.I dont think there is
further tangible scope for their improvement.

	<<The govt cannot really do much except ban them outright. That's
hardly an intelligent solution. But I
> think the govt is expected to do just that this year or 2002. It has to
> support research for improving efficiency. It's a win-win situation than
> banning which results in loss of assets and jobs. BUT, I hope you agree
> that it is important to focus on two-wheelers.>>
> 
	No need to ban two wheelers. Once increased public transportation by
electric means in urban areas come, their use will come down.

> : fuel be so expensive that scooter producers come up with more efficient
> engines that appeals to the scooter-purchaser. Any
> comments ?
Already research has pushed to its limits so we have 65KM/ltr petrol bikes.
There is no scope further.If as you say the price increases too high, then
best alternative is to find in the market 'novel design' of family
rickshaws, with ultra lightweight material, highly enhanced mechanical
advantages, all new designs (compared to conventional rickshaw) so that it
becomes fashionable and appealing for public to use, (and excercise too)..I
wish I could gather pictures of such vehicles when I see them here.They are
so novel, one loves to use them instead of any automobiles with in a town.
OK to augment for torque at slopes/ramps, they may have some battery
operated torque motor.
That is the only solution in the absence of two wheelers for indevidual
family transport-- this, in addition to hybrid cars.

> So why did the concerned Units not accept your friend's product which is
> obviously a nice one. One reason could be that they
> already had a supply or perhaps there was a govt stricture against using
> it for maybe a harmful side effect. It would be interesting to know about
> this more.
Becuase of normal inertia, enthusiasm to embrace a new product, playing
safe, etc though it was amply proved that the product was good.
Unless it comes from top like a Chairman or minister, our public sector
people hardly treck a new route.Esp when they spend diesel in 25 to 50 ltrs
per hour for each engine (hundreds in the organisation),not kilometres per
litre.. ltrs per hour.. in such enormous consumption, 2 or 3 % consumptions
saving and engine life saving was not drawing enthusiasm.another reason is
red tape.


Parameswar


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