Edit: I just realized: I wonder how the ban affects all the talk about synthetic and bio-fuels? Those are still based on internal combustion. Then again; although ideally CO2-neutral, they still emit NOx and particulate.

I run 100% biodiesel in a 1998 VW. IMO its a super-underrated solution, especially for folks who often need to drive long distances.

We shouldn't try to use it for 1:1 replacement of all current gasoline vehicles while changing nothing else, since it'd be a bad idea to devote that much farmland to growing fuel. What we should do, however, is transition the vast majority of driving to bicycles and rail, then use biodiesel for the niche cases left over.

[–] dojan@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Feel like a lot of these niche cases is logistics where the power is needed and no real viable alternative exists. Trucks, ships, and aeroplanes.

There are alternatives to diesel trucks, but from what I’ve heard they’re rubbish. Gas doesn’t perform that well, and is somewhat of a bitch to fuel, availability being an issue. They also don’t have as much range.

Electric isn’t even really a consideration since trucks just don’t have that much downtime, at least not the way it looks here. A standing truck is one that costs money, so the trucks run almost 24/7. Changing from spending 15-20 minutes fuelling once per day to 30-60 minutes fuelling 4-6 times per day just isn’t feasible.

We could try and force it, obviously. Have ships build sails again, add extra taxes on aeroplanes, and whatnot. When transport costs more, transporting will cost more, meaning anything that gets transported will cost more. The end result will be that everything will get that much more expensive.

[–] grue@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

There are alternatives to diesel trucks, but from what I’ve heard they’re rubbish.

On the contrary: freight trains are great! We just need to install pantograph wires on the tracks.

Have ships build sails again

I was gonna mention that if you didn't. 'Course, nowadays it's more about computer-contolled kite sails than traditional one hung off masts.