C4 Dispatches - Killer Diesel

Cornucopia

Pollution is about much more than just diesel cars, though.

People eulogise about clean electric transport, and conveniently ignore the power station 200 miles away that is still spewing out SOx and NOx.

fred246

Yes but it's about the concentration of pollutants that you are breathing in. A power station hundreds of miles away where few people live will affect less people.

tedted

arcon5 wrote: »

4500psi is tiny, at least compared to your diesels common rail running at typically 20k. Some as much as 50k

what vehicle runs at that pressure as i have never come across anything anywhere near 3440 bar at full power?

Herzlos

Cornucopia wrote: »

Pollution is about much more than just diesel cars, though.

People eulogise about clean electric transport, and conveniently ignore the power station 200 miles away that is still spewing out SOx and NOx.

Power stations also tend to run at a much better rate of efficiency than a variable speed internal combustion engine (which is something like 10-30% efficient at best), so you're getting more energy out per fuel unit.

It's much better to energy to be generated by a hugely more efficient source in a few places and transferred, than by many inefficient systems.

redux

Herzlos wrote: »

Cornucopia wrote: »

Pollution is about much more than just diesel cars, though.

People eulogise about clean electric transport, and conveniently ignore the power station 200 miles away that is still spewing out SOx and NOx.

Power stations also tend to run at a much better rate of efficiency than a variable speed internal combustion engine (which is something like 10-30% efficient at best), so you're getting more energy out per fuel unit.

It's much better to energy to be generated by a hugely more efficient source in a few places and transferred, than by many inefficient systems.

You're both slightly inaccurate.

Power stations have at last got better emissions gear on them, or some opted out of fitting it and have closed down.

Some diesel car engines are 40% to 45% thermodynically efficient, which rivals the best power stations.

Cornucopia

Presumably, though, the energy from the power station is subject to losses before it can be used to propel an electric vehicle?

I'm not arguing against electric or other alternative fuels, BTW, my main concern (as in my OP) is the scientific illiteracy of the argument within the media and the general public.

As for pollution from power stations, yes, they are 200 miles away. Some pollutants (are there particulates from coal-fired stations) will not travel, but some either travel or have a wider environmental effect. CO2, in particular, is not a localised pollutant, at all, so whether it comes from a chimney or a tail-pipe makes no difference.

I also recognise the future transferability of power stations from one technology to another, without requiring changes in the electric vehicle fleet.

Johnmcl7

Johno100 wrote: »

I thought diesel got off quite lightly in the programme, not one mention of DPF failures.

I was surprised at that as I think it's a more significant issue, I don't believe most people chose diesel because they thought it was greener as the program suggested but instead they bought them because the ved was lower and the mpg higher. After a few diesels I changed to a petrol to get a simpler engine as despite being very careful to avoid short journeys entirely (taking up cycling instead) I still had dpf and egr issues.

On the plus side, I have to be grateful to the dpf for getting me into cycling and now do the bulk of my travelling by bike.

John

forgotmyname

I bought a diesel because of the mid-range overtaking power. Sometimes i get better mpg than a petrol. But its only fuel. When the tanks empty i fill it.

All this about cars killing the planet, Yeah yeah..boring.. Because the climate never changed before cars were invented were they.

One small factory in China will put out more pollution in a week than i ever will in my lifetime. No matter what car i drive.

iolanthe07

People eulogise about clean electric transport, and conveniently ignore the power station 200 miles away that is still spewing out SOx and NOx.

I live less than 5 miles away from a nuclear power station, so I guess it is all right for me to buy an electric car. (OK, I do understand the principles of the national grid!)

Retrogamer

I've never owned a petrol car myself and don't plan to.