June 30, 2009
And I thought it was just for cooking
Last year, our national government announced a big push for taxi cabs and buses to convert their gasoline and diesel engines to biofuel or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) engines. I can't find data about how many have converted, but it must be a good percentage already judging by the number of different refilling stations slowly appearing all over the metro. In converted taxis, the LPG cylinder is located in the trunk of the car. It looks jerry-rigged and is not a pretty sight, especially in an old car that looks about ready to fall apart, but with lower nitrogen oxide, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and particulate matter emissions—not to mention the lower cost per liter—who cares?
Yes...it's very popular here in Brazil.
ReplyDeleteLéia ;)
It's also popular in Poland. Maybe not very very popular, but for sure among taxi drivers it is:)
ReplyDeleteRegards,
m_m
I have never seen them here, but I will have to do some investigating. I guess they sacrifice some trunk space, but like you said, who cares!
ReplyDeleteMethinks that much of the world is way ahead of the U.S., and even further ahead of places like Ocala where everybody seems to drive a big SUV and a big pickup truck!
ReplyDeleteNot a particularly pretty sight but as long as it works and no safety issues arise - this sounds good.
ReplyDeleteIt looks as though someone packed an old Electrolux vacuum cleaner in there. I guess efficiency trumps looks.
ReplyDeleteI`ve seen this before :)
ReplyDeleteI guess if you don't drive around with your trunk open no one will have to know.
ReplyDeleteje trouve que c'est une bonne initiative, petit à petit les villes bougent pour sauver notre planète ;)
ReplyDeleteI find that it is a good initiative, little by little cities move to save our planet ;)
I used to see a lot of them in Italy, 25 years ago, mainly in the boots, but also quite often on the car's roofs. No, it isn't a nice sight, but if it's cleaner, why not!
ReplyDeleteQuite common here, Rob is right. The roof version he quotes was in effect another thing: it ran on methane and the standard cylinder wouldn't fit in the boot. Methane car were slow and problematic and disappeared quickly, replaced by the LPG version.
ReplyDeleteEffectivement ce n'est pas joli, mais c'est un bien pour l'écologie !
ReplyDeleteGood for them. It's time for the US to catch up with the rest of the world.
ReplyDeleteWe have a few but not nearly enough. I believe busses in some cities have converted.
ReplyDeleteGood for them, at least they are doing something about the problem instead of just talking about it like we do.
ReplyDeleteAction speaks louder than words!
it has helped many taxi drivers to save and earn more. nice!
ReplyDeleteGood for the Philippines! Things like this need to happen here in the U. S., but it sure is slow in coming.
ReplyDeleteThat IS scary looking but if it works, great. You would feel a bit uncomfortable sitting up against this tank.
ReplyDeleteWell, there are some downsides to biofuels. Like the amount of energy it takes to grow the crops and the fact that land used to grow food is now being diverted to fuel.
ReplyDeleteBut if they are using recycled vegetable oil and such from restos - then I'm all for it!
whoa....is that thing safe to drive in? amazing.
ReplyDeleteConversions are becoming popular for taxis here in New Zealand too. The running cost are a little cheaper, and the engine maintenance is a lot less as gas burns very cleanly, and ofcause the air is less polluted usually.
ReplyDeleteOur taxis are much newer looking than this one but the gas cylinder is just as prominent in the boot, not pretty at all.
I don't think we are that advanced yet in Israel.
ReplyDeleteBut oi, just imagine a parking lot guard opening your trunk (as they always do) and at first thinking "Bomb!"
we got same issue in Bangkok, now when fuel cost is jump out again..hurrr!
ReplyDeletejust like our country
ReplyDelete