And so it begins ....

[Tubbs]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 25695.html

[Gilbertd]

An interesting way of doing it, especially when you look at how a French registration number is made up. Up until recently it was 3 numbers, two letters and then the number of the Department the car is registered in. As Central Paris is Department 75, there'll be a lot more odd numbered vehicles than even..... Recent plates have gone over to a different scheme.

But, the article does mention micro-particles so it is going to be aimed at diesels. Sheffield has a similar problem and they've started showing the following on Matrix signs. Could actually be a benefit to us.

[Brian_H]

Boris is very anti-diesel as well, no doubt you will both have seen his proposed congestion charge changes proposed for a few years time.
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/transpor ... rnalSearch

[Gilbertd]

Can't come soon enough as far as I'm concerned. Diesel engines should have remained in trucks and tractors where they belong.

[Brian_H]

Yep. Can't disagree with you there.

[rich r]

Ah but my diesel car runs on renewable fuel, so although it's pumping out loads of nasty particulates, it's not using fossil fuels (1991 Mitsubishi Pajero 2.5 running on waste vegetable oil) There's no arguing that it's a dirty old diesel though - although we never get black smoke from the exhaust. Just a bit of blueish white when starting from cold.

If a 100% effective DPF that didn't just clog and cause issues could be developed, modern diesel cars might have a future. Especially if it's totally replaced with biodiesel rather than mineral diesel.

[Brian_H]

Given most people's attitude to servicing cars once they get past the first owner that's asking for a lot though.

It also doesn't address the nox issue.

[LPGC]

But, the article does mention micro-particles so it is going to be aimed at diesels

It does seem to be aimed at diesels, but the article doesn't say whether it applies to only diesels or diesel and petrol. Petrol vehicles and driving style won't be affecting the type of pollution measured so would seem unfair if petrol drivers are lumped in with the diesels. Would be interesting to see if the scheme affects attitudes of people towards those driving smoky vehicles.. 'Oy you're gonna ruin my chances of being able to drive to work next week'...

I like the 'drive petrol instead of diesel' signs, Sheffield is only 20odd miles away but this is news to me! They should add a second sign reading 'convert to LPG - half price fuel, no congestion charge and free parking in the city'... Same for London... Go on Boris!

Ah but my diesel car runs on renewable fuel

Positive, but... there wouldn't be enough waste veg oil to run many more diesels, wouldn't be enough land in the world to grow enough new veg oil to power a decent fraction of diesel engines (and if it were tried a lot more people would starve to death), stink of exhaust fumes is probably more noxious than the back of McD's on a hangover and particles in exhaust are still carcinogenic..

Diesel vehicle producers cheat when it comes to emissions figures - they design cars to do well in specific tests designed by test agencies but the tests don't represent real world driving and emissions in the real world are much worse. Some vehicles are designed to collect particulates during city driving then 'regenerate' the DPF on the motorway, the regeneration in many cases seems to amount to dumping loads of c**p out the exhaust. Since the car's only way of knowing if you're on the motorway is via driving speed etc, sometimes the c**p dump happens in the city (and even if it doesn't happen in the city it still happens). Governments seems to care more about global warming and CO2 emissions than other emissions like Nox and particulates but it is these other emissions that effect well being of locals more than CO2.

I wonder if they could design a really effective DPF... A design might have several very large catchment filters, only one filter used at a time, when one filter starts getting clogged filtering switches to the other while the clogged filter goes into incineration mode. Would probably take up all the space in the back of your Transit and use extra fuel for the incinerator, though... (propane would be a good fuel for an incinerator)

A few years ago I had ideas on converting a vehicle to wood gas - that's on the back burner unless there's a zombie apocalypse but I've still got the plans somewhere

Simon

[Talkingcars]

I agree with the above sentiments, diesel should be reserved for working vehicles, not private cars.

[Tubbs]

'growing' bio diesel is a bit stupid. It's alright if its wvo. The oxygen debt has already been paid for.
But growing rape creates loads of co2. It's a fast growing crop. Using a combine to harvest it. Running on diesel creates loads of co2. Putting it into a trailer on the back of a tractor. Running it to the LPG drier. And then loading it onto a lorry with a tele handler to get driven across the country. 40 ton at a time. To a processing plant. Then processed. And eventually put into a diesel car ? Absolute stupidity in its purest form ?

[Gilbertd]

Absolute stupidity in its purest form ?

Now come along Toby, don't beat about the bush, what do you actually think?

Totally agree with you, going to all that effort to keep a load of noisy, smelly, polluting diesels on the road would be madness. One day we may see an end to those stinking Audis with their Total Dickhead Inside badges.......

[Tubbs]

Lol ! You know me Richard ! Spade is a spade and all that !

[LPGC]

In future, might be possible to terraform the moon or Mars, grow rape there and ship bio diesel here - but ahh no that wouldn't be eco friendly because it would still increase CO2 on this planet.

I didn't know growing rape in itself used oxygen (unless you mean the machinery involved uses O2 and produces CO2)? Not resisting the opportunity to play on words - those involved in rape should have their O2 supply shut off and only bi o boys would disagree

Simon

[Gilbertd]

Have you put your ad in the Sheffield local paper yet?

All it needs to say is
"DRIVE PETROL INSTEAD OF DIESEL"
But if the cost worries you, convert to LPG.
Reduce pollution with cheaper running costs than diesel.

That's it, don't waffle on for hours or people will lose the will to live......

[Tubbs]

Very succinct and to the point Richard !

[LPGC]

I haven't said I intended on putting an ad in a Sheffield paper, thanks for the good idea though Richard, I think I will mate! Another dig though, really?

Any advert will be brief, point being to get customers to get in touch, ask further questions and hopefully go on to a conversion.

Those asking questions on the forum often seem to appreciate more detail, I often get thanked for 'such a detailed reply', etc; I sometimes anticipate further questions and hope my early points prevent the need for them to be asked - so the OP gets his car fixed sooner. Just lately I've noticed a few others giving more detailed replies than usual, replies almost reading like one of mine! I haven't had to write so much myself in those cases . Though some of them might have been kept shorter still if they'd linked to some of my posts rather than repeating the same explanation.

Just a light-hearted poke back mate, I'm smiling as I write...

Simon

[Brian_H]

Bit of an update today on this incase anyone has missed it

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-32512152

Bet BP will be kicking themselves given all the stations they have removed lpg from this year before too long.

[Gilbertd]

A bit more detail here http://news.sky.com/story/1474312/diese ... red-to-act. I heard it on the radio news today and it amused me. I work in London quite a bit and am due to get a new diesel company vehicle in the next couple of months. I wonder how much the Congestion Charge is going to go up to?

[Brian_H]

Was said to be another £12.50 ontop last I saw, starting from 2020 but applying 24 hours instead of the current peak time congestion charge. But suspect that could well change alot sooner now.

To quote from the first link "By 2020 cars and small vans will pay the charge unless they have the Euro 6-level engine for diesels, or Euro 4 for petrol engines"

[LPGC]

Euro 6

Diesel manufacturers will still find ways to cheat so their cars will pass tests but in the real world diesels are still going to kick out particulates and stink
I heard the news on radio4 - good!

Simon