Comments on: VIDEO: Learn How Coskata Makes Ethanol at New Flex Facility in Pennsylvania http://fastlane.gmblogs.com/archives/2009/10/video_learn_how_coskata_makes_ethanol_at_new_flex_facility_in_pennsylvania.html The FastLane blog is your source for the latest musings of GM leaders, like Bob Lutz, on the topics relevant to the company and the auto industry Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:07:07 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Doug Niedermeyer http://fastlane.gmblogs.com/archives/2009/10/video_learn_how_coskata_makes_ethanol_at_new_flex_facility_in_pennsylvania.html#comment-142102 Doug Niedermeyer Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:22:27 +0000 http://fastlane.gmblogs.com/?p=1301#comment-142102 Good point Motorman. GM should be working on both internal combustion engines that use LPG or CNG, and methane fuel cells that use natural gas. As you point out, we already have an infrastructure for distributing natural gas, and using that fuel would avoid the daunting problems and expense of needing to build a hydrogen infrastructure from scratch. The natural gas solution is staring them right in the face, while they use their valuable and limited R&D resources on the more exotic and expensive hydrogen solution. Good point Motorman. GM should be working on both internal combustion engines that use LPG or CNG, and methane fuel cells that use natural gas.

As you point out, we already have an infrastructure for distributing natural gas, and using that fuel would avoid the daunting problems and expense of needing to build a hydrogen infrastructure from scratch.

The natural gas solution is staring them right in the face, while they use their valuable and limited R&D resources on the more exotic and expensive hydrogen solution.

]]> By: motorman http://fastlane.gmblogs.com/archives/2009/10/video_learn_how_coskata_makes_ethanol_at_new_flex_facility_in_pennsylvania.html#comment-142092 motorman Mon, 16 Nov 2009 01:35:30 +0000 http://fastlane.gmblogs.com/?p=1301#comment-142092 why does not GM work on natural gas powered vehicles? it is plentiful and with a compressor you can refuel over night at home as many homes have natural gas. i know the state and federal govt would have a problem collecting the taxes but that is their problem to solve. there are natural gas pipe lines everywhere so building filling stations should not be a problem like hydrogen would. even ethanol can not be pipe lined and the added cost of rail or trucking it to the fuel depots adds to the costs why does not GM work on natural gas powered vehicles? it is plentiful and with a compressor you can refuel over night at home as many homes have natural gas. i know the state and federal govt would have a problem collecting the taxes but that is their problem to solve. there are natural gas pipe lines everywhere so building filling stations should not be a problem like hydrogen would. even ethanol can not be pipe lined and the added cost of rail or trucking it to the fuel depots adds to the costs

]]> By: CarZ http://fastlane.gmblogs.com/archives/2009/10/video_learn_how_coskata_makes_ethanol_at_new_flex_facility_in_pennsylvania.html#comment-142076 CarZ Sun, 15 Nov 2009 03:46:39 +0000 http://fastlane.gmblogs.com/?p=1301#comment-142076 Sweet! This is an awesome video and very informative. I don't understand why automakers just to go this route all the way. Sweet! This is an awesome video and very informative. I don’t understand why automakers just to go this route all the way.

]]> By: kenZ300 http://fastlane.gmblogs.com/archives/2009/10/video_learn_how_coskata_makes_ethanol_at_new_flex_facility_in_pennsylvania.html#comment-142020 kenZ300 Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:52:26 +0000 http://fastlane.gmblogs.com/?p=1301#comment-142020 GM needs to produce all new gasoline vehicles as flex fuel. LEAD the way for flex fuel vehicles. Second generation ethanol is here. More fueling stations are offering E85. Give consumers a choice at the pump. Energy Security is National Security GM needs to produce all new gasoline vehicles as flex fuel.

LEAD the way for flex fuel vehicles.

Second generation ethanol is here.

More fueling stations are offering E85.

Give consumers a choice at the pump.

Energy Security is National Security

]]> By: Chops http://fastlane.gmblogs.com/archives/2009/10/video_learn_how_coskata_makes_ethanol_at_new_flex_facility_in_pennsylvania.html#comment-141577 Chops Sun, 01 Nov 2009 20:49:18 +0000 http://fastlane.gmblogs.com/?p=1301#comment-141577 Congratulations to all at Coskata and GM. As good as it looks now, I am sure the efficiency and flexibility of this process will increase as you scale up and go into production and as improvements are made. Faster, faster ! I hope not too long after 2012 GM will go to 100% E85 in the fleet as this Coskata process proves a winner and E85 is becomes available in more parts of the country. One of the many beautiful things about this technology is that ethanol can be made close to the east and west coast cities where the garbage, old tires and construction waste are plentiful. Not just in the corn belt. Congratulations to all at Coskata and GM. As good as it looks now, I am sure the efficiency and flexibility of this process will increase as you scale up and go into production and as improvements are made. Faster, faster !

I hope not too long after 2012 GM will go to 100% E85 in the fleet as this Coskata process proves a winner and E85 is becomes available in more parts of the country. One of the many beautiful things about this technology is that ethanol can be made close to the east and west coast cities where the garbage, old tires and construction waste are plentiful. Not just in the corn belt.

]]> By: Zeke Manchester http://fastlane.gmblogs.com/archives/2009/10/video_learn_how_coskata_makes_ethanol_at_new_flex_facility_in_pennsylvania.html#comment-141490 Zeke Manchester Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:53:37 +0000 http://fastlane.gmblogs.com/?p=1301#comment-141490 <i>In 10,000 years we’ll have more oil – a renewable energy source!</i> Good thinking, but it would be more like 100 million years. In 10,000 years we’ll have more oil – a renewable energy source!

Good thinking, but it would be more like 100 million years.

]]> By: Mike http://fastlane.gmblogs.com/archives/2009/10/video_learn_how_coskata_makes_ethanol_at_new_flex_facility_in_pennsylvania.html#comment-141485 Mike Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:12:46 +0000 http://fastlane.gmblogs.com/?p=1301#comment-141485 I've been following this for years since GM and Coskata announced this, great news to finally see it. I design Waste Water and Water Treatment plants for a living, Civil Engineer, this would be a great thing to work on. Exceptional work GM and Coskata I’ve been following this for years since GM and Coskata announced this, great news to finally see it. I design Waste Water and Water Treatment plants for a living, Civil Engineer, this would be a great thing to work on. Exceptional work GM and Coskata

]]> By: mike http://fastlane.gmblogs.com/archives/2009/10/video_learn_how_coskata_makes_ethanol_at_new_flex_facility_in_pennsylvania.html#comment-141482 mike Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:56:36 +0000 http://fastlane.gmblogs.com/?p=1301#comment-141482 Soylent Greening and Bio-Massing the deceased? Ick! Just bury them really deep (say 5000 feet) and then let the pressure of the earth liquify and convert it to petroleum like it did to the king lizards "back in the day"! In 10,000 years we'll have more oil - a renewable energy source! Soylent Greening and Bio-Massing the deceased? Ick!

Just bury them really deep (say 5000 feet) and then let the pressure of the earth liquify and convert it to petroleum like it did to the king lizards “back in the day”!

In 10,000 years we’ll have more oil – a renewable energy source!

]]> By: Josh http://fastlane.gmblogs.com/archives/2009/10/video_learn_how_coskata_makes_ethanol_at_new_flex_facility_in_pennsylvania.html#comment-141476 Josh Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:53:53 +0000 http://fastlane.gmblogs.com/?p=1301#comment-141476 Hat's off to GM and Coskata for pursuing a non corn-based ethanol solution. Hat’s off to GM and Coskata for pursuing a non corn-based ethanol solution.

]]> By: Howard "Ding Dong" Carson http://fastlane.gmblogs.com/archives/2009/10/video_learn_how_coskata_makes_ethanol_at_new_flex_facility_in_pennsylvania.html#comment-141463 Howard "Ding Dong" Carson Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:35:48 +0000 http://fastlane.gmblogs.com/?p=1301#comment-141463 You make a good point. Why waste valuable real estate burying people after they are dead? Let's just throw them in a biomass gasifier, turn them into syngas, and use them for ethanol. You make a good point. Why waste valuable real estate burying people after they are dead? Let’s just throw them in a biomass gasifier, turn them into syngas, and use them for ethanol.

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