AboutBob Stuart Expertise I'm best on questions of the suitability of new technologies, but will try to keep up with retail
offerings of hybrid vehicles too.
Experience Designing human-electric hybrids.
Organizations International Human Powered Vehicle Association
Publications 4th Annual Velomobile Seminar proceedings, many listserv postings.
Education/Credentials few academics, but my 1st prototype won a world championship, and I've lectured to engineers.
Expert: Bob Stuart Date: 7/15/2008 Subject: Cars vs School Buses
Question Hi Bob,
You know, I'm not the smartest kid on the block, but I see
these heavy school buses running around town (Erie, PA)
using...is it propane, butane, natural gas?...is it CH4
or C2H6...I don't know the chemical formula...but in any
case, they seem to do fine, even 70 miles per hour out
on the Interstate highways. And they've been doing it for
years.
So....why can't we in N. America, build our cars to run
on the same substance? Natural gas is certainly cheap,
propane isn't too bad cost wise. Why don't we see this type of vehicle in the mix of hybrids, solar paneled cars, etc. Is there a disadvantage that I don't see here?
Clear Skies,
Tom Whiting
Erie, PA
Answer Kits are available to convert cars as well as school busses. They are fairly popular on taxis, because they don't go out of range of the propane supply, and they really improve engine life. For more money, you can have a dual-fuel setup. However, the propane tank is a bit bulky, and North America is almost out of natural gas and propane - less than a decade left.
