why we are not using biogas for automobiles?

Answer 1

Theoretically, there's no reason a vehicle that was modified to run on compressed natural gas (CNG), couldn't also use biogas. The two are pretty much interchangeable.

In fact, Volvo offers a "Bi-fuel" version of it's S80, which can run on either CNG or Biogas....
http://www.volvocars.com/corporation/environment/Alternativefuels/VolvoBi-Fuel.htm

Biogas tends to have a lesser heating value than natural gas (because of it's CO2 content...), but that's not really an issue, since in theory it comes out of the landfill/digester/septic tank, almost free of charge.

The first practical hurdle is selecting and installing the proper equipment to compress, regulate, and store the stuff. Again, such equipment, designed specifically for use with biogas is available off the shelf. Cost and quantity of gas are real issues here. Such a scheme would probably only be economical on a moderately large scale. For example, an electrical plant, which also began supplying municipal gas for heating and/or cars.

The second practical hurdle is hydrogen sulfide(H2S).

Like natural gas, biogas often contains appreciable amounts of the stuff, depending on the source. H2S is toxic, smells unmistakably like rotten eggs, contributes to smog and acid rain, and is highly corrosive. Removing H2S is relatively expensive and somewhat involved if it is present in large quantities. Again, this means collecting and using biogas for any purpose is usually only economical on a medium to large scale.....

Conclusion: because biogas production is still a small niche industry, when compared with natural gas, and at the end of the line, tends to be more expensive, better keep your fingers crossed for the present....

Hope that makes sense,
W.O.M.B.A.T.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

There is a limited amount of biofuels that can be produced from agricultural waste products - far less than our economy would need.

Producing biofuels as a primary product is not economical. The reason we use petroleum is that, even at $80/barrel, it's cheap.

The cheapest vegetable oil, for instance, is soybean oil. It costs about $4 a gallon. By the time you add the distribution costs and taxes, it'd be $6 a gallon. Corn syrup is even more expensive. And when you use those products for fuel, you're driving up the price of food.

We have lots of coal, though, and it's cheap. It would make sense to liquifying it for use as an automotive fuel - but we don't yet have the kinks worked out. It'll probably be available in another decade.

Answer 4

First of all, don't listen to the activists. Activists, even if they start with the right idea, turn into a moronic mob, pumping their fist in the air screeching nonsensical talking points they've heard by like-minded extremists.

bio-gas. Are you talking about bio-diesel (grease trap refinement) or are you talking about ethanol. Both are available. You can buy a conversion kit for diesel enginess and refinement kits for the grease. The reason that will never "catch on" is because veggie oil is expensive and the "free burger king grease traps" wouldn't power 1/10 of a percent of the cars out there.

methane--about 75% efficient compared to gas. No infrastructure for mass production.

Ethanol cars are already mass produced by the big three. Ethanol is about 80% efficient compared to Octane, Heptane, Nonane mixtures. It burns marginally cleaner than gas. There isn't enough ethanol production to support a complete switch-over.

Electric cars. Electric only--the electricity to charge the cars comes primarily one source in the US--->coal burning powerplants; the dirtiest of all fossil fuel combustion.

Hybrid--energy conversion in fluid systems is notoriously inefficient. In my opinion, hybrids are all hype. Firstly, their actual mpg is no where near their marketed prediction. Even their bs hp/mpg is lower than many cars and just about any diesel.

The point is, its not a conspiracy; its thermodynamics. Sorry, there's no free lunch.

Answer 5

Not economic. Natural gas (usually methane from gas wells) is used for many local delivery vehicles, but tank capacity is an issue. Biogas is much more expensive than natural gas.

Answer 6

Yet developments are under process. Feasibility is in near future.
Biogas can be upgraded (purified) to natural gas levels and then compressed for use as automobile fuel (CNG)....

Answer 7

cuz oil affiliates hav lots of money and dont want their supply to stop