Article published Dec 17, 2006

Dec 17, 2006

 

Unsafe holidays on the highways, the monster trucks are coming

By DMITRI IGLITZIN and STEVEN HILL

McClatchy-Tribune Information Services

 

Unless there is a sudden about-face on the part of the Federal Highway Administration, Americans are about to receive an unwelcome holiday gift that could literally kill them.

 

The FHA, which oversees our nation's highway system, is about to issue a regulation allowing 97-foot-long multi-truck monstrosities to roar up and down our highways. These vehicle combinations, called ''saddlemount vehicle transporter combinations,'' or simply ''four-ways,'' consist of four trucks all linked together with only the first truck having both its front and rear wheels on the ground. On the other three trucks, only the rear wheels touch the ground, the front resting on the truck preceding it. From the side, the four-ways look like elephants holding each others' tails with their trunks - only much, much larger, and more dangerous.

 

Full story at:

 

http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061217/DAYBREAK/61217004/0/living

I WANT ONE!

I think they are called semi-trains or land trains or something like that. They use them up in remote areas of canada.

And they use them across the Australian Outback -- again another remote area where other traffic is scarce.

 

I had no idea the trucking industry and some shippers slipped this provision into SAFETEA-LU. Nice job Congress. If a member of Congress who supported this stupid provision gets clobbered by a fishtailing truck combo, it would be poetic justice. Unfortunately, the odds are that an innocent motorist getting killed is much greater.

 

Yet another reason why I hate politicians...

Having had the experience of passing "triples" on the Pennsy Turnpike, I can tell you it is not a fun experience.  Evene on a relatively calm day, it appears difficult at best for the driver to maintain control of the trailers, especially the trailing third unit.

 

 

Having had the experience of passing "triples" on the Pennsy Turnpike, I can tell you it is not a fun experience.  Evene on a relatively calm day, it appears difficult at best for the driver to maintain control of the trailers, especially the trailing third unit.

 

I didn't realize that tripple trailors were now allowed on the Pennsy Turnpike.

Has Ohio banished them from our turnpike?

I remember seeing a video of one of these "four ways" driving on a breezy day. I don't know how the last trailer was able to stay upright. But anyone driving in the second lane wouldn't have been able to drive past the truck.

 

I'm surprised the American Association of Railroads didn't mount an aggressive campaign like it did 10-15 years ago when this issue came up before. I'm sure many of us remember the TV commercials the AAR paid for, showing the mother driving her children and looking nervously at the monstrous truck filling up her rearview mirror.

I didn't realize that tripple trailors were now allowed on the Pennsy Turnpike.

Has Ohio banished them from our turnpike?

 

The "turnpikes" across Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania allow long combination vehicles (full doubles, or short-trailer triples) by permit only. When these truck exit the turnpikes, they have to be broken up into smaller combinations.

 

See the following for Ohio Turnpike regs....

 

http://www.ohioturnpike.org/pdf/double_provisions.pdf

Not to imply any kind of agreement with insane legislation like this, but just for the sake of clarity, what we are talking about here is four TRUCKS linked together, not quad TRAILERS (and I agree, triple trailers are bad enough). As an example, see the attached graphic I snarfed from thenewstribune.com. I only wish they had posted an appropriately-scaled automobile graphic for comparison.

 

The cab only ones arent that big really. 3 together is a little bit shorter than a truck with trailer.

Hmmm...increase the danger on the road for drivers to allow further use of heavily polluting mega-trucks.  I guess a far out alternative would be to just make better use/expand on the rail infrastructure in our nation...I guess that's communism though...can't take away someones ability to drive their MEGA-truck!  Whats next double decker trucks?!??!!?

Again, this is only stating that FOUR TRATORS, not four trailers will be connected. This is not a land-train, which is usually 4 or more trailers. A standard trailer is 53' and a tractor can vary in size. So a little bit longer, but the fishtailing will be an issue unless the last to trucks use some pretty hefty anti-sway bars.

Now I understand why the railroads aren't bitching. Thanks for the clarification.

I'd still rather not have to pass one of these beasts on the Interstate.

Again, this is only stating that FOUR TRATORS, not four trailers will be connected. This is not a land-train, which is usually 4 or more trailers. A standard trailer is 53' and a tractor can vary in size. So a little bit longer, but the fishtailing will be an issue unless the last to trucks use some pretty hefty anti-sway bars.

 

Actually, the term is "road-train", not "land-train", but that's neither hear nor their since we're talking about 4-ways as has already been pointed out.

I'd still rather not have to pass one of these beasts on the Interstate.

 

Same here.  I'm afraid though that as the peak oil squeeze tighens, we're going to see 53' foot double trailers and 40' foot triple trailers on our interstates and not just the turnpikes.   

 

 

Again, this is only stating that FOUR TRATORS, not four trailers will be connected. This is not a land-train, which is usually 4 or more trailers. A standard trailer is 53' and a tractor can vary in size. So a little bit longer, but the fishtailing will be an issue unless the last to trucks use some pretty hefty anti-sway bars.

 

Ok...so they're not Dinosaurs, but rather they are whales!!!!  The current trucks cannot handle the current roadways (see Lytle Tunnel in Cincy).  I can only imagine what these bohemoths will do once they have their way with the public roadways...its everyone for themselves  :drunk: :shoot: :shoot: :shoot: :shoot: :shoot: :shoot:

The cab only ones arent that big really. 3 together is a little bit shorter than a truck with trailer.

 

yes and no... some of the sleeper cabs I've seen these days can get pretty lengthy (a Kenworth K900, for example, can be as much as 130" bumper to back of cab, and can have a sleeper as long as 86" behind that), and there's also the prospect of doing this with straight box truck chassis (think cube van w/o the cube, such as a Mitsubishi Fuso FM series, which tops out at a whopping 408" bumper to rear of frame)... either of those are fairly lengthy, and the shallower angle of attack presented by the longer vehicle would likely make it more susceptible to whipping/swaying

 

to paraphrase Jessica Simpson (and this is the ONLY time I'll ever do this), "I totally know what that means, and I DON'T want it!"

i've  been scared shitless on multiple occasions by the threesies on a bumpy road or windy day.

Interesting article from the State of Maine about the effect of "salt brine" being used on highways.  I just spent over $2,000 to have the frame of my 94 Pathfinder re-welded to reapir what the body shop owner indicated to me was corrosion from salt damage over the years.  He didn't specifically blame "brine" as the culprit, but ODOT's been using the stuff and so does the City of Columbus.

 

Anyone out there hear of any impacts from "brine" elsewhere around Ohio?  Seems to me a couple of tree nurseries up near Cleveland once complained about the run-off from brine use killing some of their nursery stock.

 

A Grain of Salt

Jeff Clark

Down East Magazine

 

They just don't make winter roads the way they used to -- for which many Maine drivers are grateful. But some vehicle owners fear that in its zeal to keep the state's highways clear, the Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) is using methods that might have a high cost in the long run. Several years ago the MDOT began using a new technique to keep the state's winter highways clear of snow and ice. Rather then wait for snow to fall and then plow, the trucks hit the road before the first snowflakes do, applying a rock-salt solution that creates a layer of extremely salty brine on the pavement surface. It is cheaper, faster, and more effective than the old methods of plow and sand. It meets the public's demand for high-speed highways in all but the worst storms. It drastically reduces the department's need to sweep and shovel sand from roadsides in the spring and periodically dig out drainage ditches.

 

For more information, please click the link.

-- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

http://www.downeast.com/index.php/page/issues/id/2587

 

I'm surprised there hasn't been more articles like this.  If road salt does wonders to our fenders, then brine of course is going to "rot" the undercarage.

 

Even the MDOT's Doughty, who grew up on a dead-end road in rural Cumberland before it became a suburb of Portland, remembers a different philosophy toward winter driving. "When I was a kid, we knew we weren't going anywhere for a while when we had a bad storm," he recalls.

 

 

Maybe things should have stayed that way.

SWACO VEHICLE

Garbage to help power car

Friday, March 16, 2007

Paul Wilson

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

It’s not the DeLorean car from Back to the Future, but a Honda Civic will take a cue from the movie when it begins running on fuel made from rotting garbage.

 

Great Scott, Doc Brown.

 

Starting this summer, natural gas used to power the Civic GX will be made from fumes produced as trash degrades in the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio’s landfill in Jackson Township. It’s part of a larger project to capture the landfill’s methane, natural gas’s major component, so it can be sold.

 

http://www.dispatch.com/business-story.php?story=dispatch/2007/03/16/20070316-G1-04.html

 

"There needs to be more attention paid to landfills as a source of energy," said Michael Long, SWACO's executive director. "This is being driven by the global economy and the desire to improve our environment, create jobs and reduce reliance on foreign oil."

 

Again with the "foreign." Are we all that cowed by the petroleum industry? Sad...

Air quality goes hybrid

BY JESSICA BROWN | CINCINNATI ENQUIRER

May 28, 2007

 

CINCINNATI - Greater Cincinnati is getting more environmentally friendly, one car at a time.

 

The Department of Environmental Services, which monitors air quality in Butler, Warren, Clermont and Hamilton counties, is slowly transitioning to hybrid cars. It's traded in six cars in its 19-car fleet since 2000 and more are on the way this year.

Ohio EPA is also using hybrids.

Trash Powers Cars & Trucks

Landfill Natural Gas Operation Opens

 

Green Vehicle Fuel made from trash is now reality.  The ribbon has been cut on SWACO’s Green Energy Center next to 4109 London-Groveport Road in Grove City, Ohio.  The facility will convert landfill gas to compressed natural gas (CNG) for use in CNG powered cars and medium duty trucks.

 

“What once was an idea is now fuel to power America’s future” says SWACO Executive Director Ron Mills.  “What was once waste is now energy to drive our economy.  What once was considered the end of the line is now a starting point for economic development.  Many times the answers to our problems are right in front of us, we just have to take a closer look!”

 

www.swaco.org

How efficient is CNG compared to liquid gasoline? Do you get the same amount of energy, or is it comparable?

 

Also, what does it take to convert a vehicle to a system that can use CNG?

Bring the car to Garfield Heights (CityView Shopping Center, specifically)!

How efficient is CNG compared to liquid gasoline? Do you get the same amount of energy, or is it comparable?

 

Also, what does it take to convert a vehicle to a system that can use CNG?

 

The quoted price in the article gives the price of the landfill gas as a "gallon of gasoline equivalent".  In other words it will cost you less than $3.00 for an amount of landfill gas that gives you the energy equivalent of a gallon of gasoline.  Make sense?  Obviously the landfill gas will have a much lower energy density since it is a gas and not liquid fuel, but this just means that you won't get the range that you would with a traditional car... unless you get a very large tank!

 

As for the conversion process... I'm not real sure about that.  You would deficiently need to change the compression ratio of your engine and the fuel lines will need to be pressure lines.  It seems to me that it would be a pretty big, expensive conversion.  The pressure vessels needed to store the natural gas would probably cost you an arm and a leg.  I would think it would be best to just buy a production vehicle.

How efficient is CNG compared to liquid gasoline? Do you get the same amount of energy, or is it comparable?

 

Also, what does it take to convert a vehicle to a system that can use CNG?

 

The quoted price in the article gives the price of the landfill gas as a "gallon of gasoline equivalent". In other words it will cost you less than $3.00 for an amount of landfill gas that gives you the energy equivalent of a gallon of gasoline. Make sense? Obviously the landfill gas will have a much lower energy density since it is a gas and not liquid fuel, but this just means that you won't get the range that you would with a traditional car... unless you get a very large tank!

 

As for the conversion process... I'm not real sure about that. You would deficiently need to change the compression ratio of your engine and the fuel lines will need to be pressure lines. It seems to me that it would be a pretty big, expensive conversion. The pressure vessels needed to store the natural gas would probably cost you an arm and a leg. I would think it would be best to just buy a production vehicle.

 

Gotcha. That's really helpful. I had a feeling that was the case with the whole converting a standard vehicle to run on CNG, but I was just curious. Thanks again for the info. I think it's important that the public be made aware of these "cons" because it's one of those things that sounds almost too good to be true if you don't know the details. Which, of course, the press neglected to divulge.

 

Regardless, this is the type of innovation Ohio can/should be known more for! I wouldn't be surprised if people from all over the country came here to see how this thing works, especially considering it's the first of its kind to be in operation. Very exciting stuff!

Been done

 

Been done

 

 

Didja get that one out of your system?

 

You weren't the ONLY one who thought about that, ya know.  :roll:

I think the first step toward having an actual option (natural gas or gasoline) at the pump is to run public vehicles on natural gas.  Why wouldn't any transit agency make this switch?  The fuel is cheaper and cleaner then the expensive 'clean diesel' they currently use.  Sure you'll need to build a couple filling stations, but it would be a great way to promote natural gas as a transportation fuel... not just something you use to heat your home and cook your food.  Hybrid natural gas vehicles would have been perfect for the Euclid Corridor in Cleveland and would have got the natural gas ball rolling.

Been done

 

 

Didja get that one out of your system?

 

You weren't the ONLY one who thought about that, ya know. :roll:

 

 

I know. I was very taken aback that nobody else posted something about it.

My god! The thread is over a year old.

I know many factories in Michigan are powered by methane form landfills.  It actually makes me curious how much there is to go around.  I personally think this technology in cars is a complete waste of time and mis-allocation of this resource, when it should instead be used to exclusively power large buildings and energy intensive industry.

I know many factories in Michigan are powered by methane form landfills. It actually makes me curious how much there is to go around. I personally think this technology in cars is a complete waste of time and mis-allocation of this resource, when it should instead be used to exclusively power large buildings and energy intensive industry.

 

I'd rather see them just pump it into existing natural gas lines unless they have something on site or very near that they want to use the energy for.  Marketing a 'landfill gas car' is pointless.  They should be marketing a CNG car while advertising the fact that some of the gas comes from landfills... or your local sewage treatment plant!

Hi

This is davidbrain

  Now a days we are needed the required hybrid vehicles to travel from one place to the another place with that the people can easily travel like this.

*****************************

davidbrain

New Cars

 

Put me down for two Hummer assault vehicles. We all need to do our part to fight turrur post 9/11.

The thread title should be something more like "Greater Cincy Gov. Agencies Going Hybrid"

 

This is definitely good news though!

Landfill's methane powering vehicles

County's fuel-conversion project gets national interest

Sunday,  April 5, 2009 3:36 AM

By Barbara Carmen

 

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

A project at central Ohio's landfill -- garbage in, gas out --  is being pitched in Washington, D.C., as a way to reduce America's dependence on foreign oil.

 

"We were the first in the country to use this technology" on a full-scale commercial basis, said Franklin County Commissioner Paula Brooks.

 

"It's environmentally cleaner. It reduces our dependency on foreign oil. And it works."

 

http://dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/04/05/GASPLAN.ART_ART_04-05-09_A1_EFDEAN9.html?sid=101

Bit of an update on the program in here:

 

<b>Where All of the Franklin County Trash Ends Up…</b>

By Walker | February 17, 2010 8:30am

 

Over the past few years, SWACO has turned their attention towards utilizing landfill trash as an energy resource. In September 2008, they opened the Green Energy Center, a small building located nearby that pulls methane gas from the landfill, runs it through an industrialized cleaner, and processes it into fuel. “Some of the gas is compressed and used for fuel in our vehicles, and some of it is sent into our microturbine,” said John. “The microturbine creates electricity, which is used to power the Green Energy Center, so it basically powers itself.”

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/archives/swaco3.jpg">

 

READ MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/where-all-of-the-franklin-county-trash-ends-up

It's not as easy as it sounds, hence its very low usage rate. The cars are typically the same price or more expensive, and the infrastructure just is not there. We received a CNG station in Ashland, Ky. in 1995 (that long ago!) to be used by UPS and USPS vehicles as a pilot, and it's still there, but it receives very little use overall. Prices tend to fluctuate wildly at times, although it is usually the equivalent of a gallon of gasoline. And there are only a few vehicles out there designed to run on CNG with some sort of range that's doable for the majority of Americans, the Honda Civic GX being one of them.

Been done

 

 

Mr. Fusion!

 

Been done

 

 

Didja get that one out of your system?

 

You weren't the ONLY one who thought about that, ya know.  :roll:

 

I'm a BTTF nerd. It's never out of my system.

Whenever I hear that yelling out "It's a new car!" I always think of Bob Barker on the Price is Right telling the contestant what they've just won. Well, feel free to share news here about your new car...

 

Which is what I'm about to do. But I will also tell you about my old car first. It was one of, if not the best cars I've had (the only close comparison was a red 1990 Mitsubishi Eclipse that I totaled in 2000 after a great 10-year ride). It was a 2001 Hyundai Tiburon with a soft black leather interior that was never hot in the summer or cold in the winter. It had a 5-speed manual transmission, power sunroof, a custom Pioneer stereo I added (the old stereo was stolen!) and lots of other nice amenities.

 

I bought it shortly after the attacks of Sept. 11th. It had 18 miles on it. As I trade it in tomorrow, it has just over 126,000 miles on it. I've run the car ragged, but it's treated me well. I've driven it to Toronto, around Lake Erie, to Chicago, Cincinnati, Baltimore and about 10 million times to Columbus and elsewhere around Ohio. I drove it to buy my last beers on July 19, 2003 and to buy my last cigarettes in January 2008. I also drove it many times in 2004-05 to veterinarians and specialists to save my lovely kitty Abe from the perils of cancer, and then drove the car to bury him in my parents' backyard in Brecksville. Last night I took it for my last joyride, to downtown Cleveland and back.

 

This was my Tiburon in October 2002, parked below the Kinzua Dam on the Allegheny River during a joy ride through the twisting hilly roads near Warren in Western Pennsylvania...

 

 

Thanks Tib for the great ride over these past nine years! I hope you find a great new owner who enjoys driving you as much as I did.

 

Today starts a new day, when I drive home for the first time my 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe Track 2.0 Turbo. Like my Tib, it is black, has a leather interior, power sunroof, rear spoiler, manual transmission but with a six-speed, 200hp engine, dual exhaust, hands-free Bluetooth, digital info center and lots of other gadgets...

 

 

 

I'm looking forward to it, but will remember my Tiburon for its nine years in some of the most important events in my life. It's leather-covered shifter will be transplanted into my new car just in case these machines really do have souls and memories...

Nice.  I like that ride.

 

I know how you feel in regard to your relationship with your car.  I gave my car to my nephew last year.  It's an old car but she rides like new.

Nice wheels!  I'm looking forward to the day where I can afford a new car with a sunroof :-D.  I've wanted a sunroof since I was 16!  But for now, I have my little Honda Civic.  I named her Annie Oakley because she's small but spunky and gunmetal grey in color :-D.

Turn up the boost!

We are also Hyundai owners and I helped my Mom get into one that is still going strong and it turned 100,000 quite awhile ago.  Like the new ride and am glad you're getting a new car, it sure sounded like time though I understand the attachment, I've always been like that with almost all cars. This sonata I have is the first car for which I don't feel that attachment like I did.  Perhaps because it's the most "functional" and "boring" car I've ever owned.

I'm sure you'll love the Genesis. Autoblog did a comparison of the Genesis with some other cars...

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/17/battle-of-the-sixes-mustang-v6-takes-on-genesis-coupe-and-370z/

 

It can damn well hold its own :)

Saw a red one at the Columbus Auto Show a couple of months ago.  Hot-looking wheels! :banger: