RE: Dimethyl ether transportation fuelI wish these people would quit wastingresources and simply adopt Natural Gas. To “process” anythingfrom a natural product is counterproductive and simply drives thecost of the fuel up and it contributes another means of pollution inthe process.
Like extracting hydrogen from any rawstock, the process itself creates pollution and even if the fuel thatgoes into the HD engine has a much higher density than diesel fuel“So what”... the pollution and cost disadvantages are still there,you've simply buried them in the pre-pump processes and made the“middle man” rich in the process.
Westport has the answer, NG is cheap,plentiful and the only viable solution in the foreseeable future. Sureit does not have the BTU rating that diesel fuel has, but all you dois inject more of the stuff per power cycle; and that extra fuel canbe delivered throughout the power cycle thanks to advancedtechnology, like improvements in materials and computer software.
The argument about shorter range issimply and excuse not to change. Instead of having some animal drivefor 800 kms “P”ing in empty Tim Horton cups, he can stop, refuel,take a break from driving, then go for 400 kms. There is nodifference other than getting a break and refueling. After all whocan drive 400 kms without having to take a “P”... will that beone cup or two?