Chrysler exec slams "Big Oil"

A marketing exec from Chrysler had a temper tantrum on their corporate blog, calling the oil companies greedy and acussing them of standing in the way of cleaner fuels. This as a result of tanking sales of large SUVs and cars with all of those Hemis no doubt. Interesting piece, and the irony was that if the sales of the gas guzzling SUVs weren't on the decline Chrysler would be silent. Of the Big 3, Chrysler's efforts on alternative fuel and Hybrids seems lacking.

Is Big Oil stalling Bio Fuel initatives?

An interesting piece over at AutoBlog saying that yet another commitee will ask if the Big Oil companies are standing in the way of Alternative Fuels, specifically Bio Diesel and Ethanol. They can save their time and our money, the answer is yes and it shouldn't be a surprise. They're called "Big Oil" for a reason. Concerned only with profit, unless the government offers incentives and passes legislation pushing for Alternative Fuels, don't expect to see Exon/Mobil or any of the others to start distributing or producing Bio Fuels anytime soon. And since Big Oil controls most of the fuel pumps nationwide, that means that even if the auto manufacturers build the vehicles capable of burning these cleaner fuels, you'll be hard pressed to fill the tank.

One step in the right direction, Bio Diesel news

The picture shows a home Bio Diesel production kit, and in a sense that's where our nation is in the production of Bio Diesel. But according to the article at AutoBlog, there is one firm that's stepping up production of Bio Diesel blended with petrolium Diesel. It's a step in the right direction and that's a great thing. But I have a couple of minor issues with this.

The Company is an Oil company, and is blending Bio Diesel with Petro Diesel, and while that may be necessary to get the ball rolling, the real key to Bio Diesel is it's ability to burn cleaner in exhisting Diesel engines with no modification, while producing slightly more power. The only benefit of blending Bio/Petro Diesel is a more reasonable gel temp, and since it's Spring that's less of an issue. But I'm picking here, so I'll compromise on this point.

Now here's another problem, the company is partially Saudi owned. Now one big plus of bio fuels to me, is the chance to reduce dependance on foreign fuel sources. Why can't American firms make the investment? So far it's a French firm making Ethanol in the Midwest, and Importing Ethanol from Brazil and now a Saudi oil company. Are we just replacing one foreign dependance for another? Maybe I'm making to much of it.

Each step towards cleaner burning sustainable fuels is a good one, and if it's foreign investment that gets the ball rolling, so be it.