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Old 03-10-2009, 02:05 PM   #27 (permalink)
Clev
Wannabe greenie
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Yorba Linda, CA
Posts: 1,098

The Clunker (retired) - '90 Honda Accord EX sedan
Team Honda
90 day: 29.49 mpg (US)

Mountain Goat - '96 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4 SuperCab
90 day: 18 mpg (US)

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Quote:
Originally Posted by almightybmw View Post
Volones you bring up something interesting....
So there's a coal mine in Healy, AK. It's about 400 rail miles to Anchorage, AK. I normally will see 50 coal cars behind 3 engines. So taking the 1T/1 gal for 400 miles,

50 cars*110T=5500T
5500T/xT *1T/1 gal = 5500 gal
400 miles/5500gal = 0.07273 m/g

That's terrible if you ask me. But that's only if you look at general fuel consumption. Specific fuel consumption...
My car: 1.5T, 32mpg. over 400 miles that's 12.5gal.
12.5gal/1.5T = 8.333 gallons to move 1 Ton. Not so impressive to the 1 gallon per 1 Ton.

I need at least 266mpg to match the train's efficiency at moving mass. The Loremo comes close at 180mpg, and the VW sausage thing (can't remember the name) can do it at 261mpg. I personally want a Loremo.

Not arguing, just illustrating for all to see how efficient trains are despite the poor aerodynamics.
Just remember, they're specifying per ton of freight. Your car is not hauling 1.5T of freight at 32 mpg.
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