London Air Quality - Pollution

I have been looking at second generation bio diesel referred to HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil).
Apparently it has been approved for use in Southern California where all municipal vehicles will be required to use it and has been in common usage in Finland and other Scandinavian countries for some years.
According to studies in Helsinki, Leeds and other universities its use results in significant lowering of exhaust emissions'; Particulates -33 to-85%, NoX -9 to-35%, CO -24 to-40%.
Does any one know anything about it ? and should we be using it?

should we be using it?

It's not a sustainable fuel source at scale. There's just not enough waste food oil, and supplementing it mean crops as a fuel source. Crops as a fuel source means deforestation and a consequential environmental impact significantly worse than burning fossil fuels.

But this means warmer winters, what's not to like?

It still amazes me people get excited by electric cars that get their electricity indirectly from fossil fuels.

Currently there is fuel available from three sources
From foodstock.
From reconstituted oils from the far east.
From reconstituted oils from Europe.
I guess my question relates to the comparison with our commonly available fossil fuels is it better or worse?
I am aware of the problems of scale but does this mean we should not use it in highly populated polluted cities because of the damage it does whilst being produced or is the benefit worth it?
Waste can and does come from other sources not just old chip fat.

Surely the point of electric cars is being able to control the location of the emmisions?

I guess my question relates to the comparison with our commonly available fossil fuels is it better or worse?

For a given gallon of fuel - as you state, probably better, given that it doesn't produce so many particulates. Although it's still a polluter.

As a replacement, like for like - far, far worse, as you would need to turn over not just foodstock production, but much of the earth's biosphere to fuel oil production.

does this mean we should not use it in highly populated polluted cities because of the damage it does whilst being produced or is the benefit worth it?

That sounds like a maths problem that you can work out.

Electric vehicles driven by robots have the following advantages:
they're silent
they're emission free
they're probably quite good at energy efficiency

Electric vehicles driven by humans have the following advantages:
they're emission free
they're silent (passing diesel buses as they hit the accelerator to move off is LOUD)

If the energy to fuel them can come from renewable sources we're all laughing aren't we?

As for cars powered by old chip fat, it's not that energy efficient though is it?
The concept of growing planet scale amounts of food just to burn and not to eat makes me think of a larger, more lethal, potato famine waiting to happen.

The fuel HVO according to manufacturers is as efficient as fossil fuel derived diesel, the production method means that you end up with a very similar chemical compound to regular diesel.
They are also making it not just from used chip fat but various sources of waste like the waste by products from the refinement of rapeseed and palm oil as well as animal waste, it appears that they are trying to get waste recovery down to fine art.

Two things happening already: land that can feed local people is controlled by biofuel companies, and the global price of grain goes up as it becomes valued as fuel.

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jun/27/land-grabbing-food-biofuels-crops

https://www.actionaid.org.uk/food-not-fuel/real-lives-affected-by-biofuels

http://content.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2048885,00.html

You say potato I say fuel.

Let's call the whole thing off.

But wait, what are the paticulates from recovered oil like?
If they're anything like diesel this is a nonstarter.

The particulates and nitrous oxide are significantly reduced.

I'm incredibly short of breath this morning. Anyone else or am I dying?

Have you got chest pain?

No. Just struggling to get enough air in the ol' lungs.

It was colder than the last couple of days. This makes a difference.

Fair point. Still t-shirt weather though.

I find it's the cold air in the mornings that I'm breathing large lungfulls of that has the biggest effect. I thought about using my asthma puffer this morning but don't really want to unless it's particularly bad. It's lovely weather when you don't need to breathe hard.

I definitely notice the same thing when it's really cold. I didn't think it was that chilly this morning. I did have a joyous sprint over an empty London Bridge in the sun this morning. Perhaps it was those lung-fulls that did it.

Guess it depends. It felt colder than last couple of days to me. Use a buff maybe?

Stuck between no breath and a sweaty place. I think I'd rather be moist. I'll give a buff a shot.

Even though I sweat lots I still wear an old softshell in this weather because it keeps the cold air off my chest and throat. I don't really know if it helps but I can't see it doing me any harm and if it helps warm my breathe or keep my chest muscles warm then it should help I think maybe fuck I dunno I'm moving to Africa.

There's the solution!