about OldCarGo
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BackgroundIn a world where fossil fuels as energy source are becoming rapidly
depleted, it is vital to look into alternative solutions for the
future. The use of vegetable oil as fuel might offer a viable
solution to Third World countries in particular. The emissions
are less harmful and the substance is CO2-neutral: in the
production of one litre of vegetable oil, plants absorb the same
amount of CO2 that is emitted by the exhaust of a vehicle during
combustion.
In the summer of 2005 we have driven an old truck that runs on vegetable
oil to Mongolia as part of an initiative to set up
a cole-seed plantation. The journey as statement in time,
a means of encouraging a positive awareness of Mongolia, refraining
from contributing underway to the country's climate-related problems,
and hopefully, contributing to future solutions.
TruckWe were travelling with a somewhat older vehicle, which can be used
as expo truck, has a simple construction and is easy to repair.
It was also expected to lead to fewer problems with customs duties
and at checkpoints. This type of truck was, in fact, is slow to
function well in the Netherlands and is ideal for rugged terrains.
In other words: more useful in Mongolia. We have developped
a system that allowed us to continue using the oil even during
the extreme temperatures of the cold Mongolian winters.
In 2006 the truck will be used in a plantation which is to be established there.
SelengeThe Selenge province in the north provides ideal conditions
for the cultivation of various crops, such as cabbage, cole
seed and sunflowers. In the past, Russia used to use this region
as back garden for its agricultural activities. Vast pieces of agricultural
land in this region are now lying fallow after Russia loosened its
grip on Mongolia, and particularly due to the collapse
of the Russian economy. There is great support for setting up vegetable
oil projects and the initial results with experimental plantations
are encouraging.
PurposeEvery village can establish its own energy generating back garden, thereby gaining independence from the supply of fuel. At the moment remote areas often have difficulty getting access to fuel. It is true that most cars have petrol engines that cannot run on vegetable oil, but the oil could still be used to heat the village and generate electricity. Once harvested, the seeds are easy to press into oil and pulp. The oil needs no further refining, and only needs to settle; the pulp released during the pressing makes for an instant and exceptionally nutritious animal feed. See the illustration above! The past few winters in Mongolia were so extreme that a lot of the cattle died. The feed can serve as supplementary feed for the remaining cattle of the nomads from the region; the truck can transport it to them.
The use of vegetable oil as fuel could make a significant
contribution to slowing down deforestation, which is also
a major problem in Mongolia. If applied strategically, this can,
in due time, contribute to combating the threat of desertification. |
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