Environmental Safeguard

July 18, 2008 Arcticulates ® Focusing on Alaska's Beauty Author: K. Fields Environmental Safeguards Way to go!!! Doyon/Aramark For bringing new and innovative transportation, that is being used to transport tourists to view beautiful scenic areas and wildlife through a “protected” natural environment in our National park Beautiful National Denali Park Photo By Mike Kingston It never made sense to me, that they have banned private vehicles from entering the park; for fear that it would mess with the serene undisturbed environmental (the air, water, minerals, organisms, and all other external factors) atmosphere that’s there. Yet! Send in obnoxiously loud diesel buses, all day, all summer! Now that we are having a fuel crisis, not a “lack of fuel” crisis, but a major “fuel expense” crisis in our State, maybe things will be changing for the better... Mt McKinley/Denali Photo by Richard Mitchell I believe a “World-wide” fuel crisis will force innovative (being or producing something like nothing done or experienced or created before) discoveries for new energy sources to speed up, and replace the old ways of doing things. These new Hybrid(a vehicle which uses a mixture of power or fuel sources) are being tested this summer at Denali Park, to see if they will be replacing the over 100 diesel buses on a "as needed" basis,that the park is using now. Bull Moose Wading in a Small Lake Photo by Mike Kingston The hybrid system being used on these buses was developed by: Enova Systems, in Torrance, California. It puts a diesel engine with a 80-kilowatt power train that combines with a transmission, batteries and a electric motor. How it’s supposed to work is: the system gains energy when the brakes are used. Which means that while the bus slows down, it charges the batteries, so that power is available when acceleration is needed, which allows the diesel engine to idle most of the time. These hybrid buses cost around $200,000... But it runs quieter, and uses approx 70% less fuel, and runs cleaner then the diesel buses that are being used in the park now. That alone has my vote! Environment Worth Protecting Photo by Mike Kingston Pretty expensive, but worth it in the long run with the savings on fuel, and the environmental damage lessened. Tho I suspect as hybrid vehicles become more in demand the prices will drop considerably! Later... K Fields See also: Grizzly Situation! Digg Please Hey! Please Stumble It! Add to Technorati Favorites Please Rate at Blogged! Mixx it Please! Engage my post Kudo Me! Reddit You are welcome to comment in the box below. Please keep in mind that this is a child friendly site. Thank You! I look forward to meeting you and reading your thoughts.

Return to: Arcticulates' Home Archives Author: K. Fields Alaska, USA I live in Northern Alaska! Hence the unique spelling of my blog title. I love Alaska! It can be a challenging place to live, but... the beauty that surrounds me makes it all worth while. This blog/website is my opinion or views on what I hear, or see, on just about anything! Mixed with some genuine facts! Did you know that you can have all the new Arcticulates' posts sent directly to your email or favorite RSS feeder? All you have to do is click on Arcticulates' Feed for this free service. Thank-you! Arcticulates' Feed Recent Posts! Oil...Alaska's Liquid Gold Whooo Loves Owls Triumphant Harvest Garden Raiders Magnificent Eagles Hockey! Junior Style Mt Redoubt Erupt ?? Alaska Au Naturale Ice Fishing! Most Popular Posts! Magnificent Eagles Grizzly Situation! Glimpse of Autumn! High One or Not! Other Areas! Cooking in Alaska Reviews Links / Blogroll Alaska Jokes Archives Interior of Alaska Arcticulates' Disclosure Policy

Recent Comments From My Readers! Thank-you!