Diesel might have been inspired by the fire piston,
which was patented in Europe in 1807 although
it had been in use in South East Asia and the islands
of the Pacific since ancient times. Nevertheless,
Diesel was not the only person who was inspired.
Herbert Akroyd-Stuart created an engine with
compression ignition and direct fuel injection
(not mixed with air) two years earlier; however,
Akroyd-Stuart’s engine operated with lower
compression
and today is called a “heavy-oil” engine.
At any event it shouldn’t be called a
“diesel.”
Biodiesel
The first working diesel ran on peanut oil
and any diesel engine will run without modifcation
on biodiesel, made of vegetable oil and animal fats
by transesterification that separates the glycerin
and leaves mono-alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids.
Diesel
More bang for the buck
moves more metal.
Sure to be more
to say about it.
In the end it seems
it all evens out.
Because of the higher compression and higher torque, diesel
engines have been built with heavier components, but they have
better overall energy conversion efficiencies than gasoline
engines. Diesel fuel can cost more, but it has a higher energy
density than gasoline. Nevertheless, my money would be on
all-electric vehicles, because, even if petroleum fuel generates
the electricity, large-scale engines at the power station can run
with greater efficiency than engines in vehicles.
Because of the higher compression and higher torque, diesel engines have been built with heavier components, but they have better overall energy conversion efficiencies than gasoline engines. Diesel fuel can cost more, but it has a higher energy density than gasoline. Nevertheless, my money would be on all-electric vehicles, because, even if petroleum fuel generates the electricity, large-scale engines at the power station can run with greater efficiency than engines in vehicles.
See also in The book of science:
Readings on wikipedia: