Comments on: No pollution but Who Cares!?

By: SomeguyinKorea

SomeguyinKorea — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 06:29:26 +0000

#12,

Yes, that’s what I was hinting at, although I was talking about the plans to use oil as the source of hydrogen and solar energy as the source of electricity needed to extract the hydrogen…electricity that would be more efficiently used to power the car directly. It’s basically PR for car and oil companies a scam to keep us dependent on oil without feeling that we are. It would also allow the government to stay in the loop, to continue collecting energy taxes. I would imagine that most people would get solar panels installed at home if electrical cars became more affordable.

(I’ve spent my fare share of time in a laboratory as a student and an assistant, so spare me the condescending tone).

By: hardyandtiny

hardyandtiny — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 05:49:04 +0000

Walk!

By: cmm

cmm — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 05:35:14 +0000

This is a sobering post for me. It’s one that I know more than quite a bit about, and one where I think wjk is making a lot of sense. I guess we can all get along. …sometimes.

But don’t try to convince Nigel of the validity of the so-called First Law of Thermodynamics. It’s in every chemistry, physics, thermo, etc. textbook and therefore obviously bogus, and the stuff conspiracies are made of. Einstein kinda got around it, so do you doubt that a guy of Nigel’s Level of Enlightenment can’t at least out-wit Einstein?

By: hardyandtiny

hardyandtiny — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 05:34:38 +0000

Design cities that don’t require transport. Enforce the law, get rid of crime. Stop worrying about homos and tax structures, get rid of the drugs and weapons. We don’t need skyscrapers, we don’t need cars, we don’t need fuel… Look at what we’ve been given. It’s a tree, it’s a sky, it’s water, just leave it alone and live with it. There’s no need to invent, the world is perfect.

By: wjk

wjk — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 05:08:04 +0000

What does Amtrak do when it’s carrying 30% of capacity? Beg Congress for money.

What do airliners do when they’re flying with less than 100% capacity? Chapter 11.

What does Congress do when oil prices go up, and America still drives 1 hour to 2 hours to work, with the driver being the only dude in the car?

They decrease gas prices and blame Dick Cheney.

By: wjk

wjk — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 05:05:31 +0000

I mean, 1 driver. That’s it.

By: wjk

wjk — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 05:05:06 +0000

The predominating avg number of passengers in an American car during commuting hours is

da, da, dum,

1 passenger.

By: wjk

wjk — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 05:02:20 +0000

Well said, Starcraft gosu.

So, then.

All this is shifting pollution from the road to the power plants.

With no plans for nuclear plants.

The bottom line is drive less, more rails for mass transit, and make it hell of a lot more expensive to drive.

Whoever does it, though, will be voted out of the American political office.

By: Wedge

Wedge — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 04:56:34 +0000

But, but, if it wasn’t for BushCheneyHalliburtonExxon we’d be living in a utopia of abundant, clean energy, with kites flying and butterflies flitting.

By: Beijing Town

Beijing Town — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 04:44:35 +0000

fuel cell cars shift the pollution point source away from the tail pipe. this raises a number of new challenges: to generate the hydrogen in a less harmful way at a power station than the energy which would be generated in a internal combustion engine; and the creation of a new distribution network. Not to mention the huge implications for auto manufacturers in terms of R&D, supply chains, marketing (”Intel inside” cars anyone?), servicing, etc. how fast they make it to the market is a question of government support and market incentives for companies to invest and place their bets. high oil prices and emission regulations are slowly driving this shift. but right now fuel cells are too expensive to be anything other than a niche market. what is more, the internal combustion engine is constantly improving its efficiency levels and currently out performs fuel cells and hybrids. it will likely keep its place at the top for another decade unless regulations drive a faster change. nevertheless billions are being spent by auto firms like honda so they clearly beginning to place their bets for the future.