Hydrogen cars, etc. [Re: QUOTE: Bey on extropians]

Michael M. Butler (mbutler@comp*lib.org)
Sat, 15 Nov 1997 19:53:11 -0800


Hydrogen economy which generates the hydrogen by directly or indirectly burning
fossil fuels, either to generate electricity or to farm land for fuel crops, is a
huge net inefficiency. You're just moving the pollution and fossil fuel use
around, not reducing it. Solar and fusion are possibilities, but either one is
very capital-intensive and unlikely to pay for itself in a reasonable time. Guess
what that leaves? It leaves hypotech (my portmanteau word for hypothetical
technology} that reforms fossil fuels at the point of use, then feeds _that_ to a
fuel cell. Some people claim to have it. We'll see. "Pure" H2 technology as a
significant base for the economy just isn't in the cards--unless you palm a few.
:)

MMB

Wesley Schwein wrote:

> Well, all the big car companies, from Volvo to GM, are working on hyrdogen
> cell cars. Petroleum may be a limited resource, but there's a great deal
> of hydrogen out there.
>
> Cars belong in the countryside, not in cities and towns.
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Wesley Schwein Art is not a mirror; art is a hammer.

--
(NOTE: Robotlike replies to the above address will fail;
 *noncommercial* communications are welcome; kindly
 substitute a hyphen for the asterisk in the above address.
 Sorry for any inconvenience.)