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

From: Michael M. Butler (mbutler@comp*lib.org)
Date: Sat Nov 15 1997 - 20:53:11 MST


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.

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