[Olog-hai]

Exactly, no.

If anything, steam ought to make a comeback, since it’s fully mechanical and not susceptible to anything such as EMP attacks. Abner Doble’s advancements were unfortunately eclipsed by his own overly-perfectionist tendencies, which drove up expenses to the breaking point and reduced his work to the playthings of the super-rich.

[Lazamataz]

If anything, steam ought to make a comeback, since it’s fully mechanical and not susceptible to anything such as EMP attacks. Abner Doble’s advancements were unfortunately eclipsed by his own overly-perfectionist tendencies, which drove up expenses to the breaking point and reduced his work to the playthings of the super-rich.

Howard Hughes competitor, forget the name, actually pointed out the folly of steam cars. He got a copy of the Doble. He brought it into his factory. He hit it, hard, with a wrench. He then said, 'Great. You just cooked dad, mom, and the three kids like lobsters."

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

steam ought to make a comeback,

In my youth I too was fascinated by the concept.

After I studied thermodynamics, not so much.

If someday battery tech gets good enough and cheap and durable enough, electric vehicles can make sense provided that the application doesn’t require recharging when the user can’t afford the time to wait for it.

I don’t see electric working on long-haul routes. Hybrid vehicles seem a lot more practical. Not practical enough, mind, if they have to be subsidized . . .