Warning: The Hydrogen Economy May Be More Distant Than It Appears

Popular Science ^ | January 2005 | Michael Behar

[SunkenCiv]

"Hydrogen is a currency, not a primary energy source," explains Geoffrey Ballard, the father of the modern-day fuel cell and co-founder of Ballard Power Systems, the world's leading fuel-cell developer. "It’s a means of getting energy from where you created it to where you need it."

[Willie Green]

So far, the major maglev players are primarily subsidiaries or partnerships of larger corporations. (TransRapid = Siemens and ThyssenKrupp, American Maglev = Lockheed). I'm looking for a way to invest in the technology, but I haven't seen any stock offerings yet.

[P.O.E.]

Mr. McGuire: I just want to say one word to you - just one word.
Ben: Yes sir.
Mr. McGuire: Are you listening?
Ben: Yes I am.
Mr. McGuire: 'Plastics.'
Ben: Exactly how do you mean?
Mr. McGuire: There's a great future in plastics. Think about it. Will you think about it?
Ben: Yes I will.
Mr. McGuire: Shh! Enough said. That's a deal.

[ddtorque]

you might find this interesting: Comparing Hydrogen and Electricity for Transmission, Storage and Transportation

[Donald Rumsfeld Fan]

I think every citizen should have his own nuclear plant in his backyard. Just think of the possibilities. It could power your house, your car, your Christmas tree lights. And the waste water from the hydrogen could water your lawn. This would solve all our problems. I think ....er then maybe not.

[johnandrhonda]

Remember the thing that blew up on the Apollo 13 flight to the moon? That was a fuel cell.

[sheik yerbouty]

If the sun can power a child's radiometer...

[BillF]

Are you involved with research on this?

PS. Hope that you're coming to the FR ball and the Inaugural Parade.

[johnandrhonda]

I don't know what you saw on TV, but I can tell you that one tiny spark from static electricity or any other source will ignite hydrogen gas. As for gasoline, you can drop lighted matches into a bucket of gasoline and it will not ignite. Firing a bullet into a container of gasoline will not make it ignite (except in Hollywood) unless there is another source of ignition.

[add925]

I know where there are vast deposits of Methane gas:

[Jokelahoma]

My assumption (yeah, I know, I know, assumptions) was that it was the spark from the bulet passing through the metal container. It did scatter and spread lame everywhere, whatever the source was. Hey, maybe it was a headlight from a pickup, and.. wait, no, I'm sure this wasn't Dateline.

And yes, I know hydrogen will easily ignite. It wouldn't be much of a fuel source if it didn't. My point is that if uncontained, it rises quickly while burning, so you won't lay in a pool of it as you would with gasoline. The "Hindenburg" scenario wasn't hydrogen that was burning all those people. It was the materials the ship was made from. The hydrogen fire was both invisible, and likely much higher in the atmosphere by that time. Therefore, the doomsdayHindenberg disaster ideas resulting from car accidents with hydrogen as a fel source wouldn't be nearly as likely as some may think. Of course, that depends on how the fuel cells are made.

[yankeedame]

What's your point? Everyone knew that already.

Not DialmerChrysler (DCX). Despite the perennial "soft" sales (to put it nicely) in other manufacturers hybrids, the nincompoops DCX have a hybrid up and ready to go. My husband is a Dodge salesman and they were all told to "get ready" for the hybrid.

(My husband has never had a customer come in and ask if has and/or when DCX will have a hybrid. Or stated an interest in buy one if/when DCX came out with one.)

In additional to this potential lead balloon, DCX has decided to continue pouring $$$$$$$ into the stupid Daimler "Smart Car" -- trying to foster on the US what they couldn't on Europe. Daimler both before and now owner of DCX has already pumped $255,000,000+ ($255m) into this...this...thing.

(Thanks, gang, for letting me vent some steam.)

[rellimpank]

---I would suggest, for your own good, that you be very careful about how you drop a lighted match into a " bucket" of gasoline---or were you perhaps thinking of a "bucket" of diesel fuel---?

[sheik yerbouty]

Got matches?

[SunkenCiv]

the reason you should believe the article:

"Nine myths and misconceptions, and the truth about why hydrogen-powered cars aren’t just around the corner"

or for that matter, why you should READ the article, or at least read it a little more carefully.

[SunkenCiv]

"We can put solar panels on ever roof facing south. Farmers could fit their barns with solar panels."

Photovoltaics are literally pie in the sky. Electricity so produced isn't competitive with conventional sources, and isn't going to be. Farmers don't all receive subsidies, and regardless, your hostility toward the makers of the agricultural surplus that is the foundation of all else in the society is mystifying.

[SunkenCiv]

"Once energy penalties are taken into account, the above process leaves only 45-55% of the original energy compared to 92% if transmitted as electricity. Electrical transmission provides roughly twice the end use energy."

Thanks for that link!

[SunkenCiv]

I guess a duplicate thread that is newer doesn't get deleted anymore.

Google

[SunkenCiv]

happy, pappy?

Warning: The Hydrogen Economy May Be More Distant Than It Appears
Popular Science | 12/15/04 | Michael Behar
Posted on 12/15/2004 5:34:11 AM PST by crv16
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1301843/posts

[IamConservative]

I had Taco Bell for lunch, I'll give you a methane economy in 'bout an hour.. :)

[SunkenCiv]

Warning: The Hydrogen Economy May Be More Distant Than It Appears
2004 Popular Science | 3/10/05 | cp124
Posted on 03/09/2005 9:28:08 PM PST by cp124
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1359772/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1359772/posts?page=8#8
8 posted on 03/10/2005 2:34:22 AM PST by Boot Hill