[zx2dragon]

No mention of emissions or what is used to make this "synfuel". It will be interesting to see if this goes anywhere or disappears like the ceramic engines.

[taxcontrol]

I'm rather skeptical of any "one size fits all" technologies. People must remember that buying a car is very much a personal and emotional issue.

Yes, 140 mpg is one of the factors to consider and many would say that other factors are at least equally important. Things like comfort, safety, cargo space, performance, etc.

[way-right-of-center]

Tell the head of Volkswagen to kiss my Fharvegnuven. I'm not buying German products anyway. Maybe he can sell them in frence, that is, if the french won't surrender when they see them coming.

Seriously, The only Volkwagen I owned (2001 Jetta GLS Turbo) was the biggest POS I have ever seen. It was in the shop so much (8 times in 3 months-no joke-all conveniently after the car's crappy 24k warranty had expired ), Volkswagen USA finally called me and apologized. They never offered me any money, though. I am sure if they pursure new fuel technologies with the same fervor, the car will suck equally.

[Pylot]

I am working for a very large energy management company.

They have a dedicated R&D department looking at fuel cell technology.

These people say that a practical fuel cell, one for mass consumption is at least 5 years away and possibly further.

In working for this company I have had an opportunity to work directly with a couple of the countrys top energy engineers. They are very sceptical about fuel cells and see nothing on the horizon that is practical or even close to prime time deployment. If you mention fuel cell for a car or truck they will laugh at you and ask you a half dozen (fuel cell deployment) questions for which there is no answer.

[LibertarianInExile]

I have a question: How do you make hydrogen for fuel cells? Is it something that you can just whip up, or does it take more or less energy than gasoline does to produce?

I keep hearing this fuel cell crap like it's the coming thing, but I don't know why it's better than the hybrid stuff, which would NOT require replacement of gas stations nationally and would not require a complete retraining of every mechanic in the country.

I'm quite suspicious of the fuel cell crowd. I don't know that hybrids are better, and I ain't jumpin' on the synfuel bandwagon neither, but I kneejerk against fuel cells just like I did gasohol. Seems suspiciously like somebody's in that line of work and wants a subsidy.

[STFrancis]

May I enter this article for everyones consideration...

http://www.edmunds.com/news/innovations/articles/46906/article.html#

[taildragger]

Dragon

A few years ago Honda said the prime mover for the next 150 years will be the Internal Combustion Engine. Everyone believes on there prowess in regards to such matters but this comment went under everyones radar screen.

They are not fuel cells, they are "Fool Cells" and so is this notion of a Hydrogen Economy.

Here is a technology ready to go, Air Assisted Direct Injection from Orbital Engine of Australia at: http://www.orbeng.com.au