"Possibly, but you have been going-on about "algae fuel" which, by your own admission is "too expensive at the moment". Well, hydrogen is likely to become more economical as the technologies improve. Why not consider a future with both? I am open to alternatives that can deliver what I currently enjoy - performance and reliability. Gas is a bit high, but my car sips gas and performs well. By the way, what the heck is "algae fuel?" This is the first I have heard of such a thing."
A lot of petro started off as algae, atleast that's what the scientist say.
Biodisels are either created by corn, switchgrass...anything living. Algae is said to be the only alternative that can replace petro....the government says that. Granted fusion is always the best.
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/pdfs/biodiesel_from_algae.pdf
Here's a basic breakdown of the algae situation.
1) ALGAE FARMING IS AN INDUSTRY
Commercial algae farming is an established industry.
It has been going on for over 50 years, and has become a
small industry. There are only a handful of companies
doing it on a large scale. Total world-wide production is
a few thousand tons of algal biomass per year. So far,
algae has been grown mostly for its protein, which is
worth more in the marketplace than either its oil or
starch content.
2) YIELD HAS INCREASED
Yield has already reached a point where algae farming
for oil begins to make sense. Currently, the highest
daily yield of algal biomass reported has been 50 grams
per square meter. The average daily yield is closer to 17
grams per square meter. (17 grams per square meter per
day, with extraction of 25% of its weight as oil
translates to about 1,200 gallons of oil per acre per
year. This is about double the yield of palm kernel.
Increases in yield will lower the amount of investment
required in physical plant, and (to a lesser degree) labor
costs.
3) PRODUCTION COSTS ARE DECLINING
Cost estimates are getting lower. Commercial
production costs are around $5,000 per ton, or $55 per
kilo. In a recent study, production cost estimates range
from 4-300 dollars per kilo. In a more recent study, the
range is .75 cents to $17.25 per kilo. So, it is apparent
that progress is being made.
4) PRODUCTION COSTS ARE TOO HIGH
Production costs are currently too high to make
commercial production of algae for oil. If we are trying
to replace petroleum oil, our maximum allowable total
production cost can be found by dividing the current cost
of crude oil (currently about $60) by the number of
gallons in a barrel (42). Currently, this cost limit is
$1.42 per gallon of oil. This is not the cost of the
algae. If we can extract 25% of the algae's weight as
oil, we will need to grow 14 1/2 kilos of algae for each
gallon of oil that we produce; a maximum cost per kilo of
algae of slightly less than ten cents.
5) THE CHALLENGE THAT FACES US
What we need to do as an industry is to increase the
yield of oil per acre, while effecting major cost
reductions in the production process. I believe we will
accomplish this, through hard work, persistence,
ingenuity, good luck, and collaboration.
As long as it does not increase the price of Sushi rolls... ;-)
Thanks for the information. I'll do a bit more reading on it.
They dont usually mention stuff like that (including for 'electric' cars).
Line loss on power lines can be as much as 90%. (From those CO2 belching fossil fuel plants that generate the electricity required) ???
Will the pumps be efficient ???
Will the release of pressure cause cryogenic temperatures that require major insulation and costly handling measures??
"can reach a speed of 68 mph and can cover about 124 miles" doesnt mean simultaneously. Higher speeds and the mileage goes down drastically. If you want to go on a normal long road trip will there be any room in the car after fitting all the tanks needed for such a trip????
Such things limit effective use.