Comments on: Future Fuels for Automobiles http://greenbuildingelements.com/2007/07/02/future-fuels-for-automobiles/ Reporting on Sustainably Built Environments from Bricks to Cities Tue, 22 May 2012 17:58:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Philip Proefrock http://greenbuildingelements.com/2007/07/02/future-fuels-for-automobiles/comment-page-1/#comment-80 Philip Proefrock Mon, 09 Jul 2007 21:04:38 +0000 http://philipproefrock.greenoptions.com/2007/07/02/future-fuels-for-automobiles/#comment-80 <p>Internal combustion fuels (be they biodiesel or ethanol in some form or dinosaur juice or something else) are a demonstrably workable way to move around.  More to the point, there's existing infrastructure and businesses connected to it, so I don't think that all IC is going to go away for a long time.  </p><p>Capacitors are not really a storage device.  That was another topic of conversation at dinner, and Dr. Smyth (who knows this stuff backwards and forwards) said that capacitors have their place in power systems, but they aren't a suitable substitute for batteries.</p><p>Electrical power needs to become an increasing part of the mix, and in the long term, it may come to replace all IC, but there's a lot to get through before we are to that point. </p> Internal combustion fuels (be they biodiesel or ethanol in some form or dinosaur juice or something else) are a demonstrably workable way to move around.  More to the point, there's existing infrastructure and businesses connected to it, so I don't think that all IC is going to go away for a long time. 

Capacitors are not really a storage device.  That was another topic of conversation at dinner, and Dr. Smyth (who knows this stuff backwards and forwards) said that capacitors have their place in power systems, but they aren't a suitable substitute for batteries.

Electrical power needs to become an increasing part of the mix, and in the long term, it may come to replace all IC, but there's a lot to get through before we are to that point. 

]]> By: Philip Proefrock http://greenbuildingelements.com/2007/07/02/future-fuels-for-automobiles/comment-page-1/#comment-97568 Philip Proefrock Mon, 09 Jul 2007 21:04:00 +0000 http://philipproefrock.greenoptions.com/2007/07/02/future-fuels-for-automobiles/#comment-97568 Internal combustion fuels (be they biodiesel or ethanol in some form or dinosaur juice or something else) are a demonstrably workable way to move around.  More to the point, there's existing infrastructure and businesses connected to it, so I don't think that all IC is going to go away for a long time.  Capacitors are not really a storage device.  That was another topic of conversation at dinner, and Dr. Smyth (who knows this stuff backwards and forwards) said that capacitors have their place in power systems, but they aren't a suitable substitute for batteries.Electrical power needs to become an increasing part of the mix, and in the long term, it may come to replace all IC, but there's a lot to get through before we are to that point.  Internal combustion fuels (be they biodiesel or ethanol in some form or dinosaur juice or something else) are a demonstrably workable way to move around.  More to the point, there's existing infrastructure and businesses connected to it, so I don't think that all IC is going to go away for a long time.  Capacitors are not really a storage device.  That was another topic of conversation at dinner, and Dr. Smyth (who knows this stuff backwards and forwards) said that capacitors have their place in power systems, but they aren't a suitable substitute for batteries.Electrical power needs to become an increasing part of the mix, and in the long term, it may come to replace all IC, but there's a lot to get through before we are to that point. 

]]> By: Ardose http://greenbuildingelements.com/2007/07/02/future-fuels-for-automobiles/comment-page-1/#comment-79 Ardose Mon, 02 Jul 2007 17:25:40 +0000 http://philipproefrock.greenoptions.com/2007/07/02/future-fuels-for-automobiles/#comment-79 I believe that cars in future will be electrical and internal combustion powered vehicles will be relegated to third world countries. Because of our densely populated cities and our failure to reach zero population growth, electrically powered vehicles will be the only way to allow individuals to own a personal conveyance. Americans may support mass transit. But, they won't give up their cars and there is no other practical means to prevent pollution. Electricity can be made cleanly. Sure, fuel cells could be used in some situations like trucks and trains. But there are losses involved with conversion and hydrocarbon supplies are not limitless. Hydrogen may be OK for fleets and delivery vehicles. But, how can it be safely and efficiently distributed across the country for individual use and how much energy will be lost to make it? Plus, we would need a whole new fuel infrastructure. We already have a system to distribute electricity. The Lithium-Ion battery is one possibility for energy storage in electrical vehicles. But, it's not the only one. There are other technologies in the works such as capacitors and even flywheel devices. Your car may even be powered by compressed air.(from electrically powered compressors) Hydrocarbons and internal combustion engines will never be clean enough to avoid becoming relics of the past just like coal fired steam engines. We are just beginning to learn how to live as part of the environment without destroying it. We still have a long ways to go. I believe that cars in future will be electrical and internal combustion powered vehicles will be relegated to third world countries. Because of our densely populated cities and our failure to reach zero population growth, electrically powered vehicles will be the only way to allow individuals to own a personal conveyance. Americans may support mass transit. But, they won’t give up their cars and there is no other practical means to prevent pollution. Electricity can be made cleanly.

Sure, fuel cells could be used in some situations like trucks and trains. But there are losses involved with conversion and hydrocarbon supplies are not limitless. Hydrogen may be OK for fleets and delivery vehicles. But, how can it be safely and efficiently distributed across the country for individual use and how much energy will be lost to make it? Plus, we would need a whole new fuel infrastructure. We already have a system to distribute electricity.

The Lithium-Ion battery is one possibility for energy storage in electrical vehicles. But, it’s not the only one. There are other technologies in the works such as capacitors and even flywheel devices. Your car may even be powered by compressed air.(from electrically powered compressors) Hydrocarbons and internal combustion engines will never be clean enough to avoid becoming relics of the past just like coal fired steam engines.

We are just beginning to learn how to live as part of the environment without destroying it. We still have a long ways to go.

]]> By: Ardose http://greenbuildingelements.com/2007/07/02/future-fuels-for-automobiles/comment-page-1/#comment-97567 Ardose Mon, 02 Jul 2007 17:25:00 +0000 http://philipproefrock.greenoptions.com/2007/07/02/future-fuels-for-automobiles/#comment-97567 I believe that cars in future will be electrical and internal combustion powered vehicles will be relegated to third world countries. Because of our densely populated cities and our failure to reach zero population growth, electrically powered vehicles will be the only way to allow individuals to own a personal conveyance. Americans may support mass transit. But, they won't give up their cars and there is no other practical means to prevent pollution. Electricity can be made cleanly. Sure, fuel cells could be used in some situations like trucks and trains. But there are losses involved with conversion and hydrocarbon supplies are not limitless. Hydrogen may be OK for fleets and delivery vehicles. But, how can it be safely and efficiently distributed across the country for individual use and how much energy will be lost to make it? Plus, we would need a whole new fuel infrastructure. We already have a system to distribute electricity. The Lithium-Ion battery is one possibility for energy storage in electrical vehicles. But, it's not the only one. There are other technologies in the works such as capacitors and even flywheel devices. Your car may even be powered by compressed air.(from electrically powered compressors) Hydrocarbons and internal combustion engines will never be clean enough to avoid becoming relics of the past just like coal fired steam engines. We are just beginning to learn how to live as part of the environment without destroying it. We still have a long ways to go. I believe that cars in future will be electrical and internal combustion powered vehicles will be relegated to third world countries. Because of our densely populated cities and our failure to reach zero population growth, electrically powered vehicles will be the only way to allow individuals to own a personal conveyance. Americans may support mass transit. But, they won’t give up their cars and there is no other practical means to prevent pollution. Electricity can be made cleanly.

Sure, fuel cells could be used in some situations like trucks and trains. But there are losses involved with conversion and hydrocarbon supplies are not limitless. Hydrogen may be OK for fleets and delivery vehicles. But, how can it be safely and efficiently distributed across the country for individual use and how much energy will be lost to make it? Plus, we would need a whole new fuel infrastructure. We already have a system to distribute electricity.

The Lithium-Ion battery is one possibility for energy storage in electrical vehicles. But, it’s not the only one. There are other technologies in the works such as capacitors and even flywheel devices. Your car may even be powered by compressed air.(from electrically powered compressors) Hydrocarbons and internal combustion engines will never be clean enough to avoid becoming relics of the past just like coal fired steam engines.

We are just beginning to learn how to live as part of the environment without destroying it. We still have a long ways to go.

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