DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - Inside the world's first production hydrogen-powered car

**Pharmaciest2007** · 09-16-2010, 09:06 PM

The point is hydrogen cars don't address oil and coal because you still currently need to use that to make the hydrogen by supplying the energy. Hydrogen isn't the energy source in of itself. Hydrogen fuel cells are more akin to a battery.

I wouldn't agree with that at all. There is always a possibility someone will design a better mousetrap. It just may be easier and more efficient to go a different direction, but I never rule out innovation from finding new solutions.

There was a report on NPR a few years back about the technology the gas internal combustion engine reaching it's zenith in terms of cleanliness. Yes, possibly new technology will come along, but the same fortune could be told for hydrogen.

Regarding the source of energy for separating water into hydrogen & oxygen there are two points.

1. Hydrogen is a more efficient source of energy so some inefficiency in production can be offset in use. Also, if we consider production then we need numbers on gasoline production.

2. Since an electric engine is more efficient than an internal combustion engine overall less energy is used.

So comparing a tank of hydrogen to a tank of gas is apples and oranges.

Then the question of safety. Properly contained hydrogen is SAFER than gasoline. The normal hydrogen tank used in a car can be shot with a gun without an explosion.

If oil is readily available in the future without interruption, and politics in the Middle East, S. American, and Asia remain unchanged, and economic conditions go back to what we experienced growing up. Then oil shall always be king. However, the question of hydrogen as a source of energy will not be determined by it's pluses and minuses. It will be determined by unknown unknowns. If Iran closes the Gulf of Hormuz and China backs Iran... If Russia backs Hugo Chavez... History is an inconsistent ingredient to judge future stability.

09-16-2010, 09:06 PM	#18
Pharmaciest2007 Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 407 Senior Member	The point is hydrogen cars don't address oil and coal because you still currently need to use that to make the hydrogen by supplying the energy. Hydrogen isn't the energy source in of itself. Hydrogen fuel cells are more akin to a battery. I wouldn't agree with that at all. There is always a possibility someone will design a better mousetrap. It just may be easier and more efficient to go a different direction, but I never rule out innovation from finding new solutions. There was a report on NPR a few years back about the technology the gas internal combustion engine reaching it's zenith in terms of cleanliness. Yes, possibly new technology will come along, but the same fortune could be told for hydrogen. Regarding the source of energy for separating water into hydrogen & oxygen there are two points. 1. Hydrogen is a more efficient source of energy so some inefficiency in production can be offset in use. Also, if we consider production then we need numbers on gasoline production. 2. Since an electric engine is more efficient than an internal combustion engine overall less energy is used. So comparing a tank of hydrogen to a tank of gas is apples and oranges. Then the question of safety. Properly contained hydrogen is SAFER than gasoline. The normal hydrogen tank used in a car can be shot with a gun without an explosion. If oil is readily available in the future without interruption, and politics in the Middle East, S. American, and Asia remain unchanged, and economic conditions go back to what we experienced growing up. Then oil shall always be king. However, the question of hydrogen as a source of energy will not be determined by it's pluses and minuses. It will be determined by unknown unknowns. If Iran closes the Gulf of Hormuz and China backs Iran... If Russia backs Hugo Chavez... History is an inconsistent ingredient to judge future stability.
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