Breakthrough promises $1.50 per gallon synthetic gasoline with no carbon emissions

[Betonov]

http://www.gizmag.com/breakthrough-p...issions/17687/

It says that a british company developed a hydrogen based fuel, that's easily transportable and distributable as gasoline, has no carbon emitions and can be used in any of today's engines, no modificaton required.
But as I understand it it will be used as a gasoline additive at first, lowering the cost drasticly.
Hope this is true

[ETR3(SS)]

$20 says the oil companies are trying to buy the rights to this and then will lock the formula in some deep dark cellar so they can continue to make billions off of oil.

[Kaye T. Bai]

Originally Posted by ETR3(SS)

$20 says the oil companies are trying to buy the rights to this and then will lock the formula in some deep dark cellar so they can continue to make billions off of oil.

Nonsense, mate. They'll use it and charge a jizzload of cash for it. They know how to make money.

[Betonov]

Originally Posted by ETR3(SS)

$20 says the oil companies are trying to buy the rights to this and then will lock the formula in some deep dark cellar so they can continue to make billions off of oil.

20$ ????

I'll bet my three girlfriends that this will happen

[Respenus]

Ah, this would be a wonderful dream, were it not for two major problems. The first one is linked to the substitute fuel. Hydrogen based you say? Now, let us see how much energy is spent separating hydrogen from water and how much do we gain by burning it. Even in the even of using massive solar energy in the desert for example (DESERTEC for fuel production), it would still be a question of secured supply to other parts of the world. We already have hydrogen cars, it's hydrogen production which is problematic.

Secondly, linked to the question of oil, it is used practically in every single item that we use every single day. From ensuring that our food grows rich and abundant, to the tyres we use to drive to work. While ensuring that the limited oil supply could last longer by giving us an alternative to fuel use, we would still need to find alternatives to existing oil-based products. Now considering the law of accelerating returns, this is increasingly possible even in our lifetimes, but still doesn't solve the question of pollution or CO2 emissions. Transport is an important part, but can you use this new fuel to power our homes and industry? Again, I return to the question of returned energy value.

[Armistead]

Big oil would never let it happen if true.

[nikimcbee]

I'll believe it when I see it at the pump.

[Gargamel]

Originally Posted by Armistead

Big oil would never let it happen if true.

That's what it all boils down to.

The rich want to keep getting richer, and they have to means to prevent competition. The Oil industry would have to stop production, or worse yet, change their ways. The Auto industry would have to retool. Not to mention the total lack of infrastructure.

But then that comes down to a catch 22. H2 cars are easy to make, and fairly cheap (in comparison to a internal combustion engine). There just aren't enough being built to make the production costs low enough.

But why aren't there enough being built?

Because there aren't enough buyers. Why not?

There is no infrastructure in their local area to support a H2 car. Why not?

because there aren't enough H2 cars in an area to make it economic to retool the gas stations. Why not?

Etc, Etc.

No company would take the risk of the outlay of a major rollout like this. To make the cars cheap enough, the fuel available enough, etc to make the average person want to buy one... No company is goign to take the risk.

[ETR3(SS)]

Originally Posted by Betonov

20$ ????

I'll bet my three girlfriends that this will happen

Three girlfriends?! I would be impressed by your prowess, but I must call into question the quality of these three if you are willing to gamble them away so easily.

[Betonov]

Originally Posted by ETR3(SS)

Three girlfriends?! I would be impressed by your prowess, but I must call into question the quality of these three if you are willing to gamble them away so easily.

two are inflatable and one is in a certain street in Amsterdam

and the bet is in soooo much in my favor, that I'd be ready to bet my mother

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Betonov

http://www.gizmag.com/breakthrough-p...issions/17687/

It says that a british company developed a hydrogen based fuel, that's easily transportable and distributable as gasoline, has no carbon emitions and can be used in any of today's engines, no modificaton required.
But as I understand it it will be used as a gasoline additive at first, lowering the cost drasticly.
Hope this is true

The British government will simply pass legislation to tax it!!

[Kaye T. Bai]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

The British government will simply pass legislation to tax it!!

And Britons will start partying in the streets like its 1990.

[AVGWarhawk]

If it sounds to good to be true...it probably is not that good. Gizmag?

[Aramike]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

If it sounds to good to be true...it probably is not that good. Gizmag?

Heh, I thought Gizmag was an alternative spelling to Dowly's magazine collection.