Re: RE Word Hydrogen vs Hybrid

[farna@xxxxxxx]

You'll have to go back to read Bill's entire message. 
1. I understand that the current easiest method of extracting hydrogen is from natural gas. That doesn't mean it won't change. There is a company that sells a kit to convert your car to run on hydrogen gas -- the link was posted here a week or so ago. That company uses solar power to separate hydrogen, but it's a slow process. Larger solar banks and using a combination of solar and household current (house current at night when demand is low) would speed it up. The main point is as industry shift to hydrogen more efficient methods of separation will be discovered, just as the gasoline produced now is better than that produced in the 1920s, and produced cheaper per gallon (adjusted for inflation)

2. I agree -- hybrids ARE a stop gap. They won't do for all of us, but I do think THE MAJORITY of people could use a hybrid at least as a second vehicle. I don't live far from work, but take my car on long trips. It doesn't work for me because my car is my Rambler, and I don't want to convert it to hybrid (though I have thought of building another as a hybrid -- costs keep me from it!). Since we don't want to take the Rambler on EVERY long trip, my wife needs a car suitable for trips also. But we could get my daughter a hybrid. Once they get on the used market that might be a consideration. 

3. Hybrids CAN go on long trips, they just won't deliver better mileage. In fact, they get 1-2 mpg LESS than the same non-hybrid model on long trips (assuming auto trans for the hybrid, usually five speed for non-hybrid best economy model). Considering the transmission (if you have to have an auto) that's not bad. The reason is the hybrid will be running alomst exclusively on the gas engine except for acceleration. It doesn't take that much power to keep a car moving once up to speed, so the smaller engine doesn't affect it that much. What does affect the hybrid is the extra 500-800 pounds of batteries. When you pull up a hill or pass the electric motor will kick in and assist the gasoline engine, though speeds will be a bit less than a full gasoline powered car. 

4. Unless you take long commutes on a daily basis (over 30 miles), the hybrid should at least match a non-hybrid car. More the problem at the moment is justifying the the $5000 or so premium in price. If you're getting no better mileage, you won't save any money in the long run, or saving the environment -- except for the fact that you're helping to bring the cost of a hybrid down for those it does work well for. 

5. I think the article in R&T (or was it C&D?) is biased. Hybrids aren't real performers, and those are performance related works. Looking at hydrogen fuel cell and hydrogen powered vehicles from a performance oriented standpoint is a bit dismal. I guess we'll have to learn to rewind our own electric motors and learn plumbing to increase the flow of chemicals to produce elctric power faster. 

On September 16, 2005 Bill Strobel wrote:

> Fuel cell powered cars have a purpose, but saving
> energy is not one of them.  Cleaning the atmosphere
> and reducing emissions is. 
<SNIP>

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