Slightly off topic H2

[Eric Storhok <alfa@domain.elided>]

Uh, before you get excited about hydrogen power, ask where it will come 
from in volumes sufficient to power the world.

Water?  Takes more energy to split it than you get out of it, and where is 
the energy to split it?
Various forms of alternate electricity (hydro, thermal, air....)- not 
enough supply to generate the H2 requirements of the world.

Right now, the best source is natural gas, but that generates CO2, which 
puts us right back were we started.

Does anyone know if you can patent ideas?....

One better idea is a gasoline powered fuel cell- as soon as you get to 25% 
average efficiency, you are better than an IC engine (on an average 
drive).  Theoretically possible, heck yes!

Personally, I still don't see a realistic threat to the gasoline powered IC 
engine.  Gas has the highest specific energy, its easy to make, we have 
control of its serious pollution problems.   Most importantly, for an equal 
of a 100hp 4 cyl cheap motor, it costs somewhere between 20-50 TIMES as 
much.  Wanna spend $50k on an Escort.

Eric Storhok
Ann Arbor, MI


AROC Detroit Homepage:  http://www-personal.umich.edu/~alfa/index.htm
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