LOL @ BillOreilly's comment. One of the best things about electric vehicles is that they don't have exhaust.

Also, that looks super sweet. I think I'm going to attempt it.

>> ^GreatBird:

To me, battery electric vehicles are the best solution for the near term. The technology is fairly advanced. Lithium ion batteries are becoming more available and are cleaner and recyclable. We already have a great electricity distribution infrastructure right to everyones home for charging. As for the energy production side we would then be able to focus on moving away from coal and natural gas to wind, solar, geothermal, wave, etc.


The problem with battery powered vehicles that recharge via connection in our home, is the amount of electricity this would draw daily. That kind of energy doesn't come for free and I don't think we have the means intact to support such an infrastructure.

A few problems with hydrogen fuel cell technology:

1. Hydrogen production.
From what I understand, hydrogen is not found in any quantity on Earth, so they need to make it from water. This uses lots of energy and with our current energy production being mostly hydrocarbon we are just relocating the emissions from the tailpipe to the smokestack. It is still more efficient then internal cumbustion though.

2. Hydrogen distrobution.
We currently have a huge infrastructure of oil/gasoline storage and distribution. This would all have to be replaced though staged upgrades to hydrogen distribution. Also, isn't hydrogen very flammable?

3. Hydrogen car technology
Current technology is so behind other alternative forms of energy that it will take many years for it to be a suitable replacement to fossil fuel technology.

To me, battery electric vehicles are the best solution for the near term. The technology is fairly advanced. Lithium ion batteries are becoming more available and are cleaner and recyclable. We already have a great electricity distribution infrastructure right to everyones home for charging. As for the energy production side we would then be able to focus on moving away from coal and natural gas to wind, solar, geothermal, wave, etc.

In reply to this comment by GreatBird:
Ok, thats not the worst looking alternative fuel car. Isn't the problem with hydrogen powered cars that we don't have access to reserves of pure hydrogen on Earth. We have to extract it from forms of hydrocarbons like natural gas which uses energy and has byproducts carbon monoxide, so the efficiency and cleanliness isn't really that good.

Yes, Hydrogen cars are not the best option because of the reasons you stated. Electric cars would be my primary choice so long as it had a secondary method as a backup in case it would be impossible to recharge the vehicle. I just posted this because it seems that many of the vehicle manufacturers are pushing for Hydrogen vehicles as a potential solution. Just about every major manufacturer has come up with similar Hydrogen cars for the year 2008.

There is a car manufacturer in Canada that is making some nice Electric cars and the EV1 was an outstanding electric vehicle. They were put under pressure by the petro and parts sales divisions to eliminate their electric vehicle line which is unfortunate and just goes to show how much power the petrolium industry has over us.

GM just came out with an electric hybrid that seems very interesting and it will still allow them to charge us for fuel and replacement parts which seems to be their main concern.

http://www.videosift.com/video/GM-Electric-Concept-Car-Unveiled-at-2007-Detroit-Auto-Show
http://www.videosift.com/video/Electric-Car-The-Chevy-Volt

"Heh. nope. you'll be putting $100 in electricity in your car to go 200 miles."

From Wikipedia :
On the EPA highway cycle, the Roadster's efficiency is "135 mpg equivalent, per the conversion rate used by the EPA"[2] which converts to 133 Wh/km (4.66 mi/kWh) battery-to-wheel or 155 Wh/km (4.00 mi/kWh) station-to-wheel.

Monetary cost offers another way to find an equivalent fuel efficiency. Tesla Motors reports an energy cost of approximately $0.01/mile using PG&E's E-9 night-time incentive charging, or about $0.03/mile using the retail price of $0.12/kWh. Comparison with a gasoline price of $3.00/gallon, for instance, results in an equivalent of 300 mpg (0.78 l/100 km) using E-9 or 100 mpg (2.35 l/100 km) using retail pricing. For more cost comparison details, please refer to the battery electric vehicle article.


Translation : You're talking out of your ass.