^ I'm not sure what they are measuring. A quick search resulted in some air pollution numbers from 2000, but the US's portion of the world's output was a little below 45%.

Carbon Monoxide: 13.86%
Sulfur Dioxide: 8.41%
Nitrogen Oxide: 6.52%
Non-methane VOC: 9.78%

Maybe they meant 45% of the total released from all vehicles worldwide? That's the best I can think of.

That is very *EIA .
This is why you do not take those instant cold ICE Packs and bang them around and shit.

You crack the water module, and then shake the liquid down onto the ammonium nitrate pellets.

http://home.howstuffworks.com/refrigerator7.htm

This house hold product is an interesting item, much like non dairy coffee creamer. These are both very dangerous, in the hands of idiots.

http://www.jtbaker.com/msds/englishhtml/a6048.htm

Inhalation:
May cause irritation to the respiratory tract; symptoms may include coughing, sore throat, and shortness of breath. At high temperatures, exposure to toxic nitrogen oxides decomposition products can quickly cause acute respiratory problems. Inhalation of large amounts causes systemic acidosis and abnormal hemoglobin.
Ingestion:
Large oral doses of nitrates may cause dizziness, abdominal pain, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, weakness, convulsions, and collapse. Harmful if swallowed. May cause methemoglobinemia resulting in cyanosis.
Skin Contact:
Causes irritation to skin. Symptoms include redness, itching, and pain.
Eye Contact:
Causes irritation, redness, and pain.
Chronic Exposure:
Small repeated oral doses of nitrates may cause weakness, depression, headache, and mental impairment.
Aggravation of Pre-existing Conditions:
No information found.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_energy_resources_and_consumption

One Tenth of New Mexico would only receive 4*10^20 J of sunlight in a year, and the US uses 1.2*10^20 J per year, so he's assuming an efficiency of 30% for the whole process, including photosynthesis, refining and transportation of the final product? I call bullshit. Photosynthesis is typically less than 1% efficient, and even the most efficient known species of algae convert light to biomass at 3-6% efficiency.


Humans use 5*10^20 J per year, and over 80% of that is fossil fuel.

Only 4*10^24 J per year of sunlight reaches the earth (do the math)

Assuming photosynthesis efficiency of 1% and fermentation+distillation+transportation efficiency of 25%, you would have to cover 1/25 of the earth's cross-section with biofuel-growing (that's at least 1/4 of the total arable land, depending on latitude) to cover the world's energy needs. Burning biofuels still produces atmospheric pollution like ozone and nitrogen oxides. Elecrtic cars will pollute the atmosphere less than any biofuel internal-combustion car.

Anything based on photosynthesis is going to be wildly inefficient compared to solar thermal generators.

Hey Mr Scientist, riddle me this.

The Nature of Hydrogen:

* Hydrogen is less flammable than gasoline. The self-ignition temperature of hydrogen is 550 degrees Celsius. Gasoline varies from 228-501 degrees Celsius, depending on the grade. When the Hindenburg burned, it took some time before the hydrogen bags were ignited.
* Hydrogen disperses quickly. Being the lightest element (fifteen times lighter than air), hydrogen rises and spreads out quickly in the atmosphere. So when a leak occurs, the hydrogen gas quickly becomes so sparse that it cannot burn. Even when ignited, hydrogen burns upward, and is quickly consumed, as shown in the Hindenburg picture. By contrast, materials such as gasoline and diesel vapors, as well as natural gas are heavier than air, and will not disperse, remaining a flammable threat for much longer.
* Hydrogen is non-toxic. Hydrogen is a non-toxic, naturally-occurring element in the atmosphere. By comparison, all petroleum fuels are asphyxiants, and are poisonous to humans.
* Hydrogen combustion produces only water. When pure hydrogen is burned in pure oxygen, only pure water is produced. Granted, that’s an ideal scenario, which doesn’t occur outside of laboratories and the space shuttle. In any case, when a hydrogen engine burns, it actually cleans the ambient air, by completing combustion of the unburned hydrocarbons that surround us. Compared with the toxic compounds (carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and hydrogen sulfide) produced by petroleum fuels, the products of hydrogen burning are much safer.
* Hydrogen can be stored safely. Tanks currently in use for storage of compressed hydrogen (similar to compressed natural gas tanks) have survived intact through testing by various means, including being shot with six rounds from a .357 magnum, detonating a stick of dynamite next to them, and subjecting them to fire at 1500 degrees F. Clearly, a typical gasoline tank wouldn’t survive a single one of these tests.