Which new car energy technology would you bet your money on ?

Question

Its a terribly exciting time for alternative car energy and many technologies are fighting it out for domination in the future. Some are very experimental while others are already available. The list is not small making the debate quite complicated. Which of the following would you bet your money on? And why? Or perhaps you have one not listed below:

Electric Hybrids & Car batteries
Plug-in Electric Hybrids
All Electric
Bio Fuels
Liquid Hydrogen
Hyrdogen Fuel Cells
Ultra-capacitors
Coal based synthetic or Coal-to-liquid

Answer 1

Plug in all electrics with lithium batteries.

Answer 2

--------
Electric cars. And I will make a case below for why this is the closest to reality, best for the environment, and the most affordable technology. Please read this, because advances in technology have rendered the objections to electric cars moot.
*
First of all, electric cars are available RIGHT NOW. Look at the links on this page, you can buy a freeway-capable EV for as little as $5000:
*
http://www.squidoo.com/cheap-electric-car
*
Also on the above page, you can read about how much cheaper (1 cent per mile) electric is than gasoline (10 to 15 cents/mile.) No other alt-fuel option can beat this operating cost.
*
There are also exciting new-tech electric cars coming out this year, like the Phoenix:
*
http://phoenixmotorcars.com/models/fleet.html
*
This car solves all the problems: it gets up to 250 miles/charge, goes 95mph with 5 passengers plus cargo, charges in only TEN MINUTES, and has a battery pack that lasts over 200,000 miles. Yes, it is a real car, based on the latest battery research.
*
Supercapacitor research is even more exciting, since this technology permits 5-minute recharges, and batteries that never wear out. EESTOR is the company to watch, and they may have a product out as soon as this year.
*
These cars are best for the environment because they emit nothing from the tailpipe. It's true that power plants emit pollution, but the amount of overall pollution is only a fraction of what gasoline cars produce. (Due to the better efficiency of power generation, energy delivery, and utilization by the EV. Plus the fact that much electricity is now made from clean sources.) Charging your EV from solar panels on your garage would make it a true zero-emissions vehicle with an operating cost close to zero as well (since EVs require almost no maintenance.)
*
You can't beat zero operating costs!
----------

Answer 3

Okay, let me go through each one:

Electric Hybrids & Car batteries- Sure, doesn't burn fossil fuels, but your electricity bill will show you otherwise!

Plug-in Electric Hybrids-Same as above...

All Electric-These all electric cars are heavy and mostly battery. Replacing the batteries will run you in the thousands of dollars every other year...too expensive...

Bio Fuels-Very commendable attempt, but there is way more oil than corn in the world...

Liquid Hydrogen-very potent and explosive, but small element, means the fuel leaks VERY easily...you need a rather stout fuel system to contain the H2...

Hyrdogen Fuel Cells-Same thing...also, right now, how many places are there to fill up? And How long will the hydrogen supply last for the 6 billion and counting people on this planet...and how expensive???

Ultra-capacitors-Never heard of this one, but if it is what I'm thinking, I would hate to be in this car if the capacitor were to fail...It would be like licking an electric power line!

Coal based synthetic or Coal-to-liquid --- Way too much emissions output...you'll never hear the end of Al Gore!!!

I have plans and blueprints for a recyclable water powered engine...I just have not enough money to build it...
No emissions...the water inside recycles itself, and water is something that we have in excess of (because this doesn't have to be distilled water...it can be salt water)...if this is built, this would be a good choice...

Answer 4

Ethanol is ready right now; we just need to kick start it. By kick start, I mean more than 650-ish fueling stations around the country and automakers getting a little pressure from uncle sam to produce flex fuel vehicles. It costs like 40$ extra to manufacture a flex fuel car (e85). Market forces will lead the way including switch grass and other innovations once it starts.

Answer 5

I'm putting my money on Hybrids first followed by Hydrogen cells. Bio fuel is interesting as well. Did you hear that ExxonMobil just posted the highest quartely profit in the history of the world?

Answer 6

Corn ethanol. Though it is not the most efficient of fuel alternatives, it is the easiest to implement. People will not switch over to a fuel that will inconvenience them. Since ethanol can be placed in a tank the same as regular fuel, it will allow people to easily integrate it. People do what's easy. Also, invest in meat (like pigs), because corn prices will go up as a result of ethanol and meat prices will follow.

Answer 7

I don't know about betting my money on one, but Nissan said they will release the first Hydrogen fuel cell pickup truck in 2007. Which is what I will buy. Zero emissions is the only way I would feel okay with buying a new rig.

Answer 8

Fuel cells. Renewable resource. Unlimited capacity. 1 gallon of heavy water to run for weeks at a time. No pollution.

Answer 9

Personally, I think rail travel is the way of the future.
Rail travel is powered by electricity.
Electricity is easily produced by the production of Nuclear Energy, which is being implemented more and more throughout the world.
Yes, all those other things that you mention will be implemented on a limited scale and used, but rail travel will prevail. It's inevitable.

Answer 10

Long term?
Hydrogen 1st

Electric 2nd maybe but the batteries are going to have to get a lot better

Short Term?
Hybrids and biofuels

Answer 11

Hydrogen fuel cells