I am just curious. I know that different fuels like hydrogen may be used for cars in the future. Does everyone agree on that change? If not, explain why.
2007-02-09 13:22:28 · 6 answers · asked by caltam84 3 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
I'm not sure but I have heard that hydrogen also has its down side. The sure way to go is electric. That does not produce any kind of harmful gas and it can help save this world. We are in big trouble if something is not done soon. Any way look up the side affects of using hydrogen fuel. Hope that helped.
2007-02-09 13:32:04 · answer #1 · answered by mike 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps different fuels, but I don't think hydrogen is the right answer.
It's extremely explosive, it leaks from every possible container or tank that is cost-effective to use, it requires a lot of energy to produce and compress, and it does not have a high energy content. (Carbon-based fuels have a very high energy density per unit of weight.)
In my opinion, the best fuels for urban use are electricity, based on an efficient fuel-cell, or compressed natural gas cars. A diesel-hybrid is more efficient for medium to long distance driving.
There are research reports which examine the economics of hydrogen as an automotive fuel, and they conclude it is not a practical motor fuel.
2007-02-09 13:37:47 · answer #2 · answered by Tom-SJ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Alternate combustion fuels like ethanol and hydrogen will only make sense when they can be produced and sold more cheaply than gasoline, which isn't likely to happen any time in the near future. It takes energy to make them, and by most comparisons, it takes more energy to produce them than they yield.
Electric may make some sense if we go to nuclear, but of course that has it's own drawbacks.
The most efficient and cost-effective solution at this point is to mandate higher fuel-efficiencies for all vehicles and energy-consuming devices, heavily taxing any that don't meet the requirements.
2007-02-09 13:35:31 · answer #3 · answered by mattzcoz 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree. No one knows for sure how much crude oil is left underground, and when it's gone it's gone. Ethanol is a temproary solution that's renewable and new technology is making it cheaper to produce.
What I can't understand is why the automakers don't produce fuel efficient ethanol capable vehicles. Most flex fuel vehicles are either v8's or v6's in heavy vehicles.
I would think there would be a market for small ethanol powered cars in the mid 30mpg range.
2007-02-10 05:19:03 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sure, I am all for alternative fuels. I don't know that I would feel all that safe with a tank of hydrogen in my car, though. There is a guy who created a car that runs on oil (like canola oil) and he gets used oil from a chinese food restaurant fryer to fill up his tank. He said the only problem is when the car runs, it smells like egg rolls. They actually sell the kit to convert your car into one that runs on oil. It runs about $1000 for the kit, plus installation.
Okay--I found the info. It's in an issue of Us News (Dec. 25)
The guy's name is Kevin Natapow. And the site for more info/ordering is: Greasecar.com and Goldenfuelsystems.com
2007-02-09 13:32:13 · answer #5 · answered by KS 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
maybe not with hydrogen but yes with an alternative fuel we need to stop depencey on foreign countries
2007-02-09 13:32:59 · answer #6 · answered by oldmanarnie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋