Hydrogen -- it is about time

[Oldman]

This is exciting news.





Let's hope that within a few years this will be through out the country.
Olds

[Buck36]

It would be exciting to see some shifts. There has to be other profitable ways to build an engine.


The algae fuel is another fascinating method.

http://www.technologyreview.com/Biztech/20319/?a=f

[iceman]

Great reading you guys. Thanks for the posts.

[Oldman]

Well one thing is for sure... no method will suceed without the voice of the people.  We the people need to start making demands on our country's leaders. 

I've been pro-hydrogen since the testing of the late 1970s.  It starts out from water and ends up as water vapor. IMO it does not get any better than that.
Olds

[Arcs_n_Sparks]

It starts out from water and ends up as water vapor. IMO it does not get any better than that.

Depends upon how you make it. Today, almost all hydrogen is made by steam reforming natural gas. If you start with water, then that means you are using electrolysis. The question then is: what made the electricity? If using nuclear, you are coming out ahead. If coal, you are coming out behind.

Arcin' & Sparkin'

[Smokin Soon]

I am a part of Ford Motor Company's test on a hydrogen Econoline Shuttle test program. Results have been less than steller. They sort of wish they could get there quarter mil back. Fueling stations cost so much nobody wants to play. Time will tell. Read on...

http://www.arb.ca.gov/newsrel/nr021108.htm

[Carter]

I just saw an interesting article today in one of Canada's National Papers, The National Post, on the Calgary Stampede.  This is a great event in Calgary and it has been for much longer than I've been around.  For Americans who don't know, Calgary is not just the home of the Stampede.  It's also the capital of the Oil Patch in North America.  The theme of the article was how big the parties have become in Calgary over the last number of years.  What started out as a backyard bash, a BBQ & a bucketfull of beers has become bigger and bigger as the president of the company (a fairly well known Oil company in Canada) moved into bigger and bigger homes with more and more politicians showing up to the party to shake hands and do their thing.  And the number of parties have grown.  It's a competition as to who can have the biggest and best party.  Where's the bash that you want to be seen at if you're part of the who's who of the oil patch or wanting to establish yourself as a new member?  There's also a much larger charitable theme to the events (not that there's anything wrong with this, it's just a sign that there's lots of money freely flowing in all directions).

I realize that it's hard to be optimistic with the way things are going right now, but the reality is, the price of gasoline and any petroleum based product is off the charts.  I keep reading that it's because of demand.  China, India, Russia, Brazil, other emerging markets, etc.  Where was this so called demand a year or two ago?  And if Americans, Canadians, and the wealthy European countries can't afford to fill up their tanks anymore, how on earth are people form emerging economies going to be able to do it.

I think that if we look back at history, that when the party gets too big, the party is almost over.

We need only to look at the state of the American and European banking sector to see what happens to those who stay at the party too late or arrive late and try to catch up since they've missed the best part.

I could be totally wrong on this of course.  Anyone who has bet against oil in the last year has been crushed.

I just think we live in interesting times.

Carter

[Arcs_n_Sparks]

"The Color of Oil" is an interesting book and explains a lot....

Arcs_n_Sparks

[Oldman]

If using nuclear, you are coming out ahead. If coal, you are coming out behind.

I agree, and I understand that nuclear in not the perfect answer, but it's a place to start.

[Arcs_n_Sparks]

It would be a great place to start. If we were a little wiser in California, we'd have "triple play" reactors: 1) electricity, 2) hydrogen production, 3) desalination. We already have big issues with water in the State and our neighbors. As Mark Twain said: "Whiskey is for sippin' and water is for fighting." Been following the first piece of advice for awhile.   :D

[iceman]

It would be a great place to start. If we were a little wiser in California, we'd have "triple play" reactors: 1) electricity, 2) hydrogen production, 3) desalination. We already have big issues with water in the State and our neighbors. As Mark Twain said: "Whiskey is for sippin' and water is for fighting." Been following the first piece of advice for awhile.   :D

Agreed Arcs. I always thought the water was to grow the grain for sip'n whiskey. "At a distance of course".  :D ;D

[Carter]

Hey Arcs,

I just got The Colour of Oil.  So far it's fascinating.

Thanks for the tip.

Carter