Researchers Turn a Blind Eye to the Real Problems, IMHO

This article says that researchers believe the hydrogen fuel cell autos are the technology of the future and that the hybrid and diesel are only short term. They again turn a blind eye to the two overriding questions; where does the hydrogen come from and the incredibly high manufacturing cost of the fuel cell.

Extreme Hybrid (TM) Touts 500 MPG

I found this new research result on a flywheel /electric hybrid to be fascinating indeed. The DOE funded some similar work in the late 1970's.The real reason this hybrid gets such super mileage is because it takes energy from the power grid at night (lower rates) to store in a flywheel. The regenerative braking is also more efficient, alledgedly, than an electric hybrid. The small IC engine therefore only runs after an initial 40 or 50 miles using the stored energy. I do not know much about the aprticulars of this technology but it could fit that best energy solution with a fuel flexible tank and electric from the grid, preferably during off-peak.

Seeking More Effecient Hydrogen Production

There's alot of work happening to get us closer to the production of Hydrogen at a viable $/BTU, but will it ever be enough? DOE researchers are still plugging away, and seem to be making headway - in theory anyway (Science Daily, Following Nature's Lead, Scientists Seek Better Catalyst).

What continues to keep me vexed is why we cant get the marketplace to force more rapid adoption of energy strategies that can work today - right now. We will never find a silver bullet for sustainable energy, that's why our near term horizon (20 years) should be focused on adopting the best avaiable solutions of today, while we aggressively look for the best solutions for tomorrow.

What do you think?

Alternate Fuel Hybrid YES : Hydrogen Fuel Cells NO

I recently read a very good article in Newsweek by Mr. Zakaria. I sent the following comment to him via email regarding my feelings on our latest efforts in the technology development area regarding our quest for energy independence and environmental responsibility.

Alternate Fuel Hybrids, YES : Hydrogen Fuel Cells, NO
Congratulations on an excellent article. I am a former Department of Energy employee starting my career there as Chief of the Fuel Cell Branch in 1975. Since that time I have been actively involved in research and development both in the government and private industry. My experiences have led me to conclude, and you said it very well, that the technology is nearly here to solve our energy problems into the future, i.e. independence from oil, especially imported oil, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions dramatically at the same time.
As you point out a hybrid with a fuel flexible fuel tank can get us there. I was heartened to see that you did not include hydrogen as an option for the filling station and flexible tank. I would like to add one note and that is that internal combustion engines, especially the diesel, can operate on ethanol and methanol as well as diesel fuel and that diesels have the potential of greater efficiency than spark ignition engines. Also, methanol and ethanol can be made from waste, grain, wood, natural gas, etc. If we can solve the waste problem soon, the electricity could be coming from nuclear power plants as well.
Many are pursuing hydrogen and fuel cells as an option to this scenario. I fear that path is a frustrating and inevitable dead end. The fuel cell technology has made tiny progress in 30 years on the $/kilowatt cost. A fuel cell equivalent of a car engine still costs over ten times that of an internal combustion engine. Fuel cells are clean and efficient but they are too costly and they still require hydrogen. Assuming we can get the public to accept hydrogen as a fuel source at the local filling station, where do we get the hydrogen? Most of it now comes from methane. But, we can convert the methane directly into methanol and use it directly in an internal combustion engine hybrid vehicle now, thus avoiding all the cost and operational safety pitfalls of the hydrogen fuel cell.
My question to you Mr. Zakaria is how can we get this message out to the transportation sector and the public? I want to help.