Don Stauffer in Minneapolis wrote:
> Joe S wrote:
> >
> >
> > Here's the starting point...gasoline/diesel requires petroleum. The
job
> > is to develop a way to power vehicles that does not require
petroluem.
> >
> > Hydrogen fuel cell technology is one. Others are have been and are
being
> > explored.
> >
>
> But the point I am trying to make is that we don't NEED fuel cells to

> burn hydrogen. The existing IC engine can burn it with some simple
> modifications. There are a lot of cars running around burning
natural
> gas. Almost the same mods that enable that can also be used to burn
> hydrogen. Now, hydrogen is a very low octane, so the compression
ratio
> may need to be lowered, or spark severely retarded. But it seems to
me
> that these mods are minor compared to developing affordable fuel
cells
> (they are quite expensive right now).

Compare and contrast hydrogen combustion vs. fuel cell esp with regards
to efficiency and resulting chemicals. I haven't done so, but it sounds
like you have, so can you short-cut it for me?


> Further, whether it is fuel cells or modified IC engines, the REAL
> problem is how to produce hydrogen economically and in an
> environmentally friendly way. THIS is the problem that folks should
be
> spending the R & D dollars on.

Well, contrary to some others who insist that the global vehicle power
industry is ignoring the "fact" that hydrogen fuel production and
distribution is not feasible, I believe that there exists concrete
plans to address this issue, even if I don't personally know what the
plans are.

But I could be wrong....


Joe