Comments on: E-Flex Opel Appears to Have a Name: Opel Flextreme

By: TEI Thessaloniki

TEI Thessaloniki — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 13:58:45 +0000

Very unusual name

By: cell jammer

cell jammer — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 02:56:42 +0000

gret blog…where did you get your template?

By: home made wind generators

home made wind generators — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 05:55:18 +0000

Very useful post! will definitely visit soon,,

By: Alphonse SchroederD

Alphonse SchroederD — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 20:13:51 +0000

As a Newbie, I am always searching online for articles that can help me. Thank you

By: Dave G

Dave G — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 14:29:16 +0000

Peter – thanks for the great presentation.
http://www.efcf.com/e/reports/E17.pdf
Pages 22 – 32 really drive home the points we’ve been making.

Lyle – Yes, I agree. Big Oil is definately pushing fuel cells, and politicians and auto companies seem to be following suit. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if Big Oil started using every means at their disposal to kill the Volt and other PHEVs.

This is why I’m trying to get people used to the concept of embracing coal, at least in the near term. A PHEV running on electricity made from coal has 1/3 the carbon footprint of a regular car,
http://www.evworld.com/electrichybrid.cfm
When you look at the data, coal isn’t that bad. If PHEVs go mainstream, the coal industry would make a lot of money, so I’m pretty sure the coal lobby would be willing to back PHEVs.

If two powerful lobbies (oil & coal) are pushing opposite ways, then politicians and car companies won’t be so decisive, and PHEVs will have a chance. Once PHEVs go mainstream, then there will be much more interest in renewables, and the economics and land use issues of renewables will improve over time.

I guess what I’m saying is that the fastest way from point A to point B may not be a straight line, especially if you’ve got a big guy standing in the way. So coal may be part of the path that gets us there.

By: Lyle

Lyle — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 12:51:55 +0000

Whether we like it or not Big Oil and Big Auto are pushing hydrogen. For one thing it seems the idea of a substance moving around the country (and globe) and being put into vehicles at vending locations is already the widely accepted norm and infrastructure, and Big Oil can likely continue to make revenue in that manner.

There are certainly good arguments why hydrogen is illogical for energy.

It is true though that it allows “storage” so that when supply outweighs demand you can put in “in the bank” and use it later (when there is no wind and sun).

I am open to all possibilities, but when you see firsthand what GM and others are doing with fuel cells/fool sells, you get the idea the plans have already been made.

By: omegaman66

omegaman66 — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 06:00:03 +0000

Hydrogen might be useful for storing energy one day for later release when demand is up but it will be a long long time before fuel cells make it into any car you and I will drive.

By: Steven B

Steven B — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 02:02:15 +0000

What am I missing? A range-extending EV is an excellent design because of its weight management (optimizing electric storage by limiting battery size) and flexibility (having the range-extender). That’s perferct under for most people. But the real question I have, when going on a long trip, why not use mass transit? And, no, I don’t mean a Greyhound bus. I mean a plane, train, or ship. Wouldn’t that be ideal: to have a car for normal driving, and use alternative transport for distance travel?

By: Peter

Peter — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 01:20:20 +0000

Dave, thanks for the link. Good info.

Here is a link to a power point presentation which really trashes hydrogen and gives the numbers to prove it. It’s by Ulf Bossel, a respected member of the European Fuel Cell Forum.

http://www.efcf.com/e/reports/E17.pdf

By: Dave G

Dave G — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 22:26:00 +0000

By the way, Tesla motors also compared electric and hydrogen cars here:
http://www.teslamotors.com/display_data/twentyfirstcenturycar.pdf

The result: the Honda FCX fuel cell car was much worse than the Toyota Prius in every way (efficiency, cost, carbon footprint, etc.), while an electric car (or a PHEV in electric mode) is way better than the Prius in every way.

So, according to this report, Telsa thinks hydrogen sucks as well.