I think this forum has benefited greatly thus far from being largely apolitical. Though I may share your sentiments, I'm also aware that there are folks from both sides of the aisle here - just because some hybrid owners are environmentally conscious doesn't automatically make them liberal. Part of what makes GreenHybrid.com so great is our topical focus on the subject matter. We have one of the friendliest, I think, discussion groups on the web. Maybe this type of political baiting would be better suited to another forum?

 

Well before I joined www.greenhybrid.com, I've asserted the absence of a serious energy plan is not partisan politics, but the wishes of the overwhelming majority of the American public. Until gas prices are painful for an extended period of time, this will not change. Sadly a lot of damage will be done in a variety of ways. Unfortunately, politics has been part of the problem - not the solution.

The hard truth is most Americans of both parties think cheap gas will exist for years to come - denial.

 

You're right, of course. I do get too political sometimes. I don't mean to offend It's just been frustrating seeing this slow-moving train wreck that passes for an "energy policy", ha ha.

 

A hearty nonpartisan amen.

 

Please don't call him a cowboy, as a cowboy is an independent person not swayed by anyone else and he is FAR from that! Also what energy policy?..lolKevin

 

You're right. I really hadn't thought about the topic that much, but hydrogen just isn't going to cut it.

I had, somewhere in my mind, that in a decade or so, when it came time to replace my FEH, that I would go with a FCV, which would probably developed by that point. Now, I doubt that will ever happen.

 

Maybe someday in the very far off future we will have nuclear powered cars like the reactors that power deep space probes. A chunk of fissionable material in a highly protected containment cell that produces heat that powers a thermocouple to produce electricity. Sounds expensive and dangerous but who knows, maybe it just might work.

Or as mr. bush would say "neeuclear"....

 

Talk about not cutting it. How about the following which won't be available even for our grandchildren - if ever!

1) Cold fusion power. We aren't even sure if cold fusion is possible, much less controlable. But so far, it has not been definitively shown to be impossible. Even if it is possible, however, there are major scientific breakthroughs necessary (not to mention technological ones) before any such power source is ready for prime time.

2) Capturing ambient energy. This is also a long way down the road - if it ever comes about. The space around us is chock-full of various kinds of energy. The problem is to capture it in some kind of form that is usable (or in a form which can be converted to usability).

We can do this today. Voltaic (solar) cells are an example. But to make this power source viable, we would need to increase the efficiency of energy collection manyfold and also increase the spectrum of energy which can be collected.

This thus also has major scientific and technological hurdles. I doubt that we will see any form of "energy collectors" powering our vehicles (or homes, farms, industy, etc.) in the near future. But a few generations down the road . . . ?

But if this technology does develop, there is "free" energy for the taking - with a minimal environmental impact when collected and used.

 

I've seen a device demonstrated that collected ambient energy to do work. It was basically a heat pump with large sets of coils outside that absorb heat, they feel mildly cool to the touch. The fluid is pumped into a heat collector that runs a heat engine, in turn generating electrical power and pumping water. It wasn't exactly something you could fit in a car, but it would work at home or in large industrial areas, especially if they produce waste heat. "Free" energy is not really out of reach, but there are barriers to getting it into a useable form.