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Motown_Johnny

(22,308 posts)

16. Did you see any fuel cell vehicles?

Reply to nadinbrzezinski (Original post)

Fri Dec 30, 2011, 02:16 AM

Dec 2011

A few years ago it was going to be the new big thing. At last year's Detroit Auto Show I made a point of looking for them and could only find one, and it was an import (Mercedes maybe).

I think it is pretty clear now, in the short term at least, that fully electric and Volt style hybrids are the way the technology is going.

I honestly don't think any alternative fuel source vehicles have a chance at competing for years to come.

Although, there was a recent breakthrough in fuel cells, it is to new to be in any vehicles for a while.

http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2008/fuel-cell-0516.html

^snip^

MIT engineers have improved the power output of one type of fuel cell by more than 50 percent through technology that could help these environmentally friendly energy storage devices find a much broader market, particularly in portable electronics.

The new material key to the work is also considerably less expensive than its conventional industrial counterpart, among other advantages.

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Ah how far technology advances... [View all] nadinbrzezinski Dec 2011 OP

Wish we could say the same about our culture. greyl Dec 2011 #1

Oh fully agree... nadinbrzezinski Dec 2011 #2

wise man. this has been a lament of my misbegotten life. marasinghe Dec 2011 #14

The people are advancing just fine-- the institutions & political parties haven't caught up. nt Warren DeMontague Dec 2011 #24

Apple Hydrogen Fuel Cell Battery Plans Revealed` onehandle Dec 2011 #3

When am I getting my f--kin watch-phone? Hassin Bin Sober Dec 2011 #4

Eminently, I'd say. nt onehandle Dec 2011 #8

You can buy one right now tkmorris Dec 2011 #21

I am never disappointed as to what one can learn here nadinbrzezinski Dec 2011 #22

Well it's about time! Hassin Bin Sober Dec 2011 #23

I'll see your "watch-phone" and raise you SomethingFishy Dec 2011 #42

Nothing quite this revolutionary at the show nadinbrzezinski Dec 2011 #7

The question is, where do you get the hydrogen? Motown_Johnny Dec 2011 #18

My flying car would beg to differ. Muskypundit Dec 2011 #5

Is there any practical way to charge these cars without hooking them up to a power station? cowcommander Dec 2011 #6

Not yet, but I am sure somebody is working on it nadinbrzezinski Dec 2011 #9

Sure... Bob Wallace Dec 2011 #20

"The Singularity." Fire Walk With Me Dec 2011 #10

With the ammount of computer controls nadinbrzezinski Dec 2011 #13

"the Rapture for nerds" MisterP Dec 2011 #15

Not quite nadinbrzezinski Dec 2011 #33

the world doesn't end after the Rapture, either--canonically, it's replaced with a New Earth and a MisterP Dec 2011 #39

So I am baffled by your use of the term nadinbrzezinski Dec 2011 #41

Considering zabet Dec 2011 #11

In the modern day nadinbrzezinski Dec 2011 #12

Did you see any fuel cell vehicles? Motown_Johnny Dec 2011 #16

No, no fuel cells nadinbrzezinski Dec 2011 #17

MPGe has been around a little while Motown_Johnny Dec 2011 #19

"I am far from an expert" Dewey Finn Dec 2011 #25

This message was self-deleted by its author Obamanaut Dec 2011 #26

I'm still waiting for the Quick-charge battery. hobbit709 Dec 2011 #27

Well the Volt nadinbrzezinski Dec 2011 #30

Threshold a bit lower, I think... Bob Wallace Dec 2011 #34

Plus there is also this... Javaman Dec 2011 #28

The motor in the Tesla Roadster does not use permanent magnets.. Fumesucker Dec 2011 #29

Toyota... Bob Wallace Dec 2011 #35

I'd like to know why the current Insight gets half the fuel economy of the first Insight. EOTE Dec 2011 #31

I would have loved to ask that question myself nadinbrzezinski Dec 2011 #32

Self driving cars... Bob Wallace Dec 2011 #36

. Motown_Johnny Dec 2011 #37

They have inexpensive electric bicycles now Aerows Dec 2011 #38

Story nadinbrzezinski Dec 2011 #40

good article, bookmarked for future reference Motown_Johnny Dec 2011 #43

Hubby took a photo of the dash by the way nadinbrzezinski Dec 2011 #44

The Volt dash? Motown_Johnny Dec 2011 #45

Yup, both the escalade and the volt nadinbrzezinski Dec 2011 #46