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On Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:15:00 -0700, "nom=de=plume"
wrote:

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On Tue, 22 Sep 2009 01:08:19 -0700, "nom=de=plume"
wrote:

If it costs as exactly much energy to get hydrogen as you get when you
use it (perfect efficiency) it still isn't a fuel, it is just a good
battery. Unfortunately the losses are pretty big.
This is great for the space program where cost is no object but not
very practical competing with Li ON batteries, or even lead.

I suppose you could start with elemental hydrogen but most commercial
hydrogen comes from natural gas wells The problem is it is a lot more
expensive.
Why not just use the natural gas? The CLNE solution.


Why not use batteries that can be recharged by a small amount of a known
commodity that's already fairly inexpensive... diesel or natural gas or
whatever. Diesel is ubiquitous, which decreases the hassle factor.
Someone
said you still have to get the hydrogen right?

If you are burning diesel, why do you need a battery?
I thought we were trying to get away from fossil fuels.



Because you don't have to burn so much or so often. That's what happens
with
hybrids. They burn a lot less fuel. They're not perfect, but nothing is
perfect.

A lot of that depends on your driving patterns If you are in stop and
go traffic, the hybrid will save fuel. On the interstate I don't see
it saving much over any car with a small engine. As soon as you
deplete the battery, it is just running on the engine. I was always
curious how a Prius performs on the highway after 50 miles (or however
long the battery can help it).
I know Bill Maher changed his opinion of his Prius after he owned it a
while. He ended up saying it was just a car with a small motor that
gets pretty good mileage. I assume he based that on freeway driving.
When I saw some independent tests comparing the Civic with a
comparable Civic hybrid the highway ratings were virtually the same,
actually giving the edge to the regular Civic at higher speeds.


I have a friend who claims over 40 mpg on the highway. I believe the Civic
does do almost as well on the highway. Most of our driving though is under
40 miles I believe... it should be all electric and rechargeable overnight.
The diesel should only be used if absolutely necessary. I heard the new
Prius comes with a solar panel roof. That sounds good.

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Nom=de=Plume