[modeleng] Re: steam car (OT)

I may be in the minority here, but I don't see hydrogen as a viable 
replacement for hydrocarbons, ecologically speaking.  On earth, hydrogen is 
not readily available in a "pure" state useable for fuel, but must first be 
extracted from some compound or other -- often natural gas (a hydrocarbon). 
Extracting hydrogen from water is possible, but requires electricity which 
must be generated somehow -- practically speaking by burning hydrocarbons or 
with nuclear powerplants.  Most large sites for hydroelectric power 
generation have already been taken; those that are left would receive 
tremendous resistance from conservationists.  Adding windmills is heavily 
resisted -- think Walter Cronkite and Ted Kennedy and the ocean off Cape Cod 
and their view thereof.  Storage and transportation of hydrogen is 
difficult -- as a gas it seeps through most container materials and 
maintaining it in a liquified state is complex, requiring heavy equipment. 
So what do I think the long term solution is?  Probably hydrocarbon/electric 
vehicles, maybe with the electricity generated in part by nuclear 
powerplants -- in spite of the public's current reluctance.  Charles

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "alanjstepney" <alan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

<<snip>>
> The most promising, believes Mr Bowsher, is either nuclear or hydrogen 
> fuel.
> The public is reluctant to explore nuclear; but researchers and engineers
> across the world are exploring how best to generate and, more importantly,
> store hydrogen fuel, one of the main barriers to its widespread use.
> Nine European cities are taking part in a pilot scheme to use hydrogen
> fuelled buses on certain routes, for instance.
> But until a viable mass-scale way of storing and distributing hydrogen
> effectively is developed, it remains limited in use.
<<snip>> 

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