Aluminum Alloy Allows Cars To Run On Water

[dgridley]

Jerry Woodall, an engineer from Purdue University, has developed a method that uses an aluminum alloy to extract hydrogen from water on contact. This process eliminates the need to transport or store hydrogen gas, 2 things that have been major obstacles to achieving the much anticipated hydrogen economy.

http://www.greengeek.ca/2007/05/20/new-aluminum-alloy-generates-hydrogen-on-demand/

The problem is: alot of these technologies, while they may be "better", never see the light of day for economic reasons..

 

[dhscott]

In London, there's a bus which runs off of Hydrogen. Its not dangerous (compared to driving around with a tank of petrol say?!) but it might be considered dangerous if you're a pedestrian. I mean, BBC News done a bit on a Hydrogen-powered motorbike a couple of months ago and this thing was quieter than a bicycle. Can't hear it coming!

Hydrogen cells really are the way forward though. Give it 50 years though, the fuel companies will probably try growing crops for diesel first. Not enough land though really is there.

 

[dgridley]

The more I look at it.. growing crops for fuel seems like a good idea at first until you realize that prices for those same crops would skyrocket.. not much of an advantage then, eh?

 

[viciouscircle]

The more I look at it.. growing crops for fuel seems like a good idea at first until you realize that prices for those same crops would skyrocket.. not much of an advantage then, eh?

There is a major flaw with this logic for the US, due to the price controls and subsidies put in place by the government to protect farm profits...

Tax dollars go to paying farmers not to grow crops, because the government is afraid of prices being driven down by too many crops on the market (and then we spend more money buying food to give out as aid). Instead of ya know.. simply having farmers grow the additional food and then sending IT out as aid.

Crop based fuel COULD work quite well, if it is attempted properly (have our agricultural industry operate at full power to produce the needed additional crops, remove legal barriers to the development and mass use of the technology, etc). Although, I doubt that will happen any time soon...

 

[ApeXX]

When I first read the post, I thought you meant it could drive on water. That really got my attention!

 

[dhscott]

When I first read the post, I thought you meant it could drive on water. That really got my attention!

...and on legs too! :D

 

[superprogrammer]

Topic should be "from water" and not "on water" :imho: