Future of Cars

Philosophy Forums Science, Technology, and Math
1

I was in this electric KIA recently being taken to a sports event, and what pleased me the most about it was the lush navigation system. Otherwise I think electric cars are a crappy idea, the whole thing is uneconomic, the batteries are charged using fossil fuels, batteries in general take a long time to charge, and they leak over time, unlike a gas tank. But what is sublimely elegant and economic is a hydrogen engine. The only problem now is how to most economically produce the hydrogen, quite a lot of electricity is needed for the electrolyse (separating hydrogen from oxygen) and this would easily be solved with nuclear plants, which are coming back in vogue.

I recently saw a car brochure with some hydrogen BMWs in it. I wasn’t aware these things are already being sold. There’s naturally a bunch of videos to be seen.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9paWV10_BiQ[/youtube]

The future looks bright. It’s just a matter of phasing out the battery powered cars, which are now attempting to take over the markets. My estimate is about 50 years for hydrogen to become the norm.

2

Since he only byproduct of hydrogen conversion into power is water, I think this is ultimately the most elegant method of propulsion, until we discover a self-generating power. Toyota is also working on hydrogen, has produced a hydrogen engine that promises to give 67 city miles on a gallon. I dont know how expensive hydrogen will be.

youtube.com/watch?v=zh5Tx2jAOO8

BMW and Toyota pioneering a technology seems like it is a solid future. Possibly my 50 years estimate is even conservative. The number of EV’s at this point;