Most ideal source of energy for cars in the future?
 

As we all know the world will run out of oil in about 50 years time, and although we already have solar powered cars, it does have its major problems like being too expensive and can only be used in daytime...so really, what would be the best choice to replace petroluem and oil used for vehicles in the future?

Re: Most ideal source of energy for cars in the future?
 

Hybrids will cut down on fuel usage until then.
But people don't like them, as they are slow and ugly ATM.

Re: Most ideal source of energy for cars in the future?
 

Power most likely. That or another resource we have yet to think of.

Re: Most ideal source of energy for cars in the future?
 

Why wouldn't people invent some car that runs on batteries or something like that?

Re: Most ideal source of energy for cars in the future?
 

Umm there already are.

Re: Most ideal source of energy for cars in the future?
 

You know how heavy and slow it would be?
And have to recharge it all the time.
Oh man I hope I am dead by the time we run out of fuel.

Toyota Hybrid:
http://prius.toyota.com/technology/hybrid.html
52 mpg city*
45 mpg highway*
48 mpg combined*

Re: Most ideal source of energy for cars in the future?
 

Nuclear Fission

Re: Most ideal source of energy for cars in the future?
 

I like the work being done on hydrogen fuel cells, especially the new plastic permeable membrane cells.

Re: Most ideal source of energy for cars in the future?
 

:agreed

Re: Most ideal source of energy for cars in the future?
 

:nodding:

Re: Most ideal source of energy for cars in the future?
 

I saw such a car only yesterday.
Ok, it didn't look much like a car and it wasn't exactly as fast as a Porsche, but it seemed to be enough for driving around in a city.

Re: Most ideal source of energy for cars in the future?
 

that's pretty much what I was gonna say.

Re: Most ideal source of energy for cars in the future?
 

Classic car lovers would kill if they had to get rid of every gas powered car, so yes, hydrogen fuel is the future.

Re: Most ideal source of energy for cars in the future?
 

Ever heard of smart cars :rolleyes:

Good for cities and getting to work.

Re: Most ideal source of energy for cars in the future?
 

Are you talking about this POS ?
If not, please enlighten us on "smart cars" before you issue the eyes.

Re: Most ideal source of energy for cars in the future?
 

Yes the "POS" or whatever you call it.

And now the eyes again :rolleyes:

;)

Re: Most ideal source of energy for cars in the future?
 

Ahh, then that POS matchbox car gets my eyes
:rolleyes:

Re: Most ideal source of energy for cars in the future?
 

Hydrogen. The world is running low on oil. Whoever learns to not need oil will be the next superpower. Hopefully, it can be a good guy, like Britain, the EU, Russia, or America. Hydrogen has two drawbacks: 1. It's expensive. However, so was oil when it was first embraced. As hydrogen technology improves, prices will fall. 2. Infrastructure, or lack thereof. There needs to be another big transportation project in America, with the same system abroad, creating a massive network of hydrogen fill stations. This would make hydrogen much more viable.

Re: Most ideal source of energy for cars in the future?
 

Isn't Hydrogen also highly explosive? Or did they figure out some sort of safe mixture?

Re: Most ideal source of energy for cars in the future?
 

Umm....Isn't Gasoline?

And it's not a cumbustion engine, it converts it to water.

Re: Most ideal source of energy for cars in the future?
 

Hydrogen fuel cells work by combining hydrogen (from cells) and oxygen (from air) to create water. Doing so creates electricity, which powers the car. The only byproduct is drinkable water.

Re: Most ideal source of energy for cars in the future?
 

sounds almost too good to be true ;)

Re: Most ideal source of energy for cars in the future?
 

What's the most power they have acheived out of a drivable vehicle so far?
A lot of Consumers want power and style.

Re: Most ideal source of energy for cars in the future?
 

Currently, I know that the efficiency of hydrogen fuel cells is 3 times that of internal combustion engines. I don't have horsepower readings, but they are probably pretty damn good.

Re: Most ideal source of energy for cars in the future?
 

I hope I'm dead to before the world runs outa oil. If I'm not, I guess I just won't drive because I won't be able to drive my Firebird.

Re: Most ideal source of energy for cars in the future?
 

You could have it converted to hydrogen power, that's what I plan to do with my LTD when the day comes.

Re: Most ideal source of energy for cars in the future?
 

yeah, that might work. yay!

Re: Most ideal source of energy for cars in the future?
 

I thought fuel cells used eletricty to seperate water into hydrogen and oxygen. Then burning it to break the bonds between the hydrogen atoms(casue atoms are indestructibe) then the hrgrogen will combine into water again. I think you could have a never ending cycle if you coluld recycle the exaust

Re: Most ideal source of energy for cars in the future?
 

No, if they used electricity, they would not serve as a power source. There's no burning involved. Hydrogen burns too powerfully for that, and it would consume more energy than it would produce.

Re: Most ideal source of energy for cars in the future?
 

I know Sante Fe railroad is running a couple of road switchers, like around the size of a GP-50 that are supposed to have removed the diesel engines and are powering the locomotives with giant fuel cells.IIRC the engines are rated at about 3500hp and have proved to be very clean and effecient but I think they have problems with cold cause they need heat to break down the molecules and strip the electrons off.

For me, the day I cant buy gasoline for my Mustang, I will convert it over to run alcohol. I know alot of guys I talk to in Australia are driving Ford falcons and Chevy Monaros on LP.

LP is almost common enough to run a car off around here.I used to drive a forklift at one job and it was propane powered. Ran fine but damm it stank.

Re: Most ideal source of energy for cars in the future?
 

Well, the current fuel cell tech only requires 150 degrees, instead of the 1900 degrees that used to be required. That's cooler than internal combustion engines.

Re: Most ideal source of energy for cars in the future?
 

^dude, you just made me depressed, I will probably be still alive in 50 years.

but anyways. Did anyone mention water? i dunno, im not paying attention.

But i think water would be a good source if they could make it work good. Just put a filter in the car... and some how make it work, and for gas, just put thousands of gallons of purified water at the stations.

Re: Most ideal source of energy for cars in the future?
 

I saw something about fuel cells on the TV a while ago. These people in particular were using a converted Mercedes van to test their new engine with, and it was supposed to be just as capable as a normal one. If anything, at least, it shows you don't necessarily have to scrap all your old cars. Although, I'm not sure why anyone would want to convert a classic into a hydro-car. Not exactly the same anymore after that, is it?
They're quiet too, it was as though it was hovering along. Though, I guess you could install speakers with 'vroom vroom' noises if you wanted too :D.

Re: Most ideal source of energy for cars in the future?
 

/yoda laughs

The Force

Re: Most ideal source of energy for cars in the future?
 

:rolleyes: Yes but isn't hydrogen much more explosive? Hydrogen is used in nitrogen to make explosives. Remember the Hindenburg, one static spark ignited it. Imagine what a car crash could do, instantaneous explosion... that is if that happened.... My chemistry teacher was talking about that.

Re: Most ideal source of energy for cars in the future?
 

Theres this thing that is used to look for oil in the earth and it can go down really far. they found that there is a shit load of feul under Texas, but its like 5000 ft deep so no one knows how to get to it.

Re: Most ideal source of energy for cars in the future?
 

um well coldfusion is the best type of energy it never runs out plus there was a guy whom created a conversion machine that would allow water to be used as fuel but while he was trying to get to an economical enegy show or something like that these huge gasoline corps. found out about this and seeing as theyd go bankrupt they couldnt allow this to happen so he was never seen agian. this is a true story :deal:

Re: Most ideal source of energy for cars in the future?
 

Hmm, water conservationists would be against that...

Re: Most ideal source of energy for cars in the future?
 

I was saying if you use water as a fuel for it stability. Then no explosion risk:D. No matter how you get your Hydrogen you will need to use some enegry to get it.

Re: Most ideal source of energy for cars in the future?
 

Hydrogen fuel cells are designed to be explosion proof like race cars rupture proof fuel tanks. Part of the high cost of Hydrogen fuel cells has been the threat of explosions and designing a blow proof unit.

Re: Most ideal source of energy for cars in the future?
 

But, the latest containment system is less explosive than a gas tank, and it costs only $6500.