Mad Andrew ([info]madandrew) wrote,
@ 2004-03-15 15:31:00
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A quick poll....
True or False:
Hydrogen powered cars would still require that hydrocarbons be processed in order to obtain the fuel, thus still leading to C02 emissions.

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[info]sclerotic_rings
2004-03-15 01:34 pm UTC (link)
Unless we're using solar or nuclear power to hydrolize water, true. Do I win a prize?

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[info]oralelk
2004-03-15 01:48 pm UTC (link)
Um, false. Because we can use nuclear (fission or fusion) or solar or wind or water power to get the electric power. Unless you count the fact that the people working at the power plant will process hydrocarbons.

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[info]urbanemonkey
2004-03-15 01:57 pm UTC (link)
I'm not entirely sure. If less (hydrocarbon material) is used to create the cell, leading to less C02 per mile-traveled in a hydrogen power car, it's still a step in the right direction. Isn't it?

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In truth...
[info]madandrew
2004-03-15 08:22 pm UTC (link)
As some have pointed out, nuclear power can be used to electrolyze water into its component atoms. I point out the following though:

1.) 95% of the commercial hydrogen in the US currently comes from steam methane reforming, which generates a LOT of C02.

2.) 65% of the electric power (I actually thought it was more, but looked it up) in the US comes from burning fossil fuels, so its a case of WHEN you do your polluting.

3.) Considering the fact that there STILL is no permanent nuclear waste storage site, don't look for this as an answer soon. That and EVERY time a new nuclear power plant is built, it is an enormous political issue, even though the US safety requirements are well in excess of the rest of the world.

4.) Fusion power is still really only present locally in the center of the sun. Experiments are making a LOT of progress (maybe if ITER ever gets going...), but there's still no such thing as a sustained fusion power plant (by which I mean you GAIN power from it).

So my answer is TRUE, at least practically. This little jaunt was brought about by reading this month's APS News, wherein the letter's column brought the matter of how the public views the 'Hydrogen Economy' plans proposed by Shrub.
Oh, and credit goes to my hero, Bob Park and What's New (1-31-2003), for first bringing the numbers to my attention. As always his, and What's New's, views are not the view of the American Physical Society, but should be.

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