The main problems with both the current form of hybrid fuel and hydrogen vehicles are the nature of the fuel they use and the tech that produces it. Yes, hybrid vehicles are cheap and efficient, you do have to plug them in at some point, and where does that electricity come from? Nuclear or fossil fuel power plants. Same goes for electric cars. The current plan for hydrogen vehicles calls for the water to be separated into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity coming off the grid- once again, nuclear and fossil fuels. The end result of the current plans is still pollution, it's just not coming out of the tailpipes of the cars we will be driving.
The benefits of this system over the one currently being developed are a) no costly infrastructure to bog down uptake- no new "gas" stations to build or distribution to establish, and b) no reliance on old power systems that just "hide" the pollution.
True, the bio diesel does have its drawbacks, and in order to supply a national demand we would have to convert massive amounts of land to fuel crops, but think of what that would do for the economy! Plus we could end the farmer's subsidy. A big big big big big drawback would be that agribusiness and engineered crops would take over, but I'm in denial about that so I won't mention it.
A fun fact about bio diesel: a schoolmate of mine runs his car on used cooking oil he gets from fast food restaurants. He heats it, strains it, pours it into his car and drives off into the sunset leaving nothing but bemused fast-food managers and the delightful smell of french fries behind to mark his passage... |
