Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Ask Michael Burke -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: John Koligman who wrote (122200)	4/21/2010 12:08:26 PM
From: Knighty Tin	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 132070

John, The cost factor is not a factor with the cars the carbon fiber is currently in. I did "build a car" on an Audi R8 and it was $104,000 base price. I asked for metallic red as my color choice, and the final price was $154,000! To heck with carbon fiber. Where can I find some $54,000 paint to sell? <G>

To: John Koligman who wrote (122200)	4/21/2010 2:53:50 PM
From: GuinnessGuy	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 132070

John, Yeah, cost is a big question in my mind, but common sense would seem to indicate(to me, anyway) that it 'should' be cheaper than digging up and processing metals like iron for steel and aluminum for, well, aluminum. Here's a 4 minute video by a start-up called FiberForge that seems to hint that these composites can be made rather easily(and presumably cheaply). youtube.com And another 6 minute video: youtube.com This seems like such a no brainer, yet I suspect that auto companies are very hesitant to break their metal based supply lines that have existed for the better part of 100 years. I suspect that HXL and CYT are milking the high end applications like aircraft before they bring the costs down for something that you or I would buy. Also I wonder what the EROI is versus metals. You'd think it would be lower, but I've found no reliable data on that. craig