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.

Technology Stocks : Ballard Power -world leader zero-emission PEM fuel cells -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Sid Turtlman who wrote (1427)	12/16/1997 3:53:00 PM
From: Kayaker	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 5827

Hello Sid <<Toyota's hybrid car, for sale in Japan now, can already do most of what Ballard/DB/Ford hopes to do seven years from now...>> I'm a new to Silicon Investor. In fact, this is my first response! Problems I see with the hybrid car: According to the article describing Toyota's car, the carbon dioxide level is reduced only by half. A Ballard fuel cell car running on methanol will emit much less carbon dioxide. Because of commitments at the global warming conference, countries will have to make more (and costly) cutbacks on nonauto emissions if using hybrid cars than they would using Ballard fuel cell cars. Batteries don't work worth beans in cold climates. Ever crank an engine at 30 below? Batteries are OK for short trips, but when they are drained, you are back to full carbon dioxide emissions. A "significant investment in the infrastructure" would be required for the installation of chargers at public locations (eg hotels) so that batteries could be recharged. Charging batteries is no freebie in terms of carbon dioxide emissions. Most of the electricity produced in the US is coal generated, and that would go up significantly if everybody is charging their cars. Batteries don't last more than a few years. Eventually they have to be replaced, costing hundreds if not thousands of dollars. Just my 2 cents (CDN). Bob

To: Sid Turtlman who wrote (1427)	12/21/1997 4:48:00 PM
From: TedT	Respond to of 5827

Sid wrote: "And even that would beg the question of emissions, since the manufacture of hydrogen from natural gas, which is how it is done commercially, creates tons of carbon dioxide. So instead of coming out of a tail pipe it would come out of a smokestack." And Tedt responds: Duh, That's why we have to move to a solar-hydrogen economy which is where I believe we (as a society) have to transition to if we are to survive. This is not going to happen in 5 years, but we better begin the transition and begin making some big headway in 20.