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: wpckr who wrote (3179)	10/20/1998 8:55:00 AM
From: John Curtis	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 5827

To All: MIT's Nov. Dec. magazine entitled "Technology Review" has a small article on fuel cells which I happen to think are strong contenders to supercede ICE's(Internal Comustion Engines) by the latter part of the next decade. Page 21, this article, entitled Cheaper Fuel Cells states: "Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory are solving a problem that has kept fuel cells prohibitively expensive. Today's fuel cells typically rely on 200 or so slabs of precisely machined graphite electrodes costing about $10 apiece. Oak Ridge materials scientist Ted Besmann has shown that it is possible to make electrodes out of a carbon-fiber composite that costs about one-fifth as much. Besmann has fabricated 3.8 centimeter-diameter electrodes from the composite and aims by year's end to make larger samples for testing by automobile companies." Anyone know how Ballards fuel cell "guts" are composed, and does this benefit them? Me thinks it does, but I bow to superior knowledge. Regarding the oil glut....well.....perhaps it has something, too, to do with the astounding fact that some of the Middle Eastern countries, Saudia Arabia being one, are on the verge of being broke!!!!! It seems they've frittered away most of the monies gleaned from oil production over the past couple of decades, leaving their peoples basically in poverty while a relative few prospered. Although this may be good for oil companies, and the oil-junky countries of the West, if you take a larger view it makes for an extremely unsettled political future for that area. Something we need more of about as much as Mike Tyson needs another ear. Heh! John~

To: wpckr who wrote (3179)	10/20/1998 7:13:00 PM
From: Sleeperz	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 5827

The downfall of oil is nothing new and anyone around in 1973 knows what will happen when the price of OIL went up to $40 / barrel. Back then it was due to the Arab Oil embargo. There have been predictions of oil shortages since then, but the EPA fuel efficiency standards for all vehicles put off that prediction. since 1973 you went from an average of 10-12 mpg to around about 25 mpg. Also better drilling techniques like horizontal drilling and steam injection allowed for more oil to be recovered from wells that were thought to be not recoverable. What happened back then was the Big three got a kick in the ass to bring out more efficient IC vehicles. Since gas is cheaper now there is not as much need, so they make more SUVs and Pick Ups. But they have the technology for more fuel efficient vehicles Countries than Imported energy start stock piling oil and switched to Atomic Energy, Wind power, Geo Thermal, etc. Research into wave power generation, etc. CL >>> The imminence of this downfall of oil is something that new and pretty doggone alarming. The impact on the world and the ramifications of what "could happen" are incredible. Alternate energy sources as nimble, flexible and ease of use are years away. The choices of action the Arab world might make to survive are subjects for speculation and deep concern. <<<