OhmExcited’s Recent Comments

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  Have you been reading the news?

  They're not stupid. One thing we've seen the Chinese do is reverse engineer a lot of products -- rip them off....
  The same is true with other kinds of technologies, like nuclear

  Actually, US-based Westinghouse Corporation has just won the large order of next gen nuclear power plants in China. They beat out main rivals, the French. One of the big issues was that China paid for not just construction of the power plants but for technology transfer and the right to build them themselves in the future. This was a main sticking point for the French, by the way, who hoped to not have to compete against China in their own technology for plants elsewhere in the world.

  It's interesting to note that France runs approximately 80% of the electrical grid on nuclear power also using American pressurized water reactor technology from Westinghouse. Like China, they paid a premium not just for the plants but the technology and right to build them themselves.

  It's also interesting to note that the three wealthiest countries without natural energy resources of their own (Japan, France, and South Korea) are all highly reliant on nuclear power. None have had accidents. And they've each been models of limiting greenhouse gas emissions while still remaining industrialized.

  Meanwhile, Germany's prime minister Merkel has threatened to end the country's moratorium on nuclear power after Mr. Putin whimsically shut off the gas supply to Europe for the second time.On China got troubles posted 2 years, 9 months ago 11 Responses

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  Tamminen and hydrogen

  Although I'm a huge fan of battery electric vehicles, I'm the first to admit that the crowd I hang around is a cultish mob who tend to attack anyone who disagrees. Not unlike followers of Scientology or the Atkins diet.

  Hydrogen grand plans were pushed at a time when it looked like battery advancements would never arrive. People have actually been working on batteries for centuries.

  I think the jury is still out on whether fuel cells will eventually be integrated into series type hybrids. It could possibly make sense for plants to use idle capacity to generate hydrogen at least until the number of EV users becomes much much larger, on the order of 1-200 million. China in particular is keen to adopt the hydrogen infrastructure, in large part because the high capital cost of batteries, but also the urban planning and electrical infrastructure does lend itself very well to electric vehicles (few own houses with garages or park cars around outlets).

  In the US, I think electric-gasoline series hybrids will win in the fight for next gen vehicle, followed by pure electrics.On Tamminen and hydrogen posted 2 years, 9 months ago 20 Responses

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  Re: Idle capacity?

  Electrolysis is indeed inefficient, but it isn't expensive, especially if you're using idle capacity of nuclear power plants, each of which are about a whopping 1000 MW of power and around 100 of them already existing in the US. Buying bigger lithium ion batteries for a pure EV can be expensive. Buying a solar cell for your house can be expensive.

  Hydrogen has some other benefits. Unlike a diesel or gasoline generator on board a series hybrid, it produces no emissions (smog, NO, or CO2) around the area your breathe. Nor does it produce noise pollution around the area you sleep. Fuel cells like pure EV's are not oily and greasy under the hood. These factors increase quality of life.

  Hydrogen does have some disadvantages that you mentioned. However, it isn't the only option with disadvantages.On We will wonk you posted 2 years, 10 months ago 18 Responses

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  Idle capcity?

  Whod've thought the entire US transport infrastructure could run on the shit of Los Angeles? Anyway. Let's talk about the grid.

  Idle capacity in the existing electric power system can recharge 180 million vehicles, or 84% of the existing U.S. fleet.

  Then shouldn't this idle capacity be used to make hydrogen for flex-fuel series hybrid vehicles until the number of those vehicles on American roads is 180 million?
  On We will wonk you posted 2 years, 10 months ago 18 Responses