> > > The major error is in the following statement "Most internal
combustion
> > > engines operate at about 35 per cent efficiency. This means that

only

35
> > per
> > > cent of the fuel is fully burned."
> > >
> > > Although only 35% of the thermal energy generated ends up as 'useful
> > power'
> > > it doesn't mean that the gasoline is not being burned. The rest of

the

> > heat
> > > is going other places; into the coolant and oil, and out the exhaust
> pipe
> > > (as heat).  Adding some hydrogen and oxygen will make little or no
> > > difference on the emissions or power; and, of course as Paul

mentioned

> the
> > > energy require to produce the gases in that manner is more than the
> energy
> > > recovered from burning them.
> > >
> > > Just another case of totally irresponsible reporting.  I guess it
> doesn't
> > > matter because I recently read that a survey of people in So Cal
showed
> > that
> > > 1 in 20 believed that the sun revolved around the earth.
> > >
> > > Al


> > Al doesn't say much for the education system, does it?
> >
> > Mind you it's just as bad down here in Australia - we recently had a
> survey
> > that identified that a large portion of students going to University
> > couldn't meet the standard of literacy and numeracy required.
> > The defence from the Teachers Union was that spelling and maths (3

R's)

> > wasn't so important as there were much more and broader subjects in

the

> > curriculum now days - does that makes sense to you ?
> >
> > Anyhow so they decided to do a survey of teachers and trainee

teachers,

> and
> > guess what - they didn't meet the standard either.
> >
> > Now I don't feel so bad, as I can claim I'm just a product of the
system.
> > George (down under)


> Hi George,
> Supposing we had photo voltaic cells on the car roof, ( places like
> California and New South Wales with abundant sunshine) to generate and
store
> the required electricity for the electrolysis process, would the system
> still be viable concept, or a complete waste of time.
> Wondering,
> Michael, Downunder.
>
> Well if the roof was several hundred square feet in area it might work.
> Think of those funny looking flying saucer shaped electric cars that
> run in the cross country Aussie race.
> They are probably more efficient over all converting the sun juice
> directly into mechanical energy rather generating hydrogen and burning

it.

>
> Paul Lamar

I have no idea how much power is required to generate hydrogen, but I do
agree that a hybrid car like the Prius fitted with super efficient solar
panels is probably the best approach in the short term. It could trickle
charge the batteries while parked in the sun.

I do know that unless automotive engineers and Governments do something

soon

there will be civil war if gas prices keep rising as they are. It has
already started at gas stations around Sydney, with U/G  tanks being
syphoned over night, drivers filling up and driving off is rampant, and
general anger and outrage in the community. Get ready for the backlash.
Michael, Downunder.

The sun does not shine everywhere all the time. There is not much

automotive

engineers can do, they have not already done, given the draconian

government

rules on crashing and emissions. Perhaps turbo compounding but at great

expense

that would  only be 20% less fuel max. IC engine eff. would then go to

around 36%

overall. There is no other way around the laws of thermodynamics. IC

engines have

been around 30% efficient for the last 70 years or more. Same for

photocells at about

5% efficient. It takes way too many square yards of expensive photo cells

to get

enough juice to do anything. If you want cheap juice go nuclear.

The real price of crude is $60 US a barrel. There are forty gallons
in a barrel. That is $1.50 a gallon for crude. Add $0.50 or so to make

gasoline

out of crude. The rest is taxes. In many cases taxes are computed on a

percentage.

Double the basic cost and taxes are doubled as well. The Government loves

money.

They won't cut taxes unless you make them do it. How much is fuel down
under? Nobody is rioting in Europe where gasoline has been well over
$6 a gallon US for years and years. God knows what it is now. They still
drive Sport Utes and MB 600's. If you want to cut your cost... cut the

taxes.

Paul Lamar

Paul,
You hit the nail on the head, government loves taxes, which is why they have
sat on their backsides for 30 years and done nothing, even though this
looming oil crises was well known back then.
   I was not suggesting solar panels be the sole power for cars like the
prius, merely a supplementary power source. Sunshine is free, why not use
it.
   The CSIRO  in Australia proposed a viable alternative using bio-diesel
many years ago, and it would have provided many struggling farmers with a
cash crop, which could have developed into a national industry providing
home grown fuel, but the Government poo pooed the idea. Why?? Guess who puts
mega bucks into their re-election accounts. Need I say more.!!
And it's exactly the same in the USA, there is a viable alternative, but the
people we elect refuse to govern in our best interest, because of fear they
might upset an oil mogul official. Collectively we need to stand up and say,
enough is enough.
Pump prices here where I live is AU$1.40 a litre and rising.
OK stepping off my soap box.
Michael.