nakedjaybird

Lithium Ion Batteries and GEVs: False Gods for the New Millennium

john - cautious is wise. However, you are addressing the feedstock (and the corn issue was a mistake the way it was played out) not the end use. Yes cost/price matters on both ends. Yet, with a number of feedstock varieties (not unlike high sulfur v/s light sweet, or shale v/s tar, or liquified/gassified bit coals v/s buring lignite, and then certainly not the first of these groups vis-a-vis the last) and processes with sufficient production capacity portions for a variety of products meeting flexible end use demands, then feedstock variety flexibility will render your 2006 cost scenerio insignificant and it will be less of a problem for both feedstock and end use . Eventually, for the end user it will be like selecting which octane or diesel for price variabiliity and performance which the consumer picks as a function of his previous choice of vehicle..

Especially when the feedstocks are byproducts of products (not unlike straw from grain crops and cobs and cornstocks from corn and many more); the beauty of cellulosic feedstock digestion. Our stomachs work that way all the time. And yes, there are plenty of cellulosic feedstock candidates, plus grains and seeds, plus algea galore. The biofuels are a'comin: be they biodiesels or biofuels, or both: but certainly not from crude. And that should be the 'FREEDOM' GOAL. Leave the oil in the ground, safely stored - should we ever really need it. That's what makes us free. Unless, of course, those with the power continue to force us to send our money offshore, and we let them.

When the big oils decide to become farmer co-ops instead of oil land leasers, look out. That's the day the farmers become W-2 wage earners or contract farmers and the big oils take the in-betwen profits and actually love it. And the whole exploration, drilling, transporation, reclamation, industries re-shuffle and come to love plain ole dirt or water, fertilizer and weed killers.

Six to eight inches deep on the surface becomes sweet compared to 20,000-30,000 foot deep robotic operations, plus all the rest!!!!

Lithium Ion Batteries and GEVs: False Gods for the New Millennium

Marvin Clark - well, that was a little harsh. Let me start by saying not all (if any) biofuel has to come from corn that would instead fill your belly.

Lithium Ion Batteries and GEVs: False Gods for the New Millennium

Marvin Cllark - you have no clue what the first answer is much less the final answer.

Lithium Ion Batteries and GEVs: False Gods for the New Millennium

John - it is baffling, absolutely baffling. Yes, small battery HEV.
Why not then a biofuel HEV and do away with the oil import issue at the same time?? The distribution system exists unlike CNG; and no retraining of all the consumers unlike CNG. And then emphasize the production of biofuels (non-food, cellulosic, algae, etc., which can be ramped just as fast as the HEV market. Besides, many of the refiners are soon going to have idle equipment and certainly could convert - you know, become part of the solution.

Yes, CNG certainly works, especially in fleet operations. And it should be used there. PO, FED EX, fork trucks, etc. Normal commuter consumer?? Doubt it. Just as stored hydrogen won't make it (well, not beyond the first hiway explosion; you think folks have been concerned about acid or caustic or hot molten sulfur dripping on them after an accident in there battery operated car, wait until there is nothing to examine after the hydrogen explosion or fire).

Exotic batteries (molten, catalytic ingredients, etc), even for small battery HEV's?; doubt it. If not cost and material scarcity issues, consumer safety and litiguous society aspects, if not ownership and scrap issues, much less recycle stuff.

SIMPLE will win out. Proof - the pb-acid battery under your hood which never gets looked at until the car doesn't start, and then is simply, easily and cheaply replaced by the consumer, should he be able to find it and know what a wrench is.

Rapid Transition to Grid Enabled Vehicles Not Possible or Desirable

John and MTRRF - interesting life cycle discussion. For what it's worth, about 45 years ago I also developed and tested electrodes, cells, packs or modules, and full batteries (20+kwh) [oh yes, and also drove the electric vehicles]. Anyhow, explaining to others the "battery" failures was always an (argumentative) chore including when being armed with eyewittness and hands-on facts from the disection of physical evidence and history. I finally developed a bullseye chart of cause and effect starting with all the "cause/effects" you mentioned and then some. A Failure Roadmap. Wish I could find it. Anyhow, the center of the bullseye was essentially the meltdown, and everything layered around the center was dependent or independent causation and/or effect. Identifying, knowing and understanding the dependent and independent variables brings much enlightenment and correctness to the discussion. Most degration and failure is due to dryness and high temperature which can occur from microscopic sites to universal systems within the cell. The rest is cause and effect dependent upon the materals and conditions, be they internal resistance, separator materials, rates, dod's.... Anyhow, armed with the Failure Roadmap, I could track thru the process for what I deemed correct, and the Roadmap made it easy to show and explain all other suggested failure modes anyone else wished to propose. It helped make everyone "happy" that their diagnosis was also considered and a possibility..since all pathways led to an identifiable failure point. Yet, however, unlike Pluralism.

Should I ever find the Failure Roadmap I shall forward on to you John.

India Wants 20GW of Solar Power by 2020

PPSS - and spending money on a national energy supply would be lightyears ahead of a national healthcare program, in many ways, including being profitable. Of course, it should be regulated like the municipal power companys used to be regualated: by the people. With limits on staffing, pay, and cost containment - and most of all, do only what they are supposed to do - provide energy to the folks. DUH!!!!!!

International ETFs: 2009 Returns

What's the stack up look like considering the 3 and 5 and 10 year performances?

India Wants 20GW of Solar Power by 2020

PS - or the competition could plead guilty, repent, and help become part of the solution. But in all cases, it has to be with a motive for the good of the people instead of the padding of the pockets at the top, EVERYWHERE, INCLUDING THE BRIBERS AND BRIBIEES.

India Wants 20GW of Solar Power by 2020

Ferd - If nations would build wind and solar farms to garner a future for their nations, great. That would be something like building dams and interstate highways, and toll roads. And that is the key: have the Gov't build it, and get the payback from the folks using the power. Remember, the actual energy cost (fuel cost, or BTU or KWH to generate is ZERO). And with a very small operating and maintenace burden, the return could be very significant. And when the capital is paid off, free energy period. That's better than sending our DEBT offshore or printing money with no return. As for the competition, well, they buried this long enough and have earned the consequenses.

Rapid Transition to Grid Enabled Vehicles Not Possible or Desirable

Sorry John - my error. I thought the swiss rails were put in place just as the rails, cogs, and elevator to "The Top of the World" above Wengin.

Rapid Transition to Grid Enabled Vehicles Not Possible or Desirable

ART005 - of course my listed electrified transportation DO NOT use batteries for motive power - that's what they are suggested: as great ideas and alternatives to anything battery for motive power sans hybrids with small batteries.


EV commuter cars inside beltways should be hybrids at best and electrified transit systems for the most part. Fleet EV delivery vehicles within the beltway could be hybrids.

Electrified transit (ferries) between beltways should indeed be at worst long freight trains and electried ferries for as I said, whatever folks normally drive across state (preferably hybrids), freight that is not on the normal rails, and of course people that can pick up a rental hybrid on the other end.

So there - and then forget the batteries, for the most part.

And this discussion does belong here.

Rapid Transition to Grid Enabled Vehicles Not Possible or Desirable

And the real DUH -- how'd we get our Interstate Highway System? When the benefit is for the majority of taxpayers and something that cannot be done piecemeal, that is a govt role. Same with Armies, and defense.

When it comes to healthcare, however, those are indiviual choices (along with consequences of alcohol, tobacco, immorality, etc.), and individual solutions - where all of Europe and the rest of the world went astray. And welfare for the slothful? Who now DEMAND mercy and grace; which is a disgrace. They have no right to DEMAND grace or mercy. Justice? Yes all can demand justice; that is fair and reasonable and appropriate. However, NO ONE WILL REJOICE UPON RECEIVEING JUSTICE. But, demanding it is appropriate. We all deserve IT; but not mercy and grace.

Rapid Transition to Grid Enabled Vehicles Not Possible or Desirable

PS - or even Toronto, SF Bay and on and on.......

Rapid Transition to Grid Enabled Vehicles Not Possible or Desirable

Well John - how'd the Swiss get all their fine electrified transit systems, much more the rest of Europe?

Invest in Clean Energy Transmission

Likewise --- info for the gird.

John, Jack et.al - here's the way we should be using these words:

Electric Transporation:
1) electrified transit systems inside beltways, AND
2) electrified transport ferry systems (eg., freight railways or like water ferries for freight, vehicles, and people, but on land, duh!) between major city beltways across the US and for sure along the busily traveled east, west, and gulf(?) coasts.

Grid Enabled "SYSTEMS":
1) Electric Grid and Electrifed Transportation (see above) Systems intertwined with the Interstate Highway System where we already own the right-of-ways and the GRID criscrosses the total US every 100-200 miles, thru every hinterland of solar and wind generation sites AND to every major city - already platted!

These are shovel ready jobs, existing technology, resources apleanty and which immediately TAKE THE OIL OUT OF TRANSPORTATION.