Originally posted by dacis2
what do you use, fuel cells? then it would be perfect
Eeek why? Fuel cells suck.
The big proponnents of fuel cells are environmentalists, which makes sense, because fuel cells pollute less than gasoline engines, but there are a few problems.
First and foremost, they don't go vroom. Cars today are fun because something violent is going on under the hood. Explosives are burning and making noise, and machinery is moving, and it's all very visceral and entertaining. Taking that away would make automobiles lifeless, and nearly kill the sports car.
Secondly, fuel cells pollute. This is one of the tragic problems with today's fuel cells. They still release so-called "harmful" compounds into the air. Now, whether you believe in global warming and all that or not, it seems silly in any case to take all the fun out of our cars for an incomplete solution.
The perfect choice for cars would of course be hydrogen-powere internal-combustion engines. these engines produce equal horsepower and excitement to their gasoline counterparts, while releasing 0 harmful emissions. BMW has a V-12 that can run on Hydrogen, producing well over 400 horsepower.
Hydrogen is equally as safe to put in your tank as gasoline, requires no massive retooling of automobile production lines, can be retrofitted to older gasoline cars, and can run cheaply. Hydrogen can be produced using water and either solar or nuclear power, providing cheap, effective horsepower.
Hydrogen engines offer a lot of perks. More horsepower and torque as a result of larger engines being available. All engines would be emissions legal, and fuel would be cheap. Big honking fuel-guzzling big-block monsters would rule the streets again. Everyone could afford to own a performance car, or a larger car than they do now, and be "saving the planet" at the same time.
I think it's important that we all avoid latching onto the fuel cell idea because it offers few perks, and has drawbacks, as opposed to hydrogen combustion, which is win/win all the way.
BMW and BP, I believe, are working together to create hydrogen-pumping infrastructure for these cars of the future, which should show up in showrooms within 10 years. Let's hope they're popular.