franc11s

I typically track technology but this, if true has kind of snuck up on me. Are we really this close?

http://money.cnn.com/2006/01/24/news...0606/index.htm

It would be kinda-nice if the Oil producing countries were left to their own devices one day, sooner rather than later....

Big D

Come on - big three from Michigan and the oil companies have the knowledge for limitless free fuel but they have sat on it years ago to protect their monopolies

As for new technologies - i think they are away off - most of them have bigger downsides than are realized. Take the hybrid cars - USA is the only country where they aren't able to plug in and still rely on the petrol engine as well. Also - electricity burns all that fossil fuel too.

Not sure about ethanol but i'm sure there is something in the process that means its not economically viable currently - or uses more gas than you think!!

Pulaski

This story isn't exactly news - Indy/ Champ race cars have run on methanol for most of the past four decades (they tried gas (petrol) for a few years, but decided it was too dangerous ).

Apart from the questionable economics of producing ethanol/ methanol, the stuff is highly corrosive, and so the probem has always been that it trashes engines. This isn't an issue in a race car engine that only needs to run for 500 miles before it is stripped and rebuilt, but not so great for road vehicles.

Sophia_S

My husband was telling me he heard that the farm land round here in central Illinois,where we live,is being priced at $5000 an acre because the farmers are waiting for 'the powers that be' to give the go-ahead for more ethanol production,most of what the crops round this area is corn or soy beans....wonder if that might help to get a good deal when/if we decide to sell our house in the future?..Ummm....Sophia

TouristTrap

We were using this technology in Rhodesia in the 70's as we couldn't get oil due to sanctions.

Scouse Express

The technology has been around for years to increase mpg consumption. Look at the amount of Turbo-Diesel cars in the Uk, for example. Pretty much all rental vehicles at the airports are Diesels.

The smaller cars there get great mpg.....how come they haven't been made available, over here???? I think we all know the reason why.

Ford & GM could make more $$$ if they introduced both the Focus and Malibus in a Diesel version.

Jim.

gruffbrown

Do we have the technology for extracting hydrogen from water yet? And would it work? Just interested.

Bob

Diesel, hardly ever sold in this state, even the logging trucks use petrol...something to do with the arse numbing cold winters apparantly...

Bob

those fuel cells, cost millions to make and hardly a commercial engine yet, but give it another 10-15 years, those hybrids have come along a long way in 10 years...combustion engines have had a good 100 years of dev time after all

Scouse Express

Bob,

Lovely part of the world you live in. I get up there, normally to Oqunquit, in the Fall at least once. I understand about your Cold Winters up there. They're bad enough in Iowa

Jim.

Chorlton

Brazil is way ahead of us for some reason
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0417-23.htm

Bob

It's because they have more incentive to be innovative...plus the oil industry isn't blatantly buying the government...