No more combustion cars in UK from 2040?

[DF96]

" ...
Oxygen is the oxidant, not the fuel, but nevertheless the source of most of the chemical energy released in combustion.
..."

... which seems to imply that Oxygen does "burn",

No. Burning is rapid oxidation, with oxygen often being the oxidising agent. To get oxygen to burn you would need to find an oxidising agent which is so powerful that it can reduce oxygen. My chemistry is not good enough to know whether such a substance exists.

To say that most of the energy comes from the oxygen is saying something quite different. If true (and I don't know whether it is true or not) then all it is saying is that the bond joining two oxygen atoms in an oxygen molecule contains a lot of energy and this energy is released when the oxygen oxidises the fuel.

Hydrogen isn't a byproduct of liquefying air - there is no Hydrogen in the air to extract.

Yes, hydrogen is so light that any released goes straight up to the edge of the atmosphere if it can. If it cannot then it gathers in roof spaces etc. and hangs around there until one day something ignites it. One thing pointed out to me many years ago in a power station is that the roof over the hydrogen store (or electrolysis unit) is inverted, with the centre lower than the edge, so no hydrogen can collect there.

 

[Fenalaar]

Quite probably because the energy needed to accomplish that would be higer than energy obtained by burning the "liberated" carbon.
Not mentioning the horrendous cost.

Even less, that then you would be back to square one , facing the problem of transporting incredibly low energy density pure hydrogen fuel in your car.

Now you know why that idea is not exactly mainstream.

Transport and storage for this technology is exactly the same as for other methods of hyrogen production.

Energy usage from this method is 1-2kWh/m3 produced, and parts of this can be recycled as steam.

The first commercial plant was started in 1999.

Cost is always the question. As long as regular, co2-producing tech is a little bit cheaper, it will be prefered.

People almost invariably vote with their wallet

Johan-Kr

 

[DPH]

The fab guys misinformed me.

My bet is commercial oxygen, not hydrogen, given the need and abundance in the atmosphere. Easy enough oops to make.

 

[planet10]

...into Hydrogen and carbon black...

I expect the carbon black could be a raw material for making carbon fibre, graphene, and carbo nanotubes. All materials finding more & more uses.

dave

 

[Wavebourn]

Ouch... It is not a theory, it is what happens in real life...

Couple Moving Grill in SUV Injured in Explosion After Wife Lights Up a Cigarette | WNEP.com

 

[chrisb]

Almost candidates for the Darwin award? I mean, really, transporting a propane BBQ with the tank valve opened and the grille turned on?

 

[vinylkid58]

Almost candidates for the Darwin award? I mean, really, transporting a propane BBQ with the tank valve opened and the grille turned on?

Bet they'll never do that again.😀 I guess smoking kills your sense of smell too.

jeff

 

[planet10]

To add to the comments on Thorium reactors:

Thorium salt reactor experiments resume after 40 years

dave

 

[jerryo]

Another promising facility offered by Molten Salt Reactors based on Thorium is the ability to process a large proportion of nuclear waste that has been created by the 'bomb making' nuclear reactors currently in use. The conversion rate of Thorium reactors means a great deal of unused fissile material that is left unused in the waste from these 'traditional' reactors can have the energy stored in it released.

Once again I'll recommend reading 'A Prescription for the Planet' by Tom Blees and watching some talks by Kirk Sorenson or visit the SCGI website.
'Science Council for Global Initiatives' to get a more detailed synopsis of what might be possible.

 

[w5jag]

.....but I have 20 years to get a S3 jag V12 and actually use it.

Well, I hope the skin on your knuckles will still regenerate quickly in twenty years .....

Might be easier with an E Type where the bonnet flips up, I still have a 6.0 in a saloon car ( 1993 under your registration system, but a 1994 under the federal system ) and pretty much every task under the hood is a bloody knuckle buster. Too much engine block. Not enough room. And I have small hands.

An F Type might be the way to go. I bought my wife a new Xj in 2004, and I literally have not had to lay a wrench on that car until a couple of months ago when the OEM battery finally gave it up. I know .... it's not a V12 ....

Jaguar has been moving electric for a while now, anyway, I think. They had that supercar one off with the gas turbines that drove an electric motor at each wheel, and I think they have an electric car in that funky electric racing series. And you get 100% torque at 0 RPM, so an electric car might have merit as a novelty. As a daily driver, I'm dubious.

Good luck with your guys legislating the future.

Win W5JAG

edit: wow ... last place. Stinking it up like they did F1 .... What would Lyons think? He's probably spinning so fast in his grave that if you could wrap wire around him, he would generate electricity. At least they are still beautiful.

 

[dangus]

Hydrogen is the underpants gnomes of energy. It burns perfectly clean, but everything else about it requires tech breakthroughs.

Self-driving cars will make young people even less inclined to learn to drive or to own a car. And they won't care if robo-uber runs on electrickery or hydrogen or charcoal.

 

[chrisb]

w5jag - seen more than a couple of the latest F series on the roads hereabouts, and the F-type is far more gorgeous moving than any static photo can portray, but the F-Pace is a bit too boxy looking for my taste.