Driving on Starch?

[tk-421]

This is pretty awesome. Finally a viable way to get rid on our dependency on gasoline! Or so it seems...

[...]a team of U.S. researchers has developed a new sugar-to-hydrogen technology. Why not put the starch inside the tank of your car?

[...]

The vision is for the ingredients to be mixed in the fuel tank of your car, for instance. A car with an approximately 12-gallon tank could hold 27 kilograms (kg) of starch, which is the equivalent of 4 kg of hydrogen. The range would be more than 300 miles, Zhang estimates. One kg of starch will produce the same energy output as 1.12 kg (0.38 gallons) of gasoline.

Here's the link if you want to take a look.

[blacksan]

It would be neat, but........potatoes would probably rival gold in value because they would become a high demand commodity. I think we are going to be screwed even if someone figures out how to run a car on litter box waste and you supply your own cat.

[tk-421]

Although you make a point, you can still grow potatoes pretty much anywhere for pennies on the dollar (there would be pretty much no way to control this). I'm sure a technology such as this would be beneficial as soon as it's adopted in the marketplace.

Now let's just hope that one of the big oil companies buys the patent for this and then just crams it in a drawer somewhere, never to be seen again (it's happened before, ya know!)

[blacksan]

Originally Posted by tk-421

Although you make a point, you can still grow potatoes pretty much anywhere for pennies on the dollar (there would be pretty much no way to control this). I'm sure a technology such as this would be beneficial as soon as it's adopted in the marketplace.

Now let's just hope that one of the big oil companies buys the patent for this and then just crams it in a drawer somewhere, never to be seen again (it's happened before, ya know!)

Would the Federal Government allow fuel tax that is used to maintain the Interstate Highway inferstructure to be lost do to alternative fuel sources? I work for the man and am here to tell you that would never happen. You might not pay more for potatoes themselves, but tax for the privilege to use that alternative fuel source, or some such nonsense. Research the trend in corn prices since the advent of Ethanol. I really wished that I was off base, but the cost of doing business has risen and we as a nation are no longer self perpetuating and now reliant on global competition. We are end the end of an era. The ability to drill of the West Coast and the North Shore along with oil refinery blocked expansion over the years have most likely accelerated our position to what we are experiencing today.

[tk-421]

Originally Posted by blacksan

Would the Federal Government allow fuel tax that is used to maintain the Interstate Highway inferstructure to be lost do to alternative fuel sources? I work for the man and am here to tell you that would never happen.

You certainly have a point there. Our governments aren't exactly well-known to make timely changes when opportunities to help the environment (and ultimately ourselves) arise. Does this however mean that things have never changed in this respect? Hardly.

We have arrived at a juncture where things must change. We may not be killing the planet per say, but we sure are killing ourselves. Are we so screwed up as a race that we will do nothing to save our own, even when we're given a new opportunity on cleaning up our act? And regain our fuel independence at the same time? And for cheap? I sure hope not.

[brickhardmeat]

Nuclear Power kicks all other powers ass

[Black Yaris]

I would like a car that runs on piss..... cause I sure piss a lot, and I could realy put that to good use if my car ran on piss.... just a though

[tk-421]

You would probably need to drink a lot more beers to make your urine usable. Which would kinda defeat the purpose, because then you couldn't drive straight...

Think about it though... Starch is already that cheap!
And for 300 miles on a tank of this stuff, I think it's on its way to becoming the next transportation fuel source...

[brickhardmeat]

even if the cars would run off of corn or potatoes or whatever we would need energy for all the processing and the machines and the trucks to deliver it and all that, what are we going to run all that stuff off of starch too, we would be up to our necks in fuckin' whatever

[tk-421]

Originally Posted by brickhardmeat

even if the cars would run off of corn or potatoes or whatever we would need energy for all the processing and the machines and the trucks to deliver it and all that, what are we going to run all that stuff off of starch too, we would be up to our necks in fuckin' whatever

RTFA dude!

In our process, hydrogen is the main product and hydrogen yields are three-times higher, and the likely production costs are low--about $1 per pound of hydrogen.

Starch, on the other hand, can be distributed by grocery stores, Zhang points out.

"So it is environmentally friendly, energy efficient, requires no special infrastructure, and is extremely safe. We have killed three birds with one stone," he said. "We have hydrogen production with a mild reaction and low cost. We have hydrogen storage and transport in the form of starch or syrups. And no special infrastructure is needed."

[brickhardmeat]

Good luck running the whole fucking world off of Russets buddy. That's all I'm saying. Now go stick a French Fry up your ass and run a marathon. Dork.

[tk-421]

Originally Posted by brickhardmeat

Good luck running the whole fucking world off of Russets buddy. That's all I'm saying. Now go stick a French Fry up your ass and run a marathon. Dork.

Whatever, bro. I'm not trying to do anything of the sort. I'm just pointing out an interesting article about something that just may solve the oil dependency that we all have in this day and age (at least in the transportation sector).

If reading is not your strong suit, fine. I just think it may help discussion somewhat if you actually know what the article states.

Oh... and please don't ask ppl to stick foreign objects up their rectums! That does absolutely nothing to help the environment, your mileage, your financial well-being, or even (potentially) national security, so it has no place in here.

[nsmitchell]

Very exciting stuff. This would put the smack down on the Middle East dependancy issue, and also help our economy as well. Plus the whole world will turn into one big candy factory like Willie Wonka. It will smell like a carnival! hehe AWESOME!!!

Seriously - I hope and pray that this technology is viable and gets legs! SOON! Like the 2009 Toyota Yaris SP! (syrup powered)

[tk-421]

[eTiMaGo]

wtf????