Funny that it's one of the paid shills I was talking about.That's an op-ed from a guy who works in the oil and gas sector. Wonder which way he'll approach the subject?
The info I'm finding with some quick searches doesn't bear that out; the actual driving efficiency of ICE engine vehicles is low enough that you will actually get more miles out of a unit of natural gas by converting it to hydrogen and using it in a FCEV, and even better than that by using the natural gas to generate electricity and charging a BEV.
Works here. Our power, gas, sewage, water, trash (and all utilities) are run by the municipality, and they do a great job, at a great rate, and it's all run by local people. They also generate gas from the landfill waste for power, and sell the excess to other municipalities. It's run locally, by local people, with local interests in mind.That's right, because the government can run and regulate a power company so much better than a private entity.
I watched this earlier today. It is excellent...
If we are comparing an ICE vehicle powered by hydrogen vs CNG, what you said is probably true; the increased energy density of hydrogen is almost certainly going to be outweighed (quite literally) by the need to store it cryo or at such high pressures. The only real advantage I can see would be the possible reduction in carbon emissions, and I'm not sure how much of an overall reduction in emissions there would be (moving them from tailpipe emissions to the plant turning the natural gas into hydrogen would likely allow for some improvements and recapture, but it isn't going to eliminate them, and the efficiency losses in the conversion might very well overcome the gains).
I was always impressed with the Oregon model that some of the public utilities are NPO co-ops. My friends and family actually love their co-ops. My mom in Keizer brags about her co-op and sometimes gets refunds (?), I don't remember the last time someone liked their utility company. I'm sure not every co-op is great, but I certainly wish Northwest Energy in MT was tied closer to their customers.
My government-operated utility provides me power at a flat 2.8¢/kwh 24/7 with no brownouts ever, and a set rate that is not subject to the whim of fickle markets or Blue Northers. It's why I also have a BEV in the driveway.That's right, because the government can run and regulate a power company so much better than a private entity.
In that case everyone I know who drive them are happy with them, charge them at home while sleeping including PHEV owners. Are batteries there yet, no, but the Wright brothers could never imagine flying 120 people across the country in a few hours. A new start up in my city is making a hydrogen facility for turbojets, and yes have produced them, that create only H2O. Unless the oligarchs kill all this (and us with it), we’ll see these all in the near future. GM, Ford, and yes Jeep are counting on it.
How I like something twice? That’s basically my point. People that own them, tend to genuinely like them. If they didn’t work, they’d all sell them. People that don’t own them and just hear snippets from co workers and friends, many times make assumptions based on less than complete information. And please, don’t consider Tesla to be the benchmark. They’re too expensive for most people, and use their customers as Guinea pigs. The mainstream manufacturers like GM, Ford, Toyota, Volvo, and VW, etc. do a much better job with consistency.
The better way to help create that power is through rooftop, not large solar fields, but you have to have the Feds and States make it worthwhile, like New Mexico with net meetering. We spent quite a bit on rooftop solar (6.2 kW), but got over 1/3 of it back in our taxes. And while our neighbors here in Albuquerque spend 200-400 bucks a month in summer, we spend zero. That investment will be paid back in less than six years.
It's true the oligarchs are going to do everything in their power to squash, EV, PHEV, hydrogen, wind, even nuclear, but mostly in the U.S. Like seemingly everything else, the rest of the world will get on with it (GM, Ford, and yes even Jeep are planning on it). I agree though, charging has to be rapid or cross-country travel, or remote area fieldwork like I do will still be difficult with EV. But the Wright brothers never thought that we would fly 120 or more people across the country in a few hours in less than 50 years after their maiden flight. It will happen, and likely fairly soon.
I lived in NorCal for 23 years. I'm surprised that PG&E still exists. We have a much better deal for solar in New Mexico.If you live in California PG&E shuts off your power when the wind blows. Or when they feel like placing political pressure on the governor.
Oh and they regulate your solar permit and limit how much solar you can install limiting the ability to go off grid.
In addition to that the utility costs are outpacing fuel costs.
