Quote:
Originally Posted by squishy  hybrids aren't the way forward. hydrogen is, the new honda that is powered by hydrogen (was also on top gear) is an absolutely fantastic example. no sacrifices made for it (like short time's between charges, or the fact that the electricity isn't being generated in a renewable way, so it doesn't really make much of a difference), no more expensive to make or sell, and now they've found an efficient way of implementing it, fuel costs about the same as well! |
except that to make hydrogen you need to electrolyse water - which requires electricity - and if that electricity isnt being generated sustainably you are still no further forward
plus the more energy conversions there are the less eficient the processs because losses occur at each stage
in a standard car you are going from carbon fuel potential energy to kinectic energy in the engine.
in a hybrid you are going from potential energy in the power station fuel - to kinetic in the turbines , to electrical in the wires , to stored chemical energy in the battery then back to electrical to drive the car and then finally to kinetic in the motor/wheels
and in a hydrogen car you are going from power station fuel - to electric - to chemical potential (via electrolysis) then burning the hydrogen to release kinetic to the engine