Hey Pelican Futurists! What will power cars in 2050?

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by Scott R

Ford has that 2.3l that runs on hydrogen combustion., there is also a bus company that has a bus that does.

Yes, and the BMW 7 Hydrogen did/does too. But that's not what I thought Aragorn was referring too. It's certainly possible to "burn" hydrogen in an internal combustion engine. But I don't think too many manufacturers are pursuing that method.

[patssle]

Electricity. We already have the technology for electric cars (i.e. motors) - we just don't have ample storage or generation technology yet.

Either there will be a breakthrough for storage or a new type of electricity generation device.

[rusnak]

I hope by then I can fart in a bottle and have enough energy to light my cigars with my brandy.

[cashflyer]

In high-school we used a potato to power a clock.
All we need is a really big potato for the electric car.


Ireland will be the new renewable energy superpower.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by patssle

Electricity. We already have the technology for electric cars (i.e. motors) - we just don't have ample storage or generation technology yet.

Either there will be a breakthrough for storage or a new type of electricity generation device.

Obviously a breakthrough in battery technology is needed to make electric cars feasible as an only car. But here's the other issue - the electricity has to come from somewhere. Coal produces almost 1/2 of our electricity, and while coal isn't going to run out any time soon there is by no means an infinite supply. It also isn't by any means the cleanest way to create electricity. An entire nation of electric cars would also require a significant investment in infrastructure, both electrical distribution and charging stations. No such thing as a free lunch......

[Jim Richards]

Natural gas, nuclear, solar, etc. for electrical power generation?

[onewhippedpuppy]

Natural gas, nuclear, solar, etc. for electrical power generation?

All valid, but require major shifts (and capital investment) to happen. Nukes are the best bang for the buck but suffer unfortunate public perception.

[Chocaholic]

Negative pressure generators. Why push with brute force when you can pull by simply removing resistance?

[Jim Richards]

Which emerging technologies are most likely to have investment in infrastructure to accommodate the nationwide mobility we've grown accustomed to?

[RWebb]

gerators

[Jim Richards]

Isn't that just Mr. fusion?

[fred cook]

Think "Mad Max". Won't matter much because those left will be struggling just to find food for one more meal! Driving a 2050 Corvette on the interstate will be waaaay down the "to do" list.

[Jim Bremner]

Obama will outlaw cars in his 4th term after a person uses a car to kill three school age kids in Chicago.

Bicycles will be allowed.

[rusnak]

Originally Posted by fred cook

Think "Mad Max". Won't matter much because those left will be struggling just to find food for one more meal! Driving a 2050 Corvette on the interstate will be waaaay down the "to do" list.

Very true...but not because the world has run out of oil. More likely, our domestic energy policy would have made operating such cars too costly to do so. And the 2050 Ching Tsao Motors 'Vette will be much lighter, smaller, and have half the number of cylinders as today's model. We will have to board a slow boat to China just to get a glimpse of the wealthy owners showing them off to their friends.

[vash]

I think all our living will be closer to home. No more Mexican mangos in Canada. Local farms etc. it will get interesting for sure.

[Jim Richards]

Dunno how true this comparison chart is, but here it is:



Other factors are the cost to produce the energy input, and any infrastructure costs to allow nationwide mobility.

[aigel]

Hydrogen has the problem of refueling and transportation in a tank without blowing up.

My vote was for hybrid. I think there will be plug in hybrids with better batteries running you for the first 100 miles. Then it will fall back on a good old combustion engine most likely run with natural gas.

G

[M.D. Holloway]

Electricity...the advent of rare earths and semtic liquid crystals combined with vast weight reduction by use of carbon fiber, nano-tube and advanced fabric for the body will help bigtime.

[Jim Richards]

I prefer to see electric cars, with standardized battery packs that are swapped at service stations throughout the country. Something that can get a car back on the road within 5 minutes.

[Scott R]

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

I prefer to see electric cars, with standardized battery packs that are swapped at service stations throughout the country. Something that can get a car back on the road within 5 minutes.

There is a study on why this likely won't work but I need some time to dig it up. But it boils down to the battery pack is likely to remain at least 1/2 the cost of the car. So for a "station" to carry the cost of storing and charging batteries it would be astronomical.

The other issue was trucking batteries around for swap outs and supply to all of the stations. You can can't do that with a battery powered tractor trailer and the weight on the pack is massive for transportation.

Hydrogen on the other hand can go by "tube trailer" which has been going on for decades already. Or train, or ship all in compressed forms. Very efficient for a distribution network. And it can power the same truck that's delivering it.

There is something called a "wheel to well" calculation method that I would have to look up that easily shows you the cost of transporting various different energy sources.