Nobel laureate rings energy alarm bell

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Greets bjbrock very thoughtful post

It is nice to see someone that uses observation to post.

I am a believer in the in the free market and consumer demand driving "new" technologies. Here is a little something you may find interesting. If you have noticed there has come into the auto market a surge in gas electric cars. The technology for these existed back in the 1930's. In fact here is a farm tractor made in 1959.
http://historywired.si.edu/object.cfm?ID=223

Fuel cell technology really began in 1839 by Sir William Grove and in 1939 the same Allis Chalmer from above made a tractor with the fuel cells.
http://www.7ms.com/fct/ (see the last paragraph).

Today we are seeing advancements in the technology because of simple premise called market demand. At times I do rail against environmentalists but I must confess that one of the byproducts is an acute awareness by the public for the need of alternative resources. Is it not funny that all of the sudden the growth of the auto industry in electro fuel cell technology has sprung up?

The government can call for more research but it will be the market that drives invention. I won't bore you with the links but most of what is just over the horizon has been invented. It just has not been perfected yet. A few years ago electro cars sucked for power and anything but use around the local neighborhood. I am currently looking into a pickup truck that is gas electric. These trucks are pricey but it will still haul what I want and I can take it on long trips.

I agree with your statement about the immediacy of reward but again it is the market not the government that is the incentive for invention. Now one thing I do believe the government should do is go after theses factories that pollute our environment. Sadly the United States really does a fair job, it is countries like China, Mexico and Russia that do a very, very poor job of regulating factories, but we would not know that from the news.

Final observation. California is probably the strictest state on governing auto and factory pollution, yet Las Angeles remains top in the poorest air quality yearly. California also has the highest gasoline prices and has the strictest conservation laws and yet California's consumption continues to outpace the rest of the United States. What this proves is government cannot legislate consumption. Consumers are going to buy and use what they want. Kind of makes you wonder.

Posted by: Squawkbox   Posted on: 12/15/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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