Could coal be liquified and refined to be used as fuel for automobiles ?

Question

Lets face it, one day the earth will run out of oil.

Answer 1

Sure. That's how the Germans powered their war effort during WWII.

Answer 2

lets face it, it has less energy output and worse, it pollutes the air rather than worry about stupid easy energy, we gotta take the hard way out, we are americans, we must be strong not pitiful yellowbellies!!!!!

we MUST LEAD THE WORLD IN THE ENERGY CRISIS AND ENVIRONMENT!!!!!! WE MUST FIND A CLEAN ENERGY SOURCE AND A CLEAN LIFESTYLE!!!!!!

PERIOD.

.

Answer 3

Can it? Yes The Germans did it.

But dont you think one day we will run out of coal too?? At least theres plenty of coal we can mine for in the US and we wont be sending trillions of dollars to other countries that hate us.

I don't get why people are getting so excited about hydrogen. Hydrogen as a single element is not very abundant on Earth. It's mainly bonded with Oxygen in water. Yes we do have a ton of water but it's not like water "burns" as fuel you have to separate the hydrogen from it usually through electrolysis. That requires ENERGY!!! Often times from electricity which is ultimately produced by coal. Therefore it would be less efficient than an electric car. An electric car you can use the original source the electric power plant to fuel your car instead of a hydrogen car which water is gather then using ELECTRICITY to split the hydrogen, gathering the hydrogen, then transporting the hydrogen. You see where there is lost efficiency in that.

Answer 4

You are right, someday oil will run out. But you wouldn't want to replace it with coal, either. Coal, as it turns out, is a less efficient source of energy. Other alternatives are more promising, such as hydro cell and solar.

Answer 5

honestly we should as soon as possible should change to running cars on nitrogen its completely pollutant free and we'll never run out its water

Answer 6

Sure - its called the tropsch fischer process - its not as efficient as getting the oil out of the ground from Mexico or Canada though (the source of most of our fuel today).

Answer 7

It is already being done.  Not very efficient or cost effective.  Coal can also be gassified.

Answer 8

Yes !!! and we will never run out of oil & gas. The p[lants recycle CO2 into oxygen and the plant keeps the C. When the plant leaves die they wash down the river to the delta where it breaks down into Oil & gas. Many plants have oil like olive oil and many others. Petrolium is nothing but aged plant oil.