Why don't we just switch to electric and hydrogen fuel cell cars?

Question

Thus leaving all of the Arab countries with all of their useless muck?

Answer 1

There is still oil in the ground. as long as that remains the case there will not be a serious energy alternative. And you can bet donuts to bullocks that big oil will be running that as well.

Answer 2

Politics, red tape, infrastructure.

Oil Companies are heavily invested in our government and corporate businesses in general. Not to mention they have legions of lobby groups to make sure we don't go cold turkey on oil.

Answer 3

probley due to bush

Answer 4

Just? You mean you are totally unaware of the problems?

Fuel cells are extremely difficult to make and so they are expensive. That could probably be fixed with enough effort.

Now where do you get the hydrogen? There are no natural sources of hydrogen. Most hydrogen used today is made from oil. Splitting water? It takes more energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen that you can produce by burning the hydrogen. Where to get the energy to split the water? By burning oil in a generator? So we STILL have to use oil. Even more oil would be used than if we just burned it in cars instead of using it to make hydrogen to use in cars.

Answer 5

Money that we don't all have . I'm not sure if you really took a good look at the economy but where i live it sucks . If you want to fund it ill be happy to own one .

Don't get me wrong people are working and getting by but that's all most are doing is getting by

Answer 6

Hydrogen fuel cells consume more energy in construction than they produce, right now... 20 years from now, different story maybe. Plus, they blow up VERY easily.

Electric cars are around, sort of. The electricity has to come from somewhere, though, and that usually means oil.

Answer 7

Yes it's politics and big business and all that but it's also in large part our fault, I drive around and I see lots of brand new ( very large! ) SUV's and pick-ups and whatever, the others can't really do anything if ultimately we can't muster up enough presence of mind to actually buy a high mileage vehicle rather than keep buying the same things simply because it's the right thing to do. Many go by the " let the other guy worry about it" frame of mind, but we can't afford that frame of mind any more, we need to all do our part. The best place to look for answers to a lot of these problems is in the mirror.

Answer 8

The car companies have billions invested in the internal combustion engine.   With a little tweaking they can make it more powerful or smaller or whatever consumers want.   Mass producing fuel cells or even electric motors would cost many billions more for all the retooling that would be needed on the production line.    That's a lucky thing actually.    Our electric grid hasn't changed much in the last 60 years.   Its the same technology, just a little bigger.   To move the energy needed to power only 10% or less of the vehicles in the country would burn it out.   Look what one little problem did to the east coast a couple years ago- shut the power down in most of the north east.

Answer 9

i totally agree, all that is bloking us is that the government is selling the solar power and stuff for a really high price. :(

Answer 10

All you will get on this site is 1/2-*ssed answers and opinions.

Go to the US DOE EERE Hydrogen, Fuel Cell and Infrastructure Project website if you want an accurate answer.  Or to wiki.answers.

Answer 11

Some are. Most do not like them or feel they cannot afford them. I for one do not care for the electric car. Expensive, short range, and unless power is from Nuclear, solar, wind. etc, it is still polluting.

Hydrogen. Haven't seen one because most now in operation are testing / prototypes. Here again, expensive, takes power to make hydrogen, and Hydrogen poses many safety concerns due to its being dangerous to handle and transport.

Don't listen to these coolaid drinkers that still think the electric car, Hydrogen car, etc. were all stopped by car / oil companies. Rediculous. I would, and all my friends and family, as well as millions of others would snatch up any alternative that is cost effective, safe, and reliable. The first company to produce one is going to be very rich and famous.