Why Oil Really Fell Today—and Could Keep Falling

I'm Doubtful

We hear about these huge energy breakthroughs all the time. They never pan out. I'll believe it once I see this being done on an industrial scale. Until then, it's just speculation.

KM of VT @ Aug 05, 2008 11:45:53 AM

Hydrogen Not Viable

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the National Academy of Sciences have studied hydrogen and conclude that it is not viable as a substitute of gasoline or diesel, for several reasons.

Hydrogen cannot be transported in the pipeline network that covers the U.S. for transporting gasoline and diesel. A new system of pipelines would costs hundreds of billions of dollars, as the pipes would have to be very thick. Transporting hydrogen by truck would be impractical (long distance transport would use up much of the energy contained in the trucks as the trucks would not hold much hydrogen). Hydrogen leaks from most tanks (hydrogen is the smallest molecule) and it is highly explosive (cars could not be parked in garages/parking garages).

This is documented in a free 48 page report that can be downloaded, website posted, distributed, and emailed: http://www.peakoilassociates.com/POAnalysis.html

Clifford J. Wirth, Ph.D. @ Aug 05, 2008 11:37:50 AM

Hooray! Vaporware saves us again! It's only ten years away like fusion and flying cars. Gotta love the rumornomics of it all....

Sorry, I'm skeptical of these so called "announcements" but I am no fan of oil companies either. That's why I e-bike. Hope it's true but won't be surprised in it's not-working on infernal conbustion engines sucks. I'll take an electric motor anytime.

Kaizeneer of IN @ Aug 05, 2008 11:18:38 AM

use of electricity to make hydrogen

basically the electricity can come from Nuclear or solar or wind. The key is the gains in efficiency he claims to use electricity to make hydrogen that is unclear and fuzzy. using electricity to make hydrogen is nothing new and has been around for years, it is just too expensive.

of @ Aug 05, 2008 11:09:03 AM

Right thought, wrong discovery

I think that the thought is right, there are other factors. Another might be the fact that the proven reserves of natural gas in the USA has doubled in the last 2 years and now is enough to last over 100 years at the current consumption rate. I relatively simple fix to our current “energy crisis”. NG powered cars are available right now, all that is needed is more filling stations

M. F. of NY @ Aug 05, 2008 09:43:59 AM

Far fetched

Bloviation.

LJR of IA @ Aug 05, 2008 09:37:46 AM

Oil fell

Don't you just love it when you get the answer after you need it!

Don't plan however, it might create more AMERICAN JOBS producing energy from oil, gas, nuclear, coal, wind, solar, and geothermal.

Better just buy energy from countries that don't like us and see if this crazy stuff will happen again!

whs806 of TX @ Aug 05, 2008 08:35:45 AM

How much water do you need for a hydrogen based economy? And do we have plenty of that? No, water shortages are already looming.

LHJM @ Aug 05, 2008 05:28:16 AM