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Oil companies and alternative energy
- Thread starter vfx
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- Energy Environment Policy
BP's chief scientist, Steve Koonin, was at that RGS seminar day back in January. Amongst other things, he said "photovoltaic technology is not ready yet and I hope we don't make the mistake of moving to it prematurely." I wonder what his motivation for saying that is?
Dpeilow, BP is a major producer of solar panels. Solar panels produce electricity, which currently is not used in mass to power cars. Nor is oil used in mass provide electricity.
So where's his motivation coming from? There's no clear connection between Mr. Koonin's job and his comment. What special interest does BP hold in electricity production?
So where's his motivation coming from? There's no clear connection between Mr. Koonin's job and his comment. What special interest does BP hold in electricity production?
Oil Giants Loath to Follow Obama’s Green Lead
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/08/business/energy-environment/08greenoil.html?_r=1
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/08/business/energy-environment/08greenoil.html?_r=1
graham
Active Member
Oh pretty much anywhere. Haven't you heard? Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe!
JRP3
Hyperactive Member
Maybe the potential to use cheap renewable electricity production to power EV's, there by ending the stranglehold of the oil industry? If oil subsidies are taken away and given to solar panels and BEV's their whole regime crumbles as they don't have a consortium that controls electricity production. As solar and other renewables comprise a larger part of the grid they lose yet another anti BEV argument, i.e. that BEV's merely move pollution from the tailpipe to the coal plant.
Sidenote: check out this article from the same site: Huge Demand for 2011 Tesla Model S Electric Sedan | Eco Auto Ninja
Nice shot of the Model S
http://tinyurl.com/ooypbn
Vinod Khosla thinks ethanol is better than electric cars. His reasons:
1) Batteries are expensive, and not getting cheaper in the foreseeable future;
2) Battery cars pollute more than ethanol [they're "coal powered"];
3) Biofuels are a "low risk" technology that can be implemented in a short period of time;
4) The ICE can be made forty percent efficient. This efficiency, combined with ethanol, will be the best low carbon technology for "most of the world" over the next fifteen years.
Vinod Khosla thinks ethanol is better than electric cars. His reasons:
1) Batteries are expensive, and not getting cheaper in the foreseeable future;
2) Battery cars pollute more than ethanol [they're "coal powered"];
3) Biofuels are a "low risk" technology that can be implemented in a short period of time;
4) The ICE can be made forty percent efficient. This efficiency, combined with ethanol, will be the best low carbon technology for "most of the world" over the next fifteen years.
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