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Vinod Khosla Talks Ethanol
IamTheRealMike writes "Vinod Khosla, venture capitalist and co-founder of Sun, has a new obsession these days. Ethanol is the fuel touted by many as an alternative to dwindling oil stocks, but is it all it's cracked up to be? Whilst Khosla is an avid supporter of ethanol as an alternative fuel (video link) his optimistic views have been rigourously challenged by Robert Rapier, an oil industry insider who is also engaged in a quest to discover alternatives. Recently the two debated via phone the merits of an ethanol economy, and Mr Rapier has now written up a report of the debate. What will be powering our cars 10 years from now?"
Ethanol powered drivers are already behind the wheel of many American vehicles. This seems more of a problem than a solution. Though the Fred Flintstone Engine would seem to work well, especially with enough ehtanol in your system that you don't notice that you just lost all the skin on your feet at the last red light.
APK quotes people (including myself) without context and should not be trusted. Just thought you should know.
You obviously haven't been to Indiana.
"You will pay for your lack of vision..." - Emperor Palpatine to Ray Charles
What will be powering our cars 10 years from now?
Can you say Mr. Fusion?
"You will pay for your lack of vision..." - Emperor Palpatine to Ray Charles
As The New Republic has revealed, I use hydrogen in my 1972 Dodge Charger and 1996 Jeep Cherokee. Check the link in my .sig :)
Eve Fairbanks says I drive a hybrid!LOL
Don't worry, global warming will solve that.
As a kid I went with my dad to his job in facilities for a large company. This company had a bank of diesel-powered generators in their basement - huge 24-cylinder beasts. On this trip there happened to be a 20 gallon bottle (think old water-cooler bottle) sitting on the floor with about 6 inches of diesel fuel in the bottom. I inquired as to whether this was a safety hazard - and then watched as a co-worker deliberately struck a match and dropped it in the bottle.
The match fell to the liquid and was extinguished.
As a slightly older youth I attempted to repeat this experiment - only this time with a) a plastic container, b) gasoline, and c) outside on the driveway.
I think my eyebrows grew back within a week or two.
Oil? Nope. My prediction: Fred's big feet. (think "Flintstones")
On a positive note, all those oil company bigwigs'll be turned into Al Bundy-style shoe salesmen...
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