>JD> Think about this: Nearly all large ships are powered by either steam
 >JD> turbines or huge Diesel engines. Does that make either suitable for
 >JD> automotive use? (Especially compared to present-day gasoline engines)
 > 
 > Yes, I agree and most use electric drive to transfer power to the prop.
They do? Do you mean outside of submarines?
 >JD> you should be interested in the announcements in the past couple of
 >JD> days of some new fuel cell technology that's being developed. The
 >JD> thing runs on gasoline, extracting the needed hydrogen from that fuel.
 >JD> I'd almost bet on it making it to market quicker than a turbine in
 >JD> automotive applications.
 > 
 > Do you have any details of the operating principles? Catalyzers?
All I know is what I read in the newspapers. It's not a totally new 
technology; fuel cells have been around for a LONG time. The main thing with 
this one is the ability to use fuels like gasoline, meaning that the needed 
infrastructure for practical use is already in place. IE: You can buy fuel 
for it almost everywhere, whether it's powering your auto or your homestead. 
Lots better than using hydrogen or some other source.
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