09 Sep 2003, 04:06, Roy J. Tellason (1:270/615), wrote to Tom Walker:

Hi Roy.

 TW>> Fuel Cell technology is Increadabily expensice at the present 
 TW>> time.

 RJT> I would have guessed that to be the case.  Is it manufacturing 
 RJT> that jacks the price up?

At present, production is VERY low, and research and development is VERY
intense, hence the high prices!

 TW>> Coleman, The lantern People makes a Hydrogen powered fuel cell 
 TW>> Power pack as I rembember it was $5000 for a 3 KW unit and iyt 
 TW>> used special exchange cartridges for the Hydrogen at some $125 for
 TW>>  several hours run time.

 RJT> Hmm.  Only "several hours"?  That's rather expensive.  OTOH,  
 RJT> that's power that's *quiet*,  as compared with a generator or 
 RJT> whatever.  And it's presumably easier to haul around,  too.

Such a device would likely appeal to the 'better off' crowd of Deer hunters
on overnight trips, big game hunters/campers, etc.  The types that pack
electric sleeping bags, etc.  As far as the "Coleman brand" fuel
being expenxive, Coleman only specifies their own brand of fuel even for
their gas lanterns and camping stoves, etc. at their own inflated prices.

Now-a-days, Coleman _might_ be right!  Many years ago any 'white gas' ran
fine in all the Coleman products, and we always had a boatfull of marine
white gas to tap from.  With all the present EPA additives, blends, mixes,
etc, some of those fuels might just BE harmful to the equipment as well as
to the humans using it.
..................

 RJT> I saw something on tv in the past few weeks that was talking 
 RJT> about fuel cells,  and hydrogen.  But I was of the impression 
 RJT> that they could use all sorts of "fuel".  Maybe that was earlier 
 RJT> on,  or something? 

There are AT LEAST three whole different types (or classes) of fuel cells
being developed.  ISTR one being developed that would run on alcohol, where
the alcohol was broken down and the 'H' was pulled from it to do the major
part of the work.  They each had their 'cons', the pure 'H' being expensive
to fuel, the others fuel was cheap, but certain internal parts had to be
replaced or cleaned every XX hours, etc.

When they do get something into mass production, I sure hope it goes the
way of Computers, cheaper every year, rather than like Autos and food,
higher every year.  :-(( 


     Good luck...  M.

--- Msged/386 TE 06 (pre)