The 'What the fuck!' thread

[glatt]

Yeah, the invisibility cloak is neat and all, but what I really want to know about is how many MPG does the fuel cell car have? I understand it has no emmisions, which is awesome, but how efficient is it? Is it better than an internal combustion engine?

Edit: Google is helpful. It runs on hydrogen only, which I missed in Grav's post. I'm not that impressed by hydrogen as a fuel. Because you pretty much wind up burning coal or oil to make the hydrogen. But the car is very efficient, with a 90 mpg equivalent and with zero emissions.

[BigV]

Originally Posted by Rhianne

Actually, now that I look at it again...

The boat is extremely cool, as are the ekranoplans, but I don't think the Tupolev chasing that truck is an ekranoplan. Why? Where are the wings? How's it gonna fly with no wings? Yeah, didn't think so.

To me it looks like an airboat. Like the ones you see Marlon Perkins and Jim cruising the Everglades in. But totally hot rodded, like an unlimited hydrofoil. Of course the hydrofoils I've seen all have a prop that pushes water, and this one's props push the air, so, airboat.

For ekranoplans closer to reality (I know the one in the video is real, but really now...) check out the BT Hoverwings. Also cool, but not as cool as that polished aluminum monster.

[wolf]

Originally Posted by glatt

It runs on hydrogen only,

Oh, those wacky Krauts.

If it was good enough for the Hindenburg, it's good enough for high end cars.

[Gravdigr]

Originally Posted by glatt

Yeah, the invisibility cloak is neat and all, but what I really want to know about is how many MPG does the fuel cell car have? I understand it has no emmisions, which is awesome, but how efficient is it? Is it better than an internal combustion engine?

Edit: Google is helpful. It runs on hydrogen only, which I missed in Grav's post. I'm not that impressed by hydrogen as a fuel. Because you pretty much wind up burning coal or oil to make the hydrogen. But the car is very efficient, with a 90 mpg equivalent and with zero emissions.

I learned earlier this week that hydrogeny cars' mileage is measured in 'miles per kg' (of hydrogen). I was reading about the Honda FCX Clarity. Interesting article.

[footfootfoot]

Originally Posted by wolf

Oh, those wacky Krauts.

If it was good enough for the Hindenburg, it's good enough for high end cars.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1955_Le_Mans_disaster
remember it was those wacky krauts who also came up with the magnesium car body.

[Gravdigr]

Got dayum! What a horrendous fucking wreck.

[Rhianne]

Over 80 killed there Grav. It led to motor racing being banned in several countries and Mercedes withdrew for motorsport for about 30 years.

[infinite monkey]

Wow!

Magnesium? Isn't that what we'd steal 'strips' of in HS chem lab because of the bright white flames they produced when lit?

I'd never heard this story. Just...woah. Seems weird there was a Pontiac LeMans for so long, given that the Le Mans raceway boasted the worst disaster in motorsport history.

[Rhianne]

It was obviously a terrible thing IM, but LeMans is still a special place.

[infinite monkey]

Yeah, that is what I gathered. It was one incident in a history of great sport.

[footfootfoot]

If you want to bake a cake, you've got to break a few eggs.

[ZenGum]

I'm not that impressed by hydrogen as a fuel. Because you pretty much wind up burning coal or oil to make the hydrogen.

Currently true, but not necessarily. Especially in Germany, they are increasingly turning to solar, and this can easily be used to split the water into hydrogen and oxygen.

Can be. Should be. I'm not saying is.

[footfootfoot]

Knock knock.


Who's there?


To.


To who?


To whom.

[HungLikeJesus]

Originally Posted by ZenGum

Currently true, but not necessarily. Especially in Germany, they are increasingly turning to solar, and this can easily be used to split the water into hydrogen and oxygen.

Can be. Should be. I'm not saying is.

At work we have a wind turbine that creates electricity, which creates hydrogen, which is used to fuel a hydrogen car. It's really just a demonstration project.

Hydrogen is not a fuel - it's an energy carrier.

[ZenGum]

Wind is good too, if you're concerned about emissions. As Glatt said, burning oil to make electricity to make hydrogen so you don't have to burn oil ... is a bit silly, really.