-I can't imagine the price staying that way for long. Also methanol
does need to be handled with care because of the potential to cause
nerological effects. This can include excessive handling and breathing
of fumes ( not to mention drinking it). LOng term, there is a
reasonable chance that it can be manufactured reasonably cheaply from
plant waste such as straw and tropical grasses.
Robert
-- In harryproa@yahoogrou
>
> diesel is problematic in fuel cell since fuel cell uses hydrogen
only. Diesel contains much more carbon and less hydrogen than most
other fuels so it must be processed more and waste more than fuels
with higher hydrogen content, such as methanol. Methanol is used
because it has highest hydrogen content of all alcohols used as fuel.
Methanol price depends on how much you order at one time. Small
quantities may cost 10-20 euros a litre but thousand litres may push
the price down to 40-50 euro cents a litre.
>
> Arto
>
> --- On Tue, 6/17/08, Mike Crawford jmichael@... wrote:
>
> From: Mike Crawford jmichael@...
> Subject: [harryproa] Re: Idle thoughts on electric drives
> To: harryproa@yahoogrou
> Date: Tuesday, June 17, 2008, 6:14 PM
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> In terms of future options, we're supposed to have diesel
fuel cells within five years. If this were to happen, we could
do away with the genset weight, yet still go all-electric.
would be an ultra-quiet and clean system, without the weight of a
generator, that could still used regenerative props. There are
methanol-based fuel cells now, but the cost of the fuel is ridiculous,
so they are best used for powering lights and electronics.
>
> The only problem is that five years away is often more than
five years away. Thus, my goal would be to build a
future-compatible system where the boat could start with a genset and
then swap it out for a fuel cell.
>
>
>
>
> Rob Denney wrote:
>
>
> G'day,
>
> Electric drive is certainly getting popular. Your scenario would
> certainly work, but i am not yet convinced about recharging. There
> are smaller volume electric motors than the Solomon and we are looking
> at a variety of ideas including mounting them on the rudders on lift
> up brackets so they are steerable and out of the water when not
> required. Electric motor and battery technology is still getting
> better and cheaper so no one is buying them until they have to,
> although Blind Date now has an electric auxillary to aid with
> steering. Should have some feedback on this by the end of the summer.
>
> regards,
> Rob.
>
> On Tue, Jun 17, 2008 at 1:27 PM, oceanplodder2003 <dana-tenacity@
usa.net> wrote:
> > I was cruising the Solomon Technologies site. I like the idea of
> > electric drive. I don't like internal combustion engines, I don't
> > motor very much. I don't like the idea of dragging those bloody
great
> > props around.
> >
> > So I thought about recharging with the props till the batteries are
> > nearly full, then getting them out of the water and using
solar/wind
> > to top them off.
> >
> > Would this work. A Single (or double) Solomon drive mounted on the
> > centreline of the boat with a shaft that drops down to the
water when
> > in use. The drive unit is hinged. The hinge allows it to rotate
180 so
> > it can pass through vertical (don't do this in shallow water) and
> > "shunt" so you can motor/recharge on either tack.
> >
> > Hope I described that adequately.
> > Am I nuts?
> >
> >
>
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