Hehe...that's disturbing, darell.
Actually, I remember a bit more about flywheel vehicles. They do indeed look promising on paper, except for the potential of catastrophic failure of the wheel itself (essentially explosion)...usually a carbon-fiber disc requiring very stringent standards of manufacture to minimize the risk of failure, and even then heavy protective chambers to contain explosion and protect from outside impact. Gyroscopic effects don't have to matter if an opposing wheel is used.
A flywheel racecar was indeed developed by Chrysler; the Patriot. It was to run in the World Sports Car (WSC) series in the mid-90's, especially '95. This was the series that developed more or less as a successor to the (sadly) defunct GTP series, and which later became American LeMans. Anyway...the car was electric, powered by a single massive flywheel which in turn was powered by a liquid natural gas (LNG) twin-turbine alternator. It would most likely have been a top competitor, despite early production problems. It died in the face of the catastrophic failure and gyroscopic action issues, deemed not worth the effort to solve at the time. I was very disappointed...I had been hoping to see this beast perform at Road America (the finest track in the country!!!), and once thought that I HAD seen it on the track, but I can find no reference whatsoever to either version of it (there was a Mark II) ever actually racing, so I must have been mistaken.
I recall reading about the powdered hydrogen storage method as well...I think it involved some combination of borax and salt. I also recall some discussion of something dangerous about the setup, but can't remember what.
I think the missing ingredient in the hydrogen-fuel issue, at least as it's discussed today, is solar power. If you get deep enough into the discussion solar usually seems to come out, especially to meet the desire that hydrogen be a 100% "clean" fuel rather than coming ultimately from fossil plants or reformed gasoline. I think that exposes the basic issue--hydrogen is a lovely energy currency, but will we have the energy, and "clean" energy at that? I suspect someday we will (solar? fusion? something else?) Whether battery technology perhaps surpasses fuel cell tech by then...I couldn't guess.
There are, however, fuel cell generators available for the home right now, as well as for commercial applications. Usually they're being offered as alternatives for backup generators, and there is one model that is small and can be wheeled around. It's intended to be used INDOORS in places like hospitals for portable emergency power.
Biodiesel, btw, is a BIG issue here in central Illinois. Soy farmers just love it. I've toyed with the notion of a TDI for some time myself...but I'm loath to give up the joys of my Saab (hi Saaby!)
rusty
