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This is cool, but you can already have zero (net) emissions by running an existing container ship off of biodiesel or synthetic diesel. And the crews are so sma
by oconnore 9y ago
This is cool, but you can already have zero (net) emissions by running an existing container ship off of biodiesel or synthetic diesel. And the crews are so small relative to freight volumes that automating them won't drop costs very much.
- Klasiaster 9y agoBiofuel is not zero emissions, currently it is even worse because huge parts of rainforrest are burned for this monoculture farming.
- oconnore 9y agoCitation? Most of the firms trying to make this work are growing algae in the desert (or the navy is just synthesizing jet fuel from sea water) -- and if companies are willing to pay for a literal boat load of Li-ion batteries, their cost/gallon is probably competitive.
- zardo 9y ago>Most of the firms trying to make this work are growing algae in the desert They aren't currently producing biofuels. Current biofuels are primarily rapeseed, corn, and sugar cane based.
- oconnore 9y agoIt's not that they don't exist, it's that current generation tech is not economical without subsidies [that don't exist], and therefore hasn't been scaled up. And there is no way in hell that a boat filled with batteries is economical compared to one filled with bunker fuel. So if we're not doing economical, it's worth exploring other not-quite-there renewable sources -- especially since a net-zero-CO2 fuel will be more practical: big tanks are cheap, more batteries are not.