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It would be great if there was a (safe, efficient) way to store electricity in ethanol - but it seems that the process is not very efficient and requires carbon
by harperlee 8y ago
It would be great if there was a (safe, efficient) way to store electricity in ethanol - but it seems that the process is not very efficient and requires carbon monoxide as input, which is not very safe at offgrid-home scale.
That is, unless electricity is used to light corn crops. Still not very efficient.
- adrianN 8y agoIt's not really efficient, but you can create short chain hydrocarbons to store fuel for your fuel cell. Methanol for example is a lot easier to handle than hydrogen and there are fuel cells that consume it.
- beat 8y agoMethanol is avoided in a lot of non-industrial situations because it's so incredibly toxic. Very dangerous to children and animals and idiots.
- adrianN 8y agoI wouldn't recommend drinking gasoline or diesel either, but cars seem to work pretty well with it.
- beat 8y agoGasoline and diesel won't leave you permanently blind on a spoonful. Methanol is significantly more poisonous. It also burns with a colorless flame, which has been a problem in auto racing, where it is sometimes used.