Filed under: Emerging Technologies, Etc.
What do terrorists fear most? Perhaps a fuel cell tank?
Who knows where this will lead.Members of the Motorsport Industry Association and representatives of the UK's Ministry of Defence (the 'c' is how you know it's not the Pentagon) held a meeting last month to discuss "see how the advanced technology of the motorsport industry could benefit the defence sector and aid national security in the fight against terrorism."
Attendees at the January 18th meeting included senior representatives of: Prodrive; Lola; Xtrac; Cosworth; Alcon; WilliamsF1; Honda Racing F1 and Advanced Fuel Systems. Others attended from the MOD; Defence Industries Council; Lockheed Martin USA; AgustaWestland; QinetiQ; BAE Systems; Intellect; Defence Manufacturers Association (DMA); Standish Group and the Armoured Trials and Development Unit, organizer MIA said. Apparently a new and high-speed, lightweight armored vehicle is the goal.
In other MIA news, the group will organize the first Energy Efficient Motorsport conference next month right before the 55th Annual Mobil Twelve Hours of Sebring race.
[Source: MIA]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Howard Lee Harkness 5:17PM (2/15/2007)
While the best way to combat terrorism is to stop funding it, hydrogen will not accomplish that.
Besides, a high-pressure hydrogen tank is the perfect soft target. It is fairly difficult to release all of the energy of a diesel or a gas tank, but it is trivial with a hydrogen tank, and can be accomplished with a few inexpensive and readily available parts.
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Andre 5:43PM (2/15/2007)
50% of Russian cars have propane tanks. The same engine works from gas or propane. They did it to have more oil available to sale to the Western Europe. The same technology is in Italy. We were installing pjotovoltaic panels (to produce electric current from light) in 70's in poor countries, but were forbidden to install it in the USA. Oil lobbies have been fighting it. Today you CAN install panels on evry roof. Technologies are available, but someone sabotages it.
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Andre 5:43PM (2/15/2007)
Alternative energies will reduce income to unfriendly oil producers, so they will send less finances to anti-American groups. Oil lobbies will fight.
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Doug R 6:17PM (2/16/2007)
I'm glad they having a pow wow considering how many good things from racing has been adapted to the common car.
If Hydrogen and Propane power has been suggested, then I agree with #1. Not smart, very easy and soft targets with a disasterous result. They use Diesel because of it's low volatility.
Wacko environmentalist lobbies have been successful at inducing government to:
Severely limit domestic oil exploration.
Enforce insane environmental regulations responsible for no new refineries being built in 30 years, yes, 30 years. Huge influence on the price of gas.
Requiring 40 different blends of fuel for various areas of the country. Not 10 or 15 or even 20, but 40! This is imbecilic in a childish sort of way. A supply and demand nightmare that is also a significant contributor to the price of fuel.
Illiminating this nonsense would do more towards wiping out energy dependence on unfavorable nations than any alternative fuel could ever remotely hope to. How ironic that the very people responsible for intiating or supporting this madness scream the loudest about "energy independence".
All we would have to do is show the world we're willing to pull our heads out over this stuff and the "anti-American" oil folks would be instantly whistling a different tune. They haven't learned the lesson about "don't bite the hand that feeds you" because we've never taught it.
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naggs 7:34AM (2/19/2007)
"In other MIA news, the group will organize the first Energy Efficient Motorsport conference next month right before the 55th Annual Mobil Twelve Hours of Sebring race."
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