If you're going to be producing hydrogen from water you might as well produce synthetic hydrocarbons and recycle atmospheric CO2 in that way. In both cases, it is likely that the limiting factor might be the transition metals needed as catalysts or to coat electrodes.

"It's the statue, man, The Statue."

Hydrogen fuel cells are a total rip-off. They are at least ten times the cost of high-tech batteries, with lower efficiency, require a vastly expensive fueling infrastructure, are burdened with a hen-or-egg problem, always 15 years away (plug-ins are really close and high end electrics already on the market) and are in my not so humble opinion just a smoke screen used by the auto industry so they can continue their SUV ways. A bit like carbon sequestration for the power industry.

I have a picture somewhere... Ah.

Battery recycling should not be a big problem. I mean, we recycle all batteries today. At least in Sweden. And they are not supposed to be cancerogenic (like petrol) or explosive (like hydrogen) or incredibly climate damaging (like uncombusted biogas).


Peak oil is not an energy crisis. It is a liquid fuel crisis.