Controversy over Lithium Extraction!

 Some alternatives to Lithium are being trialed?

But the mining of this dangerous material, which has much safety coverage in Europe has not in Africa and nothing is being done to improve the situation by governments, but rather counting the big bucks that they are pulling in for their own benefits!

For now this is the cheapest alternative for Electric powered vehicles, but nations in Europe are adopting Hydrogen and other wind sails to end the need for Lithium production and exploitation?

But Lithium and Cadium are still needed for Mobile Phones and computer chips and is extensive in the space industry, so what appears to be humanitarian may not be so much true as many want others to think!

Breakthrough in Hydrogen development!

 BMW has the first hydrogen powered vehicle?

For many years now the engine of converting them to other fuels has been something of an issue, but the German car maker claims that they have developed a converter motor withing the axle of their prototype car and this will be the future for motoring, since it requires no conventional engine and a smaller fuel tank if that!

But what it has is it will be far lighter than electric vehicles, while also not over heating in summer and catching fire, while in winter loosing up to 30% of power. 

Something which have caught many drivers with these expensive cars and the waste of time charging them up before moving and having to keep doing so, since the lithium drains in cold weather even when the engine and the vehicle is moving!

Happy New Year 2024.

 Automobiles and Ships doing well?

These are the fields of advanced electronic engine conversion and strides, with rail and aviation following more so with existing power and bio fuels, but the car is now in main and extensive production and the demand is getting higher despite not much change in the lithium battery out put?

Where as shipping it is more profitable and easy to implement and with new designs quicker application, the only thing that is slowing down everything in this area is the Red and Arabian sea crises over commercial shipping being attacked by Houthi rebels in support of Gaza.

The ferry industry and offshore oil rig support are the first to benefit from the electric engine and now with Hydrogen as a mid standby between fossil fuels and electric many more nations will be abandoning and going for the new power sources to become more green and cheaper than the existing?

The only set back is overheating of the lithium batteries and several incidents have been reported recently, perhaps this is because of pushing the power too far and not staying within the required limits?

The Railways 2018. Two.

Practicality?

It was hoped that Britain would see all diesel locomotives withdrawn by 2020, but this has now been changed to 2040?

Because new stock is already playing up and with the changes with franchises there is also a demand on the existing fleet of locomotives to be shuffled about on the British system!

The Class 43 or well known  HST-125's are getting another modernisation to keep them in service to at least 2040. Freight operations will continue with what they have, but some older engines in good nick will be kept for reserve recovery workings?

This has much to do with the price of fuel at this time and they remain more reliable than some of the new stock? The Class 66 service is now complete and it is unlikely anymore new orders will be made for the time?

Lithium battery technology is improving all the time and the Diesel Multiple Unit fleet is expected to also be withdrawn by 2040 in suburban operations, where electrification will continue for long distant speed and travel!

The Electric Age?

2018 Promises to be the Electric Everything!

Electricity is nothing new when it comes to machine technologies but we are now talking about a new form of fusion drive that is none fossil fuel based? The U.S. will reveal their X-57 electric space plane, but it is one of many designs that are being planned or in development around the world!

The electric lithium powered cars, buses and trucks are already here and boats, trains and ships are to follow, but many of them remain bio-fuelled and are not truly what they claim to be?

Ecology and the environment is pushing for cleaner engines that do not cause or will cut pollution levels in our large cities.

Much of what is planned is well behind by in some cases up to forty years and it is not clear as yet if the new technology will just be like diesel replacing steam, with no knowledge that it might be worse in some health aspects?