On Monday, December 31, 2012 6:50:35 PM UTC-5, wrote:
Vaughn wrote:

On 12/31/2012 1:54 PM, wrote:

As for "emerging technology", the lithium battery was invented in 1912..



How is their invention date relevant to this discussion?



Airplanes were invented in about that same time-frame, are you saying

that no significant changes have occurred in aviation since then?



Vaughn



Umm, no, what I am saying to people that use phrases like "emerging

technology" in the expectation that huge improvements are just around

the corner is that the technology has been around a LONG time and is

not "emerging"; the huge improvements happened long ago and all that

can be expected now is minor improvements.



An "emerging technology" where there could be huge improvements would be

something like someone inventing Star Trek technology, e.g. dilithum

power or impulse engines.

Not trying to argue with you Jim.
But this is my field of research.
Also, when I talk "electric", no one
ever said exclusively batteries. The
advances in PEM fuel cell technology
is through the roof. These "range-
extenders" using ammonia borane,
and sodium silicide take electric
flight orders of magnitude beyone
the internal combustion engine, both
in torque, comfort, and sustainability.


http://www.chargedevs.com/content/fe...ches-1500-whkg

http://www.energy-daily.com/reports/...tes_999.h tml

http://www.northwestern.edu/newscent...ergy-kung.html

http://www.worldofchemicals.com/medi...king/1721.html

http://www.intelligentutility.com/ar...-possible-soon

http://www.marketplace.org/topics/su...r-game-changer

---
(sorry, was unable to transfer
the link for this)

Fuel Cells
Powerful Implications

Lt Col David P. Blanks, USAF
Editorial Abstract: Getting somewhere, sharing information, and producing things all require energy. However, our primary source of energy—oil—is nonrenewable and exhaustible. If we wish to advance, we must seek an alternative, such as hydrogen, the most abundant element in the universe. Fuel cells have the potential not only to transform the future energy needs of the United States and the US Air Force, but also to change how and why we fight.