More "pie in the sky" from folks who should know better

Popular Mechanics - Crunching The Numbers On Alternative Fuels:
"In the past 18 months, the war in Iraq, a Texas oil refinery fire and drilling rig shutdowns caused by hurricanes--not to mention mounting worries over global warming--have all contributed to a sense of urgency to revamp the way America's vehicles run. Rising oil prices are leading skeptics to take another look at formerly ignored alternative automotive fuels. Ethanol is getting the most attention--but interest is growing in methanol and even leftover french fry oil for use in diesel engines. In addition to these biofuels, research continues into electricity and natural gas as vehicle power sources. Department of Energy (DOE) policy calls for eventually making a transition to a hydrogen-based economy. And President Bush has recently stated that he wants hydrogen-powered cars on the market by 2020."

I suppose one might object that Popular Mechanics is only trying to present a consumer's eye view of the various alternative transport fuels. Thus, they compare a Honda Civic to some limited edition minivans and such for their comparison of coast-to-coast fuel costs. But comparing different size vehicles and making no allowance for the price of the vehicle has some odd effects. For example, using only the cost of the electricity to charge an electric car and ignore the cost of the battery array as if it would last forever is not realistic.

Another factor which makes this article nearly useless for informing the public debate over fuel alternatives is the cavalier dismissal of differences in the way some of these fuels are treated for motor fuel tax purposes. To say that some alternate fuel is selling for 30 cents less a gallon than gas doesn't mean much if it isn't paying the roughly 50 cents per gallon that the feds and states assess in per gallon taxes on gas. The loss of that tax revenue may not mean a lot right now, but what happens to the highway building and repair programs that are funded from those taxes when even 10 percent of vehicles inflicting wear and tear on the roads are not contributing to their upkeep?

Also absent was any mention of the safety concerns of police, fire and EMS personnel who will have to respond to auto wrecks involving hydrogen or natural gas in tanks under high pressure, or electric vehicles carrying large arrays of batteries with corrosive contents. When a truck or trailer hauling bulk gases or liquids (or other things) is in an accident, the trained eye of the first responders can instantly tell whether the contents are under pressure or corrosive. And, they know where to look on the tank and truck for the required placards which will further describe the contents. Since fuel tanks (or batteries) in passenger vehicles are, and will likely remain, hidden, first responders will be even more dependent on the prominent display of a placard on the front, rear, left and right of each such vehicle.