I've read that the fundamental barrier holding back technological

advancement right now is batteries.

We could have built a mainstream, affordable, reliable, and safe all-electric car a LONG time ago if we just had the batteries to power it.

Similarly, that is the same barrier that hurts solar and wind. How do you generate the electricity when you can, and use it when you need to? Oh, and preferably figure out how to store it without using some of the most toxic stuff known to man when you make the battery.

In response to this post by Hokie Fiji

Posted: 02/13/2018 at 6:25PM

Great examples of how the future is speeding up -- VaAkita 02/13/2018 3:12PM

"The Truth About Your Future" is an excellent, well researched book -- VaAkita 02/13/2018 7:22PM

Don't write off the automobile industry just yet... -- EDGEMAN 02/13/2018 6:05PM

The breakthrough which allowed digital cameras to flourish... -- USN_Hokie 02/13/2018 5:35PM

The last statement shows a fundamental misunderstanding of college... -- BB Hokie 02/13/2018 5:14PM

It already is obsolete. Hardly anybody actually thinks through situations -- 91HokieBob 02/13/2018 11:32PM

At least we hope they are learing critical thinking. -- EDGEMAN 02/13/2018 6:09PM

I would think that's one of those things learned earlier in life anyway... -- `lag 02/14/2018 08:26AM

Wishful thinking. -- Naelbis 02/13/2018 4:30PM

...or dystopian delusion... -- EDGEMAN 02/13/2018 6:08PM

Well.... -- Beerman 02/13/2018 4:58PM

Seems to be a decent amount of social unrest and war already ** -- CPRVHokie 02/13/2018 4:58PM

Talk to someone in the Electrical power business about 12 & 13. ** -- AtlantaHokie 02/13/2018 4:23PM

I have, and they all seem to agree. Solar will be king soon. ** -- BB Hokie 02/13/2018 5:10PM

I can readily see the growth in solar offsetting the growth in -- Tafkam Hokie 02/13/2018 6:21PM

Solar accounts for something like 1% of total US energy consumption. Even -- RoswellGAHokie 02/13/2018 6:02PM

...and it only generates power ~12 hours/day ** -- EDGEMAN 02/13/2018 6:07PM

Big challenge with solar (and other renewables) is storage -- Hokie Fiji 02/13/2018 4:28PM

I've read that the fundamental barrier holding back technological -- Tafkam Hokie 02/13/2018 6:25PM

The GM car they first brought out was powered by lead-acid batteries -- EDGEMAN 02/13/2018 6:42PM

Yep. Same is true for hydro (which nobody ever seems to mention) -- Hokie Fiji 02/13/2018 6:33PM

There are other ways of storing energy, though... -- Freddyburg Hokie 02/14/2018 09:20AM

We can fight rising sea levels with #14 - -- MP4VT2004 02/13/2018 4:23PM

I thought about that the other day, well if the oceans are rising just -- fordham 02/13/2018 4:36PM

I guess then we have to figure out how to deal with rising pee levels ** -- MP4VT2004 02/13/2018 4:58PM

How about a renewable resource we can all get behind: farts! ** -- EDGEMAN 02/13/2018 6:44PM

Awesome stuff if true! ** -- NokieHokie 02/13/2018 3:54PM

These are also great example of societies downfall as well. -- vt_mughal 02/13/2018 3:49PM

Yes! I used to call it the dumbing down of America. Sub world for America ** -- 91HokieBob 02/13/2018 11:34PM

If all that in the post came true you would have massive social chaos -- fordham 02/13/2018 4:07PM

I guess that's what 20B is referring to. -- MP4VT2004 02/13/2018 4:27PM

Awful. Who "likes" this? -- vtbones 02/13/2018 3:46PM

I've read that the fundamental barrier holding back technological

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