World 'needs Australia's platinum to build cleaner cars' - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Search the ABC
ABC Home | Radio | Television | News | Your Local ABC | More Subjects… | Shop
NewsRadio Now Playing:�ABC NewsRadio Weekend Breakfast with Mike Gardiner - Continuous news, sport & finance Listen: Win Real
Video Audio Photos | Podcasts/RSS Email
News Home Just In Australia World Business Sport Entertainment Weather | Opinion Blogs
Hot tags: australia, sport, law-crime-and-justice, courts-and-trials, nsw, government-and-politics, china, states-and-territories, crime, business-economics-and-finance
Email
World 'needs Australia's platinum to build cleaner cars'
By Joanne Dodgson
Posted July 31, 2008 11:40:00
Updated July 31, 2008 14:33:00
Technology needs platinum: A hydrogen-powered car (ABC)
An Australian researcher has warned that the drive to put cleaner, hydrogen-fuelled cars on the road will stall unless new reserves of platinum are found.
Platinum is one of the key components of catalytic converters, catalysing carbon monoxide from exhaust fumes.
It is also a critical component of fuel cells for hydrogen-powered cars.
However 80 per cent of the world's reserves come from just three mines.
John Mavrogenes says a team of geochemists from the Australian National University has identified new methods to detect platinum deposits.
They are simulating the intense heat and pressure of the Earth's magma to discover whether platinum can be thrifty rental cars extracted from other minerals.
"This work may help geologists find new reserves around the world in places that haven't been searched before," he said.
Professor Mavrogenes says if the platinum price remains at its current high, Australia chrysler dodge future cars could mine lower-grade deposits.
"At $2,100 an ounce - and remember that is more than twice the price of gold - at that sort of price and if it was to go higher, we could then start looking at lower grade deposits," he said.
"And we know for sure there are at least two significant platinum deposits in Australia that we would seriously start to look at."
The three major mines that produce platinum are in South Africa, Siberia and the United States.
"If we go to more and more uses of platinum we're going to need more than they can produce," Professor Mavrogenes said.
"Existing reserves would meet less cars henderson than 20 per cent of the world's platinum demand if all cars went hydrogen."
Tags: business-economics-and-finance, used cars in richmond va industry, mining, environment, mining, science-and-technology, australia, act
Search for news
Comments (27)
Comments for this story are closed. No new comments can be added. If you would like to have your say on this issue, you can do so via the Emails section of our fox rental cars Opinion pages.
dragon:
31 Jul 2008 12:10:02pm
Another natural buffer to the world's economic problems.
Agree (0) Alert moderator
drwoood:
31 Jul 2008 12:17:13pm
Maybe we will need to use a simpler and more sensible technology than hydrogen cars - e.g. electric cars, bicycles, public transport.
Agree (1) Alert moderator
John R:
31 Jul 2008 12:45:51pm
The article doesn't make it clear, but it appears that the platinum would be needed for fuel cells - Fuel cells currently being hoped to be the simplest and most sensible way of providing the electricity for electric cars. ie with electric cars the aim, fuel cells seem to have more hope than lithium or nickel chemistry cells.
Agree (0) Alert moderator
Steve:
31 Jul 2008 1:56:01pm
If you're using platinum for fuel cells you face a number of issues:
1) If you're producing hydrogen from electricity (by electrolysis of water) then you will lose about 75% of the energy in the inefficiencies. (Batteries are more efficient)
2) If you're getting hydrogen from natural gas, you're going to create a lot of CO2 in the process.
3) Fuel cells are more complex than most currently available batteries.
4) Storing hydrogen (safely) in a vehicle is still a difficult proposition and the energy density is low.
5) Creating a network of hydrogen filling stations (probably by retrofitting existing service stations) electric small cars is a long way off. Contrast this with the easy availability of electricity.
Charging batteries from coal fired power is actually more environmentally friendly than using petrol as the large coal fired power station is more efficient by far than a typical vehicle.
Better off using coal fired power for now to charge batteries in electric vehicles and find better ways of generating power.
(Yeah, better than "clean" coal which is likely never to exist.)
Agree spokane used cars (0) Alert moderator
Dann:
31 Jul 2008 12:17:20pm
In order to mine all this extra platinum without producing extra emissions, we'll need to convert all the used cars oklahoma city mining equipment to run off hydrogen first.
Of course, in order to do that we'll need a heap of extra platinum.
Ah - now I see the problem... :)
Agree (0) Alert moderator
Stop_the_Madness:
31 Jul 2008 2:00:23pm
There's actually a lot of new technologies already being incorporated into the mining industry to reduce emissions. These include in-pit crushing and conveying systems (to reduce truck fleets) and trolley-assist (where trucks hook into a "power-line" so they can climb a ramp on electricity rather than diesel). The fuel price is also making shaft hoisting systems in underground mines more viable (compared to trucking) than previously.
Agree (0) Alert moderator
CHERIE L CURRAN :
31 Jul 2008 12:38:21pm
To Dann,
Well said and when we are all through digging the 'guts' out of the Earth - what then?
And when we are all through shoving everything under the carpet, burying everything we don't want or dumping it into the oceans, what then?
When everything is worse than the disgusting mess that it already is!
Agree (0) Alert moderator
Gary W:
31 Jul 2008 12:39:37pm
Before you know it, we'll be staring into the abyss of Peak Platinum...
Agree (0) Alert moderator
Fordie:
31 Jul 2008 12:42:38pm
Looking at the previous three comments, which I totally used cars shane lundsford agree with, it baffles me that the ABC even considers putting this ridiculous article up as news. Of course some scientist who has been working for years to find better ways to find platinum would want us to think that we NEED to find more to build hydrogen cars, as now his knowledge of the subject is suddenly worth a whole lot more $. Anyone ever heard of conflict of interest...? Sure its great he's done some good research and will help the mining industry, but dont impose the notion of a 'need' for it on us when it isnt, its an OPTION.
There are a number of ways to produce hydrogen, and a number of ways to use it, they dont all use platinum, and, as drwoood says, there are lots of alternatives!!!
Something I just thought I'd mention, I dont know where else in the world this is used, but I recently got back from a holiday co2 race cars in Europe where I visited Budapest, they have regular looking buses running on electricity from overhead wires... kind of a tram/bus conversion... not quite as efficient as trams, and not quite as cheap as buses, but it appears an unusually happy coos bay used cars middle ground.
Agree (1) Alert moderator
CF Zero:
31 Jul 2008 1:13:42pm
If you want to use H2 to power cars, you are stuck with using Platinum as the exchange catalyst in the proton exchange membrane (PEM).
The PEM seperates the H2 molecule allowing ion's to flow, creating current, powering the car without pollution.
The alternative is to combust H2 and O2 however this is not as efficient and is dangerous as H2 combusts rapidly and exposively unlike petorl which burns smoothly.
Its not a workable alternative to petrol anyway as the PEM is to sensitive to contamination, the fuel cell requires distilled water not tap water and is to expensive for most people to even edmunds cars consider.
Agree (0) Alert moderator
Brad:
31 Jul 2008 1:38:56pm
"not quite as efficient as trams, and not quite as cheap as buses"
So they are an expensive, inefficient way to move people then?
Agree (0) Alert moderator
Dave Gittins:
31 Jul 2008 1:58:56pm
We had buses like that in Adelaide more than 60 compare new cars years ago. We knew them as trolley buses. Some went down what is now Rundle Mall. Like our trams, they faded away.
Al these dreams of hydrogen power fall down on a basic fact of physics. It will always take more energy to produce a given amount of hydrogen than will be obtained when it is consumed, whether by burning or in a fuel cell.
Agree (0) Alert moderator
Mary:
31 northern ireland cars Jul 2008 1:46:02pm
All he said was that if demand increases, we can now meet it.
Agree (0) Alert moderator
Mike:
31 Jul 2008 1:57:11pm
They are called trolley buses. Adelaide, Brisbane, Hobart, Launceston, Perth and Sydney once had trolleybus services. The last stopped in 1969. Wellington, New Zealand still does. The overhead wires are much more expensive and heavier than tram wires. Trolley buses are only economical where you have cheap electricity, such as from hydro or geothermal (which New Zealand does).
Agree (0) Alert moderator
Clive:
31 Jul 2008 12:43:11pm
I live 18 km outside of Tamworth on the side of a mountain. There is no public transport, a bicycle is not practical and electric cars are thin on the ground. I am sure that I used cars - lancaster county pa am not alone in having these issues so what works in the big cities will not help all of us that do not live in them. Or should we all move.
Agree (0) Alert moderator
Ford:
31 Jul 2008 12:54:00pm
*yawn*
Heard this argument before...not any more convincing this time around.
The overwhelming majority of Australians live in towns and cities, not on the side of mountains...for them public transport is an option, if the Government invests in it.
Agree (0) Alert moderator
John R:
31 cobra kit cars for sale Jul 2008 1:20:01pm
Petrol will be around for a long time, but just getting increasingly more expensive. You can stay where you are, but just be aware that using a car will get much more costly. If you are growing most of your own food, then you'll probably still be better off, as the cityfolk will be paying more for food growing and transport.
Agree (0) Alert moderator
matt:
31 ohio classic cars Jul 2008 12:50:57pm
Nothing ever works in isolation. Hydrogen cars will be a part of the solution! Personnaly I thinkthat within larger CBD's there should be a bicycles only approach or a tleast make driving in cities harder and less attractive. Make muscel cars extra cycle and scooter lanes, have model cars and home made parts incentives in place to encourage cycling and public transport. Increased public transport should come with increased security to ward off unsocial behaviour. Our country and that of the world will have a new dynamic look within 20 years.
Agree (1) Alert moderator
Warren:
31 Jul 2008 1:07:17pm
Hurry ! Hurry ! Hurry !
Don't Miss Out !
Exciting Opportunity for New Investors
Get in on the groundfloor now before the opportunity passes.
New transport options.
Horse breeding farms that will used cars glen cove provide the transport opportunity of the late 21st century and beyond. No fossil fuels, no platinum, no electricity.....and when you want to trade up - no wastage - entirely recyclable.
Please call - going fast.
Agree (0) Alert moderator
JohnnoMcJohnno:
31 Jul my itqlian friend sells cars 2008 1:19:43pm
Maybe someone can correct me, but to get hydrogen you need to use electricity. Lots of electricity. So much electricity that you will need more coal fired power stations. How is this helping?
Agree (0) Alert moderator
Mike:
31 Jul 2008 1:58:28pm
You can create hydrogen using solar power. CSIRO developed a ceramic solar cell for extracting hydrogen from sea water.
Agree (0) Alert moderator
david grace:
31 Jul 2008 1:27:15pm
Once we have dug all the minerals out of the ground to solve our short term problems.what will be left for our descendants?
Agree (0) Alert moderator
The Other JohnR:
31 Jul 2008 1:50:45pm
There is a shedload of platinum sitting waiting for things to sort themselves out in..........Zimbabwe. Google Zimplats.
Agree (0) Alert moderator
Mary:
31 Jul 2008 1:50:52pm
The countless lower grade deposits that are uneconomic to mine at the moment.
Agree (0) Alert moderator
Geoff:
31 Jul 2008 1:51:04pm
We just keep digging deeper. And when that gets too hard, we go up to space and start mining asteroids. There's enough to last millions of years in the asteroids alone.
Agree (0) Alert moderator
Kev:
31 Jul 2008 1:44:12pm
I saw a very efficient method of producing both Oxygen and Hydrogen from of all things- water on a children's program only a few weeks ago. No need for platinum. So what are you all on about
Check it out on Channel ten's SCOPE program
All these stories are just a load of rubbish
Hydrogen is very easy to produce and it is ONLY OIL companies that drum up all this rubbish to protect their dollar
There are many uses for oil and we DON"T need to use it for propulsion of motor vehicles
Hence our OIL would be sustained for many more years at a much lesser price that we are being forced to pay now
When the Arabs realise we don't really need so much chev projet cars oil the price will drop dramatically but there will be stillenough to keep them rich for many years to come
Agree (0) Alert moderator
Norm McMullen:
31 Jul 2008 1:47:39pm
What impresses me most about these forums is how Australians will argue the toss about anything and everything, second guess each other, try hard to make the other look dumb, but never do anything about anything. Unless it is a quick means of making money! Which brings us back to where we are at the history of the pullman cars moment - and why we are here!
I really hope someone is working on hydrogen technology because this planet has a limitless supply of same. When we spend as much time looking for platinum as we spent looking for oil deposits I'm sure something will surface.
We might even find something else does the job as well as platinum, something as plentiful as hydrogen?
Agree (0) Alert moderator
Top Stories
Asylum seeker shot dead, 6 years after deportation
Family turn off life support for bashed tourist
Canadian police charge man over bus beheading
Petrol commissioner 'a punching bag' without new powers
US scientist in anthrax case in apparent suicide
Jury fails to reach verdict in London terrorism plot trial
Karadzic sees no chance of fair trial
Coach pleads guilty to recording students in toilet
Medical team completes double arm transplant
Malthouse tips even bigger things for Buddy
Just In
Caution urged as Qld hose ban eased
Derailment clean-up causes passenger delays
Coach pleads guilty to recording students in toilet
People, Hello buy first photos of Jolie-Pitt twins
Karadzic sees no chance of fair trial
Libs yet to decide on contesting Lyne
Wall Street bruised as job cuts mount
Asylum seeker shot dead, 6 years after deportation
Jury fails to reach verdict in London terrorism plot trial
Man kills teens at used cars for sale redding ca Wisconsin swimming spot: police
Petrol commissioner 'a punching bag' without new powers
Canadian police charge man over bus beheading
More
Site Map
Sections
News Home
Just In
Australia
World
Business
Sport
Entertainment
Weather
Opinion
Blogs
Tag Library
Archive
Media
Video
Audio
Photos
Subscribe
Podcasts
RSS Feeds
Email
Contact Us
Feedback Form
Contribute
Upload
Email/Mobile
This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced.
AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of UTC (Greenwich Mean Time)
© 2008 ABC Privacy Policy |
|
|
|
