You're assuming that coal and gas is used to convert HHO. Why not let a nuclear or a solar-powered plant do this? Not only is HHO (allegedly) more efficient, but we don't even need to use up gas and oil in the process. Which is better for our ecosystem.

i only say this because this is how it is right now:

http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/energy_in_brief/renewable_energy.cfm

notice how solar only manages to get 1% of the renewable energy, a fraction of a percent if you look at the big picture. solar power has a lot of problems, and even manufacturing the panels is going to take a tremendous amount of energy (there is a return, but it takes many years). there's also the issue of transmission lines and energy loss from being in remote areas. if you look at nuclear which is much more promising, i think there is something like 40 plants in planning or in the works right now, and it takes about 10 years for these to get started up to begin producing power. compared to something like 650 coal plants alone in the us, odds are most electricity is coming from coal or oil.

in addition, hydrogen is a few breakthroughs away from being commercially viable and still has the problem of actually needing a good clean energy source.

also, the US (number one consumer of energy in the world) has very little plans for energy that make any sense at all. one of the recent tactics they employed was telling saudi arabia PLEASE PUMP OUT MORE OUT to which they responded "i guass???" and production increased an insignificant amount.

At any rate, this entire idea is iffy because HYDROGEN FUELED CARS EQUALS

I'm sure glad you're not the one making major R&D decisions. If the Hindenburg was filled with, you know, gasoline, it probably would have been even worse.

yeah i just want to make a late post and say as much as i love solar power -- it really does seem like a key solution since the sun isn't going to disappear anytime soon -- it isn't viable at all right now. the link you posted for instance, there's a lot of interesting stuff happening, like increased efficiency in the panels and being cheaper to manufacture, but it probably will be a long time before we can get any kind of reasonable amount of energy from it. the problem is, the energy problems are happening now and consumption is really only growing. as much as we talk about reducing our consumption and getting more fuel efficient cars, this all means nothing because we're still using oil. add to the fact other nations are only putting more and more cars on the road (hello china) to raise global demand, and you have a lot of problems.

also it's the opinion of many SMART GUYS (scientists and other insiders) we've basically reached peak oil production. if you consider the fact demand has only gone up steadily, and now that supply will only go down from here, something is going to have to give soon.

We all HOPE it isn't a scam right?, or at least want to believe that it is not. I mean we are going to have to find alternatives sometime.