[LINK] Risk Management [WAS: Compressed Air Hybrids]

[David Boxall]

On Mon, 07 Sep 2009 at 22:41:32 +1000 Karl Auer wrote:
> ...
> > The air tanks are carbon fibre, 
> > which is light and fails (in an accident, for example) by tearing. 
> > There's no explosion, as there can be with batteries in that situation.
>
> ... When a container holding very high pressure
> "goes" (and I think we are talking multiple thousands of bar here) I
> suspect it goes in a big way.
>
> ...
I bow to your superior knowledge of carbon fibre technology.

On further reflection, I'm confirmed in my opinion that a battery - no 
matter what its technology - presents far greater safety and 
environmental risks than a carbon fibre tank of air. Looking at the 
highly toxic chemicals involved in batteries, together with their 
minuscule recycling rate, I'm wondering what sort of rod we're making 
for our own backs. What nasties are brewing in the garbage dumps?
 
-- 
David Boxall                         | ignorance more frequently
                                     | begets confidence than does
http://david.boxall.name             | knowledge
                                     | --Charles Darwin (introduction
                                     |  to 'The Descent of Man' 1871)