# The All-Electric Trend Needs To Stop. There Are Other Power Options | Hard Tech #9

- Show: [Hard Tech Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast)
- Published: 2023-07-02
- Length: 34m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2023-07-02-the-all-electric-trend-needs-to-stop-there-are-other-power-options-hard-tech-9
- Listen: https://rss.com/podcasts/hardtechpodcast/1021178

## Summary

The host of the Hard Tech Podcast argues against the industry's narrow focus on battery-electric vehicles, advocating instead for a diversified portfolio of direct power options including solar, hydrogen, ammonia, and biofuels. He highlights NASA's decision to scrap its electric plane plans due to battery limitations and critiques the Toyota Mirai's poor packaging efficiency as evidence that hydrogen is currently better suited for heavy trucks, citing Hizon Motors' heavy rigid fuel cell vehicle as a viable alternative. The discussion also covers GAC's development of an ammonia engine for cars and the potential of biofuels derived from food waste to replace fossil fuels in the near term.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2023-07-02-the-all-electric-trend-needs-to-stop-there-are-other-power-options-hard-tech-9#t=0) Introduction: The Problem with All-Electric Monoculture
- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2023-07-02-the-all-electric-trend-needs-to-stop-there-are-other-power-options-hard-tech-9#t=0) Direct Solar: From Road Signs to Lightyear Vehicles
- [11:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2023-07-02-the-all-electric-trend-needs-to-stop-there-are-other-power-options-hard-tech-9#t=679) Hydrogen: Packaging Issues in Cars vs. Hizon Trucks
- [11:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2023-07-02-the-all-electric-trend-needs-to-stop-there-are-other-power-options-hard-tech-9#t=719) Ammonia: GAC's Engine and Hydrogen Carriers
- [25:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2023-07-02-the-all-electric-trend-needs-to-stop-there-are-other-power-options-hard-tech-9#t=1554) Biofuels: Utilizing Food Waste and Global Markets
- [27:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2023-07-02-the-all-electric-trend-needs-to-stop-there-are-other-power-options-hard-tech-9#t=1628) Conclusion: Long-term EV Maintenance and Show Wrap-up

## Topics

- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Batteries & low-power design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/batteries-and-low-power)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- NASA (company)
- Toyota Mirai (product)
- Hizon Motors (company)
- GAC (company)
- Lightyear (product)
- Bloomberg (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [167. How Hydrogen Will Replace Batteries](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2024-03-26-167-how-hydrogen-will-replace-batteries) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [Heavy duty decarbonization](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-05-30-heavy-duty-decarbonization) (Catalyst)
- [Drone Week: Innovation in agriculture and hydrogen-fueled drones](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-09-27-drone-week-innovation-in-agriculture-and-hydrogen-fueled-drones) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [HIBT Lab! Universal Hydrogen: Paul Eremenko](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-10-20-hibt-lab-universal-hydrogen-paul-eremenko) (How I Built This)
- [Booking your first zero-emissions flight](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-08-18-booking-your-first-zero-emissions-flight) (Catalyst)

## Citing this page

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