Eric Walker <[email protected]> wrote:
> To be included in the disadvantages of a new technology are ones relating > to existing regulations and to sunk capital costs. > Yes. It is hard to predict the effect of regulations on cold fusion. Sunk capital costs for equipment and infrastructure can have a large impact on the new technology, or a small impact, depending on circumstances. I believe that the need for new infrastructure will prevent the use of hydrogen automobiles and battery swapping machines. Plug-in hybrid cars have a huge advantage because they can use the existing gasoline delivery infrastructure. Fortunately, sunk costs will not have much impact on cold fusion. There are sunk costs for existing equipment. People will not run out and buy cold fusion cars the moment they come on the market. They will wait until their present automobiles wear out. This will not take long. Automobiles, domestic heating and air conditioning equipment and appliances seldom last longer than 10 or 15 years. The sunk cost of the existing energy delivery infrastructures for electricity, gasoline and natural gas will have no impact on cold fusion, because cold fusion does not need any infrastructure. All the fuel you need is built into the equipment. Or if it needs replacement, the repair man or mechanic can deliver a ten-year supply in the palm of his hand. - Jed
