Hi All

Nature article on converting carbs to fuel which might work well to cut oil import dependency and eliminate the greenhouse threat. Though gas might jump in price if there's an unseasonal frost, for example.

A biodiesel hybrid with plug-in battery pack might just eliminate the need for all the apparent hydrogen economy idiocy out there. But does it all have to be one or the other? In reality it won't be single-choice, it will be competition.

Space relevance? Hmmm... well biodiesel is an option for a Mars base with a good greenhouse, especially if gengineered plants are growing out in the Martian soil. Might seem a bit silly especially since oxygen is made along with hydrogen via electrolysis in the initial stages of a base, but photosynthesis might become the preferred option for making oxygen once it's more established - and what better fuel than the crops that make the oxidiser? Diesel has a much higher energy/volume ratio than hydrogen too.

Adam