Bloom box

[mphy98]

I saw the 60 minute show on this and did a little research on the web here as well. This thing if it pans out like it should will revolutionize the world as we know it. A small home generator sized devise for 3k within 5 to 10 years and it will generate all of the power we could ever use in our homes. Fed EX, Ebay, Walmart have been testing it for a year or so and according to google who uses it as well, it has saved the company over 100k in power costs. Think of the possibilities, True electric cars that need no battery, poor villages that can have power over night. Less dependence on foreign oil. The list goes on and on. I am a buyer as soon as they become available. I spend 1800.00 a year on power alone plus 2k more on natural gas. I could run it on natural gas and save the heating bill by converting to electricity. I hope this pans out.

 

[paulspaddle]

Re: Bloom cube

Re: Bloom cube

You mean...."bloom box."

Not being picky...."bloom cube" doesn't get accurate search results in Google.

 

[skargo]

Re: Bloom cube

Re: Bloom cube

I'm skeptical by nature, and seeing that it only has a 4-5 year service life, they are going to have to find a way to bring down costs in a big way.

My initial skepticism screams snake oil, I hope I'm wrong.

 

[JustJason]

Re: Bloom cube

Re: Bloom cube

if this pans out it will sure be interesting.

 

[paulspaddle]

Re: Bloom cube

Re: Bloom cube

http://www.geek.com/articles/gadget...-green-friendly-holy-grail-of-power-20100222/

Here's the vid.

 

[mphy98]

Re: Bloom cube

Re: Bloom cube

You mean...."bloom box."

Not being picky...."bloom cube" doesn't get accurate search results in Google.

Sorry just excited about the tech I guess. Bloom box it is. I did not hear that they only have a 3 to 5 year life though. Is that the little cube? If so it should be inexpensive just to replace that.

 

[paulspaddle]

Re: Bloom cube

Re: Bloom cube

Sorry just excited about the tech I guess. Bloom box it is. I did not hear that they only have a 3 to 5 year life though. Is that the little cube? If so it should be inexpensive just to replace that.

No need for "sorry"...just wanted to make sure people could find it.

In the vid they said over 100 companies in the 'valley' are actively working on renewable resource solutions. Eventually it will be 'something'.

Thanks for bringing it up, fascinating subject.

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Bloom box

The technology may eventually be affordable assuming it's a viable alternative. I doubt that the price from this company will be affordable anytime soon. They made a $400 million capital investment, and that loan has a high payment I'm sure.

 

[rjlipscomb]

Re: Bloom box

I'm trying to remember the "invention" that floated around the media for a little while back in the late 70's or early 80's that produced more power than what was required for input, a sort of perpetual motion machine. It turned out to be a very complicated hoax and fraud.

Could this be a repeat? Maybe, maybe not. A fuel cell would use a chemical reaction to generate electricity. To recharge, add more chemicals. Here, the chemicals are applied to ceramic wafers, stacked together to form something akin to a battery? Add oxygen and and a fuel (?) and it generates electricity... until the chemicals reactions are exhausted. Then simply remove and replace. Is my understanding correct? What laws of physics are we breaking? Or, are we building big rechargable batteries that appear to produce more energy than inputed?

Aah, I need a drink.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Bloom box

http://news.cnet.com/8301-27076_3-20000091-248.html?tag=newsLeadStoriesArea.1

Contains live blog feed from the press conference and the Q & A.
Testamonials from top execs that are already using it. Walmart, Coke, Ebay Google.

Give it a read.

They state that it is producing elec power for half of what they can buy power for. Looks like all these initial users are using natural gas.

Gonna work out well for the huge power users that can afford the initial costs.
With less "conventional" fuel being sold, there will be less tax revenue flowing to the government. So look for the government to raise the taxes to make up for the lost revenue. Gonna raise energy costs to those that can't afford the "box".

So, good for the big guys, not so good for the littlest guys, like me.

 

[rjlipscomb]

Re: Bloom box

Question?

One of the testimonials was from Ebay(?), how many did they buy @ $700,000 to $800,000 each to save $100,000 in natural gas. And, what will be the lifecycle costs/savings? (ignoring tax advantages/savings)

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: Bloom box

Keep in mind that the 60 Minutes clip says that they still need some form of fossil fuel to operate. Natural gas would be the obvious choice...but they will not simply 'sit' in the backyard, and supply you electricity.

All said and done--I have a hard time seeing where anything 'trumps' atomic energy plants. Physics at work...without using any fossil fuel.

 

[lckstckn2smknbrls]

Re: Bloom box

He said something about using solar energy to run it.

 

[rjlipscomb]

Re: Bloom box

He said something about using solar energy to run it.

Which has to make you question it. I vote for the nukes. Maybe one day we'll have mini-nuke plants in the back yard. If it weren't for idiots and terrorists, we probably already would have em.