Carl, If developing a water-burning car was in the slightest bit viable, everyone would be doing it. The biggest single deterant in really way out expensive development not happening is us, only us, all of us plebs.
Consider. We all have a super fund, we like to see a return on investment, be it directly or thru management. In OZ anyway, the biggest investors in public companys are super funds. A public car company decides to invest in wayout multi-year research and the returns and share price stagnates for a few years. You (or your fund manager) says, oops, thats "underperforming", ill sell and move my money, the car company board gets a kick (they are on bonuses based on share price and profits) and can the project.
Meanwhile, you also complain that not enough reshearch is done and wonder why. Or should then the goverment fund it?.
If a letter was sent to you by the company or super fund asking you to sacrifice some of your retirement total for the sake of research, and keep the shares, would you?, hell no.
If the goverment sent a letter asking you if you would like to pay more taxes for research would you?, hell no
