Posted on 06/19/2005 6:26:00 PM PDT by calcowgirl
It's clean and invisible, and it will take our cars farther than we ever dreamed. Hydrogen could be the fuel in our grandchildren's cars, or perhaps even our own, but only if we invest now.
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Generated by a variety of sources, some of them clean and renewable, hydrogen is not a pipe dream. While hybrid vehicles do reduce our dependence on foreign oil and clean our air, we also must invest in totally eliminating our dependence on fossil fuels and their related air emissions.
Hydrogen is the simplest and lightest element. It can be produced from molecules called hydrocarbons by applying heat. This process is currently used to make hydrogen out of compressed natural gas (CNG) and is the cheapest method of its production. CNG contains some of the hydrogen that is produced, and it also provides the energy needed to separate this hydrogen out. The rest of the hydrogen comes from steam that is added during the process. As technologies progress, renewable, nonpolluting fuel sources such as solar energy will be used, creating cleaner means of hydrogen production.
Currently, vehicles running on CNG are effective in combating harmful emissions. Some hydrogen critics question continuing to devote resources into hydrogen fuel cells while current technology is working. It's because the progress we put into hydrogen now will let us get rid of nonrenewable sources in the future. California will become a true protector of natural resources.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has set the wheels in motion, pledging to take California to "the environmental future" by way of hydrogen. The Vision 2010 outlined in his Hydrogen Highway Network Action Plan would ensure that, by 2010, every Californian would have access to hydrogen fuel along the state's highways, with an increasing percentage of that hydrogen produced from clean, renewable resources.
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(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
I'm curious, does it come out of the engine as water or steam? Where does it go? Water vapor is a more significant green house gas than CO2.
A better idea may be to place induction coils in the road beds of highly traveled routes. Cars could use this power on the freeway then use battery power during the last mile to the destination. There are no vehicle emissions in that, not even water vapor.
The hydrogen powered car produces only water vapor. But what about the process that seperates the hydrogen from whatever it's bound to?
Hydrogen FUEL cells are used....Check out Ballard Fuel Cells here: http://www.ballard.com/be_informed/fuel_cell_technology
The hydrogen powered car produces only water vapor. But what about the process that seperates the hydrogen from whatever it's bound to?
The hydrogen powered bus produces only water vapor. But what about the process that seperates the hydrogen from whatever it's bound to?
If you are interested I'm sure the Soy bean farmers have material on the intrenet.Well, thanks for the kind pointer; I don't know what I would do without the 'directions' to more info.
My real concern, though, is the demonstrated lack of the economics of the whole 'fuel' issue. SO MUCH of what is seen, taken for granted at the 'pump' for so-called alternative fuels is not reflective of reality, not reflective of the actual coasts owing to subsides.
I think those who have hunted in search of the elusive 100 MPG carburetor years ago would have stumbled onto 'cheap/nearly free' fuels by now if your earlier contentions were reality ...
There's the catch! :-)
I imagine Jim it will be like the small calculators.....Remember when TI first came out with them....Several Hundred Dollars.....Bought on at the local Dollar Store for two bucks last week.....It does more than the originals......And then there was the MOOG synthesizer....a Million Dollar computer project hooked up to a keyboard......Now you can get one with more gizmoes for under $50.......
Anyway the local soybean farmers are happy and thumbing their collective noses (or digets) toward the East several times a day!
Diesel gas? Do you mean diesel fuel, the type used by diesel trucks? Or is this some new kind of fuel?
Again check out the Ballard page
Here's the page on how it works.
http://www.ballard.com/be_informed/fuel_cell_technology/how_the_technology_works
Real engineers and scientists tend to not waste their resources in such non-productive ways.
That will be the main contest--internal combustion versus fuel cell electricity. Which will win? Which is cheaper and more convenient/low maintenance?
Yeah D!
diesel fuel.....for the farmer's trucks and tractors....They even deliver it to the farmer around here...Report is it's very clean burning.
Here's more information on the development and vehicle now using fuel cells
When will I be able to test drive a fuel cell car or ride on a fuel cell bus? When will fuel cell cars and buses be widely available?
Since 1993, ten of the top 15 automakers have demonstrated over 125 vehicles (including 49 fuel cell buses) powered with Ballard® fuel cells. Today, Ballard powers the largest number of fuel cell vehicles demonstrated to date and is currently integrating real world data gained from these demonstrations to support the development of next generation fuel cells and fuel cell engines.
During 2003, Ballard supplied fuel cells to six of the top 10 automakers, including DaimlerChrysler, Ford, Honda and Mitsubishi, to support their existing automotive fleet introductions in the United States, Japan, Singapore and Europe.
In nine major European cities and in Iceland and Australia, 33 Mercedes-Benz Citaro buses powered with Ballard ® heavy-duty fuel cell engines are operating on city streets. These buses are carrying passengers in daily service in each city as part of a two-year field trial program.
By the end of 2005, we expect our customers to have more than 150 Ballard-powered cars, light trucks and buses on the road in 14 different countries.
The California Fuel Cell Partnership, based in Sacramento, California, conducts ride and drives in fuel cell cars at times throughout the year. Visit their web site at www.cafcp.org.
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Tell that to the Boilermakers at Purdue.....Then be prepared to duck....I know the guy who is the head of the department.....Purdue has lead the nation in aerospace technology (and the number of graduate in space) This technolgy is from the space program....Do believe that qualifies them as "Real engineers and scientists" May I suggest the next time you use a satellite connection you thank the same non-productive group.....
Yep...that is how they make the electricity to run the car in a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. Still need to make the hydrogen however.
http://www.ballard.com/be_informed/frequently_asked_questions/mcormack-27_0410151340-507
You can also burn hydrogen directly in an internal-combustion engine, as in this hybrid one:
http://www.pureenergysystems.com/news/2004/06/10/HydrogenElectricCar/
I am sure they will agree with the statement, as will you when you reread it.
As long as the Hydrogen is generated with power from a clean source (like nuclear). Otherwise, it's just moving the dirty emissions of the car to a power plant.
Like any new technology the initial development, research is costly....but in the long run, since the hydrogen may be obtained from natural gas, methanol or petroleum. It will be likely.....natural gas and methanol (even garbage) that is "going to waste" now will have value and will not have to be pumped or shipped from the other side of the world....
The cost will be in the process, not in the transportation, or raw product. That process will decrease in cost in time....
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