[MonteQuest]

The title just as easily could have read: New Report shows "Battery" Vehicles will drive change.

Which leads to: how do you charge the battery?

[lper100km]

Why is so much energy being spent on this pipe dream? Apart from the appealing notion that the end use exhausts only hot water, (and it’s proponents hot air), the upstream processes are grossly energy inefficient and, depending on the power source, are pollution positive.

Hydrogen as a fuel/energy carrier is an engineering/physics/chemical/nanotech evolutionary dead end and should be consigned to the scrap heap of technology development, allowing resources to be applied to areas that are more promising.

Just because it can be done in isolated, non essential applications makes it only a curiosity, not a candidate for mass development.

[copious.abundance]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('aflurry', 'S')eems like this has been covered 100s of time on this board. Energy needed to break the hydrogen free from oxygen in water is greater than the energy the free hydrogen will give back.

[TonyPrep]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('OilFinder2', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('aflurry', 'S')eems like this has been covered 100s of time on this board. Energy needed to break the hydrogen free from oxygen in water is greater than the energy the free hydrogen will give back.

[Graeme]

70 Mumbai Buses Running on Hydrogen Mixed With CNG by End of 2010

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I')ndia’s largest bus manufacturer, Ashok Leyland, is going to implement a 6-liter engine that will run on clean natural gas (CNG) enriched with hydrogen, making it the first bus powered by an internal combustion engine aided by hydrogen.

The engine has successfully been tested by Eden Energy Limited, a company from Australia, and features a 6-cylinder, 92 kW (123 hp) configuration. It was initially built to meet the Bharat IV (Euro IV) pollution norm, which is mandatory in India. The results from the calibrated control system and exhaust catalyst testing for the naturally-aspired engine would meet Bharat V requirements.

Hythane, Eden’s US subsidiary, and also the company who stood at the roots of the project, tested the engine and found that the NOx emissions have been reduced by 16.6%, the total hydrocarbon emissions have been lowered by 15.1%, including a non-methane, CO2 emissions have been reduced by 6.2% and the fuel efficiency improved by 6.5%.

[Graeme]

New process is promising for hydrogen fuel cell cars

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')he process, given the name hydrothermolysis, uses a powdered chemical called ammonia borane, which has one of the highest hydrogen contents of all solid materials, said Arvind Varma, R. Games Slayter Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering and head of the School of Chemical Engineering.

"This is the first process to provide exceptionally high hydrogen yield values at near the fuel-cell operating temperatures without using a catalyst, making it promising for hydrogen-powered vehicles," he said. "We have a proof of concept."

[Graeme]

Report: Market for fuel cell vehicles to take off by 2020

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'F')uel cell vehicles will overcome obstacles and the market will start to see growth within 10 years, according to a report released Wednesday by Pike Research.

The research analyst asserts in its report "Fuel Cell Vehicles" that after years of development, fuel cell vehicles may be "on the verge of commercialization by mid-decade."

The U.S. is predicted to be the largest fuel cell vehicle (FCV) market with about 134,000 vehicles sold annually, followed by China (about 129,000 FCVs), and Germany (about 127,000 FCVs).

A total of about 670,000 fuel cell light vehicles are predicted to be sold annually around the world by 2020.

Transit buses are expected to lead the market with Pike Research forecasting "sales growing at a compound annual growth rate of 31.7 percent by 2015."

[Graeme]

Can a hydrogen economy be created in a decade?

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I')nnovative technologies such as hydrogen, renewable energy, and energy efficiency can eliminate our reliance on foreign oil. A hydrogen "Manhattan Project" for energy is needed to accelerate the transition to a hydrogen economy and ensure that this vision becomes a reality within the next 10 years. There is no need to wait 20 to 40 years to achieve the hydrogen economy vision and eliminate America's addiction to oil.

Some of the issues related to a hydrogen economy and fuel cells have already been addressed in my previous two papers: “Fuel Cells – To Revolutionize Electric PowerGeneration” and “Hydrogen Economy– A Revolutionary Vision For The Future of Energy,” which are available on www.energypulse.net


In this article, I will focus on how American can eliminate its addiction to oil. I firmly believe America’s growing energy needs can be met by accelerating the transition to a hydrogen economy, by utilizing other renewable energy sources in greater amounts, and by enhancing energy efficiency.Global energy use is expected to increase exponentially in the next decade, driven by rising standards ofliving in developing countries like India and China and a growing populationworldwide. Energy has become a defining issue of this century because the era of cheap and abundant oil is already behind us. Rising energy prices and strong evidence of global warming due to oil and coal energy use threatens economic growth worldwide. We must act responsibly to focus on developing renewable energy resources now.

[Graeme]

UK prepares for mass deployment of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'C')enex, the UK’s first Centre of Excellence for low carbon vehicle technologies, has announced at LCV2010 its support for a major hydrogen infrastructure roll-out project in preparation for the mass deployment of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles expected to start in 2015.
The Bristol Accord UK HyNet project will conduct scenario planning for the creation of a robust hydrogen infrastructure, including the development of a network of hydrogen stations across the UK to support RD&D and subsequent vehicle roll-out.

Under the stewardship of Cenex, the Bristol Accord is an agreement between the Low Carbon Economic Areas in the North East, the Midlands, Wales and the South West to collaborate on developing low carbon vehicle infrastructure. The UK HyNet project will build on the work these regions have already undertaken in this area of low carbon transport, which includes the creation of ten hydrogen stations for RD&D purposes.

[Graeme]

Intelligent boss reckons fuel cell cars are nearing the starting grid

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')he media hype surrounding electric cars has led some commentators to dismiss hydrogen fuel cell vehicles as the forgotten child of green transport, but industry insiders insisted yesterday that UK drivers could yet be filling up with hydrogen at petrol stations across the country within the next five years.

Henri Winand, chief executive of fuel cell manufacturer Intelligent Energy, told BusinessGreen.com that while electric vehicles and biofuels are commonly seen as being at the vanguard of clean transport technology, domestic hydrogen fuel cell vehicles could become commonplace within the decade.

The company has been working on a number of high-profile pilot projects, leading the consortium that produced London's first zero-emissions black cab and launching a hydrogen-powered scooter in conjunction with Suzuki earlier this year. Winand said the results of the pilots had been largely positive, suggesting that the technical viability of fuel cell vehicles is now well established.

Intelligent Energy also supplied the fuel cell system to Boeing for the world's first manned fuel cell aircraft and is exploring wider applications for the technology through a joint venture with Scottish and Southern Energy that is working on fuel-cell powered Combined Heat and Power (CHP) units for commercial and domestic properties.

[Serial_Worrier]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('pstarr', 'T')he problem with the hydrogen economy (as a subset of the electric generation peak-oil solution) is not technology, rather it is infrastructure. Hydrogen fuel cells are fully functional (and aside from certain technical issues, cost of platinum catalysts, H2 compression costs/danger, H2 leakage/storage issues) they could theoretically drive our vehicles today. The real issues is lack of either an electric or a gas-based transport infrastructure. The cost to tie together hydrogen electrolysis, reformers, compressors, cross-county H2 pipelines, filling stations, EV automobiles, EV heavy trucks, and EV freight trains is impossible for our economy to bear, and thus renders this discussion pointless.

[Graeme]

How the “Hydrogen Highway” Survived DOE’s Budget Axe

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'E')nergy Secretary Steven Chu has an on-off relationship to hydrogen. Under his watch, the Department of Energy has clearly favored electric battery cars, providing billions in loans and grants to ensure that the U.S. will not cede the market to Asia. And he tried to dramatically defund hydrogen programs, only to retreat after a major outcry. But when a private entrepreneur opened the first station in a projected hydrogen highway on the east coast, the DOE was there for the press conference.

Tom Sullivan, founder and current chairman of the mega-successful Lumber Liquidators chain (at right in photo), bought Connecticut’s Proton Energy Systems (which makes hydrogen electrolyzers) in an auction sale for $10.2 million in 2008.

Sullivan, who cannot hope to make a profit on hydrogen anytime soon, is inspired by the vision of a clean transportation system in the U.S. He saw that publicly funded grids (such as the hydrogen highway proposed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California) were not making progress for financial reasons. “So I said, ‘What the hell,’” said Sullivan at the launch of the first station, at Proton’s headquarters in Wallingford, Connecticut on Friday.

[Graeme]

GM outlines fuel-cell plans

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'F')uel-cell cars will cost the same as the equivalent hybrid or range-entender by 2025, according to GM expert George Hansen.

Speaking to Autocar, Hansen predicted that huge cost reductions brought about by advances in materials and the volumes being produced will significantly drop the manufacturing cost of hydrogen-powered fuel cells.


By 2025 infrastructure will have improved to the point where hydrogen filling stations will be commonplace too, especially in hydrogen-advanced regions such as Germany, Korea, Japan and California.

Key to the fuel-cell cost reductions is the amount of ultra-expensive platinum used in the powertrain. Current fuel-cell cars such as GM’s Equinox SUV use around 80g of the precious metal, whereas Hansen is predicting that by 2025 it will be reduced to around 2g - a similar amount to that currently used in a catalytic convertor.


GM plans to put a fuel-cell car on general sale before then though in 2015. This so-called second-generation system will be both half the weight and size of the one being used in the Equinox. As such it can be made far more cheaply and be used to power a smaller car, possibly a small Chevy Volt-sized saloon. This system will also use just 30g of platinum.

GM engineers claim to have tested fuel-cell cars more than any other manufacturer. Engineers have now completed over two million kilometres in testing, using 100 different cars, mainly the Equinox (pictured). Prospective customers have also had them on test for three-month stints in order to give feedback.

[snow white]

I think it's a great idea, although as stated H is in fact an element and only a carrier of energy. However, perhaps the fuel could be a form of rechargeable energy? (As you may be aware, I am new to this forum, and am very keen to learn more about the new types of energy available!)

Kind regards,
Snow white.

[Graeme]

Forces of Nature: The Car Featuring Solar-Powered On-Board Hydrogen Production

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'A') professor from Middle Tennessee State University has succeeded creating a hydrogen-powered car that produces its own fuel using the sun. Dubbed “Forces of Nature,” the car (a 1994 Toyota Tercel) uses hydrogen extracted from an onboard water supply using solar power.

According to the professor, the hydrogen-powered vehicle will start on November 1st an over 500-mile journey from Blacksburg, Virginia to Little Rock, Arkansas.

[Graeme]

Hydrogen fuel cell cars ‘affordable by 2020’

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'H')ydrogen-powered fuel cell electric cars (FCEV) are ready for commercial scale-up and could fast become cost-competitive with traditional petrol and diesel cars according to a new comprehensive study of the technology.

Not only is the market ready but such vehicles are essential to meeting energy security and environmental targets, the research from consultancy firm McKinsey & Company concludes.

Entitled ‘A Portfolio of Power-trains: A Fact Based Analysis’ the report of the findings is sponsored by a 31-member public-private coalition, with contributions from BMW AG, Daimler AG, Ford, General Motors, the European Climate Foundation and Intelligent Energy Holdings plc among others.

However it also concludes that for both fuel cell and battery electric vehicles (BEVs) to achieve significant market penetration, there will need to be wide support to establish supporting infrastructure systems by 2050. But such support is projected to pay off after the study also found that such support would mean that FCEVs and BEVs could become cost-competitive with traditional internal combustion engines (ICEs) as early as 2020.

[Graeme]

European study backs hydrogen for zero-emission road transport

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'H')ydrogen-powered fuel-cell cars will play a key role in future European road transport, according to a report by McKinsey carried out on behalf of a group of businesses and organisations.

A number of carmakers including BMW, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Renault-Nissan, Toyota and Volkswagon contributed proprietary data to the report, along with oil and gas companies Shell and Total, utility Vattenfall and industrial gas companies Air Liquide, Air Products and The Linde Group.

The European Climate Foundation was also involved, as well as governmental organisations such as European Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking.

The study looked at the prospects of a number of technologies – from conventional internal combustion engines to batteries, hybrids and hydrogen fuel cells – and their potential to contribute to reaching the EU’s target of a 95% reduction in road transport CO2 emissions by 2050.

Fuel cell, battery-powered electric and hybrid vehicles all need to have considerable market take-up for the EU target to be reached, concludes the report.

Electric and hybrid technologies, says the report, are potentially more suited to small cars and short trips like commuting, mainly in urban areas.

[Graeme]

2015: Start Of The Hydrogen Age?

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'W')e are picking up more and more signs of an impending revival of assumed dead fuel cell technology.

Here is another one: The Nikkei [sub] says that the Japanese government is supporting an initiative to draw a hydrogen from a surprising source: Oil refining. And they need to be ready by 2015.

One of the many uses of hydrogen is in oil refining. In this case, to remove sulfur from oil. The hydrogen used in this process doesn’t have to be high quality, 90 percent pure suffices.

Fuel cells expect 99.9 percent pure hydrogen. The sponsored project aims to produce high purity hydrogen, based on the “industrial” hydrogen technology, “with an eye toward creating a new source of income,” as The Nikkei says.

The Japanese government will bear half the cots of a cheap project. It is estimated to cost 500 million yen ($ 6.15 million) over a three-year period. It wants to be ready in time before 2015. Why 2015?

Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry expects a “wide adoption of fuel cell vehicles by fiscal 2015” and “seeks to secure a steady supply of high-purity hydrogen.” Again: Why 2015?

It just so happens that Toyota is dead set on selling its first mass produced fuel cell car by 2015. In Korea, Byung Ki Ahn, general manager of Hyundai-Kia’s Fuel Cell Group, said recently: “There are already agreements between car makers such as ourselves and legislators in Europe, North America and Japan to build up to the mass production of fuel cell cars by 2015.” Indeed, if you go through the many files produced in Brussels, you find that also in Europe “car manufacturers are getting ready for the commercial production of hydrogen vehicles by 2015.” Along with the master plan, shown above.