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>>HYDROGEN TECHNOLOGIES
Hydrogen Vehicles
A hydrogen vehicle is a vehicle that uses hydrogen as its on-board fuel for motive power. The term may refer to a personal transportation vehicle, such as an automobile , or any other vehicle that uses hydrogen in a similar fashion, such as an aircraft . The power plants of such vehicles convert the chemical energy of hydrogen to mechanical energy (torque) in one of two methods: combustion , or electrochemical conversion in a fuel-cell :
- In combustion, the hydrogen is burned in engines in fundamentally the same method as traditional gasoline cars.
- In fuel-cell conversion, the hydrogen is reacted with oxygen to produce water and electricity, the latter of which is used to power an electric traction motor.
The molecular hydrogen needed as an on-board fuel for hydrogen vehicles can be obtained through many thermochemical methods utilizing natural gas , coal (by a process known as coal gasification), liquefied petroleum gas , biomass ( biomass gasification ), by a process called thermolysis , or as a microbial waste product called biohydrogen or Biological hydrogen production . Hydrogen can also be produced from water by electrolysis . If the electricity used for the electrolysis is produced using renewable energy , the production of the hydrogen would (in principle) result in no net carbon dioxide emissions. On-board decomposition to produce hydrogen can occur when a catalyst is used.
Hydrogen is an energy carrier , not an energy source , so the energy the car uses would ultimately need to be provided by a conventional power plant. A suggested benefit of large-scale deployment of hydrogen vehicles is that it could lead to decreased emissions of greenhouse gases and ozone precursors. Further, the conversion of fossil fuels would be moved from the vehicle, as in today's automobiles, to centralized power plants in which the byproducts of combustion or gasification can be better controlled than at the tailpipe. However, there are both technical and economic challenges to implementing wide-scale use of hydrogen vehicles, as well as less expensive alternatives. The timeframe in which challenges may be overcome is likely to be at least several decades, and hydrogen vehicles may never become broadly available
Automobiles
Many companies are currently researching the feasibility of building hydrogen cars. Funding has come from both private and government sources. In addition to the BMW and Mazda examples cited above, many automobile manufacturers have begun developing cars. These include:
Hyundai Tucson FCEV in the background (on the left) and Toyota Highlander FCHV in the foreground (on the right) during UC Davis 's Picnic Day activities
- BMW - The BMW Hydrogen 7 is powered by a dual-fuel Internal Combustion Engine and with an Auxiliary power based on UTC Power fuel cell technology. The BMW H2R speed record car is also powered by an ICE . Both models use Liquid Hydrogen as fuel.
- Daimler AG - F-Cell , a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle based on the Mercedes-Benz A-Class .
- Ford Motor Company - Focus FCV , a hydrogen fuel cell modification of the Ford Focus , and E-350 buses, which began being leased in late 2006.
- General Motors - multiple models of fuel cell vehicles including the Hy-wire and the HydroGen3
- Honda - currently experimenting with a variety of alternative fuels and fuel cells with experimental vehicles based on the Honda EV Plus , most notable the Honda FCX , powered by a front-mounted 80 kW AC electric motor, with 20 kW pancake motors providing supplemental power to the rear wheels. Electrical energy is provided by a 100 kW hydrogen fuel cell , with regenerative braking energy stored in ultracapacitors . The first production version of the FCX, dubbed the FCX Clarity , was announced at the 2007 Greater Los Angeles Auto Show . The vehicle is expected to be available in limited numbers for lease only in the Los Angeles area. mid-2008. In November 2007, Honda announced its new Home Energy Station IV that uses steam reforming of natural gas to derive hydrogen from both the steam and natural gas in equal parts. The Home Energy Station IV is 75-percent smaller than older units and provides hydrogen for a car as well as heat and electricity for the home.
- Hyundai - Tucson FCEV , based on UTC Power fuel cell technology
- Mazda - RX-8 , with a dual-fuel (hydrogen or gasoline) rotary-engine
- Mazda - Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid , with a dual-fuel (hydrogen or gasoline) rotary-engine
- Nissan - X-TRAIL FCV , based on UTC Power fuel cell technology.
- Morgan Motor Company - LIFEcar , a performance-oriented hydrogen fuel cell vehicle with the aid of several other British companies
- Toyota - The Toyota Highlander FCHV and FCHV-BUS are currently under development and in active testing. In November 2007, ten new hydrogen powered Prius cars were delivered to three companies in Iceland by VISTORKA, a shareholder in Icelandic New Energy.
- Volkswagen also has hydrogen fuel cell cars in development.
Supporting these manufacturers are fuel cell and hydrogen engine research and manufacturing companies. The largest of these is UTC Power , a division of United Technologies Corporation , currently in joint development with Hyundai, Nissan, and BMW, among other auto companies. Another major supplier is Ballard Power Systems . The Hydrogen Engine Center is a supplier of hydrogen-fueled engines.
Most, but not all, of these vehicles are currently only available in demonstration models and cost a large amount of money to make and run. They are not yet ready for general public use and are unlikely to be as feasible as plug in biodiesel hybrids.
Mazda leased two dual-fuel RX-8s to commercial customers in Japan in early 2006, becoming the first manufacturer to put a hydrogen vehicle in customer hands.
BMW also plans to release its first publicly available hydrogen vehicle in 2008, as does Honda.
Buses
Fuel cell buses (as opposed to hydrogen fueled buses) are being trialed by several manufacturers in different locations. The Fuel Cell Bus Club is a global fuel cell bus testing collaboration.
Hydrogen was first stored in roof mounted tanks, although models are now incorporating inboard tanks. Some double deck models uses between floor tanks.
Bicycles
Pearl unveiled a hydrogen bicycle at the 9th China International Exhibition on Gas Technology, Equipment and Applications in 2007.
Motorcycles
ENV is developing electric motorcycles powered by a hydrogen fuel cell, including the Crosscage and Biplane .
Airplanes
Companies such as Boeing and Smartfish are pursuing hydrogen as fuel for airplanes. Unmanned hydrogen planes have been tested and Boeing is currently planning a manned flight for 2008.
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