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I like this idea better than storage battery powered electric vehicles. These are much more environmentally sound. As I have mentioned before, in other alternative fuel discussions we have had on this forum, the ability to distribute the fuel through an existing infrastructure makes the most sense. Conventional gasoline stations offer the ability to provide a distribution network. Now if the oil companies don't want to get into the business of distributing hydrogen, no problem, there are more than enough closed gas stations that are no longer owned by the major oil companies that could be acquired and converted to hydrogen distribution.
I'm surprised that these vehicles are only being offered in SoCal at this time. According the fuel station map there appear to be nearly as many fueling stations in NorCal.
Chris Vais
1994 Coupe Midnight Blue Metallic
2015 Audi Allroad Quattro Brilliant Black
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The amount of water vapor in the atmosphere is at equilibrium. Water vapor does not persist in the atmosphere like CO2 does, it quickly returns to the earth as rainfall. The amount of water vapor that the atmosphere can hold is a function of temperature. As the atmosphere warms from CO2 emissions the capacity of the atmosphere to retain water is also increased.
Based on the foregoing, the emissions from hydrogen powered vehicles do not contribute directly to global warming, but global warming does permit the atmosphere to retain more water in a vapor state. I don't know whether that is a good or bad thing. I suspect we'd benefit from an increase in rainfall here in the arid west, but you'd have to have a boatload of hydrogen power vehicles to cause that to happen. I think that if hydrogen cell powered vehicles replaced a significant number of cars fueled by other types of fuel: fossil, gasoline/electric hybrids and electric vehicles that must be recharged from a CO2 generating source, the effect might be a reduction of CO2 emissions.
Chris Vais
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One thing I learned about Hydrogen production is that the most effective way to produce it is to "Crack" natural gas.
"the current leading technology for producing hydrogen in large quantities,[sup]
[4][/sup]
extracts the hydrogen from methane. However, this reaction causes a side production of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, which are greenhouse gases and contribute to global warming.[sup]
[1]"[/sup]
In order to make this a truly "Green" process there needs to be a huge advancement in reforming hydrogen from wind, solar, etc. So far, this is not baked. It only removes the greenhouse gasses from where you're burning them to where they're produced.
Honda is/was offering a hydrogen car that will come with a home hydrogen generator that will produce enough energy for your home and automobile. Not sure what stage they are in, but they have been testing it in Southern California for a while.
If you were to distribute these new autos to every driver in the US it would take years to make back the embodied energy used to produce them. Look up
Net Zero Energy, it is mind boggling how hard it is to achieve. I have volunteered to work on a Net Zero Energy project in Philadelphia, there are very few buildings that can make the claim and they are mostly welcome stations in national parks, etc. In order to actually achieve Net Zero, you almost always have to buy carbon credits, and honestly, to me, that's cheating.
Jay
“Faster, Faster, until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death.” - Hunter S. Thompson
"I couldn't find the sports car of my dreams, so I built it myself." ~Dr. Ferdinand Porsche
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Google the Flatula Backfire. it truly is the solution we have all been looking for.
Chris Vais
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I did some work about 4 years ago concerning renewable energy sources. My consensus would was not to bet on hydrogen cars, but electric cars. One reason was distribution, I still don't understand the distribution system for hydrogen to the consumer. It already exists for electric cars. And at that time, in-the-car storage was a nightmare, heavy metal tanks - there were a lot of ideas, using advanced materials, perhaps they solved that a bit by now. But I have read in the last few months that some car companies are coming out with hydrogen cars. Maybe the recharge time for electrics makes hydrogen attractive, since I assume it is like filling up with gasoline.
My wife picked this one last July: Ford Fusion Energi. It is a plug-in hybrid, we get 20 miles on a charge and then the engine kicks in after that to turn the generator. Even without charging, we are getting 50 mpg in a fairly large and heavy car - one reason of course is power recovery from braking. I was skeptical, but it seems to be going well. I ran the numbers, we can recharge at home for 20% less than the cost of gasoline (more like 30% less overnight, maybe 10% less if charge during the day). So when it comes home, it gets plugged in every time -- just saving money. Compared to the ancient Jeep Liberty she was driving, maybe 16 mpg, we get a brand new car for very, very little extra money simply in fuel cost savings.
Roland
'93 Coupe Tip Silver on Grey, '02 911 C4S, '89 Vanagon Syncro -- (RIP: 944, 911SC, 931, MGB, VW Bug, GTO, Sprite.)
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Roland
'93 Coupe Tip Silver on Grey, '02 911 C4S, '89 Vanagon Syncro -- (RIP: 944, 911SC, 931, MGB, VW Bug, GTO, Sprite.)
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They could probably market this in the Philipines to sell to the general population. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.png" class="smilie" alt="" />
Current: 1994 968 Coupe, 1987 944S, 2004 VW GTI 1.8T, H-D XR1200
Previous Porsches: 2000 986S, 1974 914 2.0 Blue, 1974 914 2.0 Yellow, 1970 914 1.7, 1985 928S
Previous non-Porsche favorites: 1974 Early Bronco, 1975 Cosworth Vega, 1977 Trans Am 6.6L, 1973 Karmann Ghia, 1983 Supra (turbocharged)
