Fuel Cell Hybrids
Fuel cell hybrids are powered by a hydrogen fuel cell and an energy storage system, such as an electric battery. They don’t have internal combustion engines.

We’re currently defining the energy storage system requirements for fuel cell hybrids. This involves determining trade-offs among different combinations of fuel cell and energy storage system sizes.

Hydrogen Hybrid with a Small Fuel Cell
Also, we’ve explored the benefits of using a small fuel cell in a hydrogen hybrid vehicle. A hydrogen hybrid has an internal combustion engine fueled by hydrogen as well as an energy storage system (e.g., battery), much like a conventional hybrid.

In a hydrogen hybrid, most of the energy used by the vehicle remains at a much lower power level than its peak power. Therefore, adding a small fuel cell to supply most of the energy can potentially:

* Improve efficiency because fuels cells are more efficient than internal combustion engines
* Improve the vehicle’s range because a more efficient vehicle can travel further on the same amount of hydrogen
* Involve less risk than mass marketing large fuel cells.

We’ve conducted analyses to determine the range, efficiency, and relative cost benefits from using a small fuel cell in a hydrogen hybrid. We then compared these results to a hydrogen internal combustion engine vehicle and a fuel cell hybrid.

Hydrogen Fuel Costs
The success of our nation’s hydrogen economy relies heavily on the cost of hydrogen fuel. Hydrogen can be used more efficiently than gasoline, which should help relax the hydrogen fuel cost target. Therefore, we’re estimating the relative efficiency of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles to gasoline-powered vehicles to help find a hydrogen fuel target that provides the same cost per mile of driving.

Fuel cell vehicles use a completely different propulsion system compared to conventional vehicles, and are generally two to three times more efficient. Unlike conventional vehicles, the fuel cell vehicles produce zero harmful exhaust emissions. The only emission is water through the exhaust and are powered with hydrogen which is abundant in our nature. Also, these vehicles qualify for alternative fuel tax credits though there are not many commercial models on the market just as yet. It is expected that in the next few years, the fuel cell vehicles will be commercially available on the market.

How do they work?

continue reading "How do fuel cell cars work?"

A Time magazine article says, “Arnold Schwarzenegger may have signed the world’s toughest anti-global-warming law, but it is Democrat Terry Tamminen, his environmental adviser, who is emerging as the state’s real Terminator, winning industry support and the endorsement of a Republican Governor for a mandate to reduce the state’s emissions 80% by 2050.”

Terry’s new book, Lives per Gallon, is an unblinking assessment of the true price of petroleum and a prescription for change. The choice is clear: continuing paying with our health, or kick our addiction and evolve beyond an oil-dependent economy.

Listen to this interview with Terry as he discusses the following:

continue reading "What are Green Vehicles? Learn from an expert"

Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are considered as zero emmission vehicles. These vehicles combine hydrogen fuel and oxygen from the air to produce water and electricity. The electricity is then used to power the electric motor which powers the vehicle.

Honda motors has developed a concept fuel cell car called the “Honda FCX” which will become a limited production car in 2008. Honda has equipped the FCX with a fuel stack and an ultra capacitor along with high pressure hydrogen tanks. The fuel cell stack serves as the main power source while the ultra capacitor serves as the storage unit for supplemental power.

The Honda fuel stack consists of the PEMFC (Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell) and has a total maximum output of 86kW. The water produced when hydrogen and oxygen are combined, is used in the humidification system. The fuel cell system is located under the floor and the high pressure hydrogen tanks are positioned under the rear seat. The ultra capacitor is positioned at an angle behind the rear seat to ensure that luggage space is not lost from the trunk.

continue reading "The newly redesigned 2008 Honda FCX fuel cell car"

Ford introduces the world’s first pluggable fuel cell technology car. Go home at night and plug the car into a standard electrical outlet. The car uses a HySeries Drive technology that operates using a small fuel cell, or gasoline engine with an electric generator. Ford Edge, the model being introduced with the fuel cell technology combines onboard hydrogen fuel cell generator with lithium-ion batteries and provides 41mpg. Watch this short news clip for more details on this technology.

continue reading "World’s first pluggable fuel cell car"