Japanese water powered car!!

[John_H]

Actually, Bob, the energy to break a bond is the same as when you combine them under the right circumstances. But the major point is you cannot extract *more* energy. It's the reciprocity (splitting/combining are same energy) that help make hydrogen a superb energy storage device for fuel cells! (But not so much for internal combustion).

Like with all systems, there is some practical loss - friction, resistance, heat, light - that makes it so it's not a perpetual motion machine. Similar principles are behind why you can't use a generator to provide enough electricity to run a motor to power the generator and - viola! - free electricity. No.

[jonnysan]

Originally Posted by forestacademy

and the catch is....

The thing I don't get with this kind of technology or even fule cell technology, If it's so great why not run our homes on it rather than from the wires that come into our home

Is presently underway. Both the PEM, low temperature fuel cell system and the High Temperature fuel cell systems are being installed for real in-home testing as I speak.

Stack life and reliability, as well as overall system reliability and more importantly, overall system cost are being dealt with by engineers and techs who are pretty dedicated to making them work right and at a reasonable cost.

Have patience....fuel cell powered systems for the home are coming.

[jonnysan]

Originally Posted by John_H

How many calories are in a pint of premium unleaded?

About 17,500 BTU's or around 5Kw.

[jonnysan]

Originally Posted by Krootie

. . . and isn't hydrogen just a bit dangerous??? And if not water, tea - why not (dare I say,) Pee.

Has too much Nitrogen....

[fpage77]

Originally Posted by Krootie

JAPANESE WATER POWERED CAR!!

YouTube - JAPANESE WATER POWERED CAR!!

(Runs on tea, too!)

Sick thought if it will run on tea in a pinch you could pee in the tank and get home under your "own power".

[jonnysan]

[QUOTE= I'm not involved with fuel cells directly but want very much to see them succeed.[/QUOTE]

To see them succeed as well since I have been involved in development of both core fuel cell technology and advanced fuel cell system development since 1997.

It has been very, very challenging, to say the least. Development of systems using steam reforming of natural gas (CH4) has been one of our main thrusts for the last 12 years and much has been learned. Our steam reformers are catalyst based and at present can handle NG inputs for powering your average sized home. A home fuel cell system generating electricity (approx 5kw) AND providing subsidiary heating capacity for hot water and/or space heating is a typical scenario. Having utility OK for net billing will help the payback numbers and the alternative energy sector alot. Politicians and various fuel cell groups are lobbying for passage of net billing legislation in some states and some other states already have it for wind, solar and fuel cells...they need to all get on the same page, though.

I had the distinct priviledge of working on a small, dedicated team developing what is called a Home Energy System or HES with Honda in 4 stages from 2002 to 2008. The last phase is presently being tested at Honda America's facility in Torrance, CA. It is basically a reformer based, fuel cell powered system that provides electrical energy for the home, subsidiary hot water AND makes, pumps and stores hydrogen for fueling your fuel cell car. Unfortunately, the recession of '08 put the brakes on further development of this system that is way ahead of it's time.

There has been lots of advancement in our Motive Power Division and we have seen some solid sales of class 1 and class 2 fuel cell powered fork lift trucks. We would like to replace battery and NG powered warehouse fork lift trucks with fuel cell trucks and have begun to do so with sales to several major discount food and merchandise marketers. They are very quiet and produce no CO or CO2 within the warehouse so they are quite green so to speak.
They are fueled by pure gaseous H2 provided by a major gaseous fuel provider.(not sure who so I won't guess) So far the users have been very pleased with the performance and reliability of our units so this is a good start.
Look for more news about fuel cells in the not-to-distant future and do not despair, John H..... THEY WILL COME.

There is alot of work going on in the world with fuel cells and sooner or later they will catch hold and get the attention they deserve.

[John_H]

You've put a little extra "happy" into my day, jonnysan. I'm grateful for the news.

[jetfuel]

The Riversimple Urban Car, a hydrogen-powered two-seater capable of speeds up to 50mph and of traveling more than 200 miles without refueling, was unveiled in London this week.
Nine years in the making and seen for the first time this week, the car weighs just 772lbs (350kg), does the petrol equivalent of 300mpg and produces greenhouse gas emissions of 30g/km CO2 – less than a third produced by the latest hybrid cars.
Each wheel has its own electric motor and regenerative braking, with energy stored in a bank of ultracapacitors and re-used during acceleration.
...just another idea...

[fpage77]

Originally Posted by jetfuel

The Riversimple Urban Car, a hydrogen-powered two-seater capable of speeds up to 50mph and of traveling more than 200 miles without refueling, was unveiled in London this week.
Nine years in the making and seen for the first time this week, the car weighs just 772lbs (350kg), does the petrol equivalent of 300mpg and produces greenhouse gas emissions of 30g/km CO2 – less than a third produced by the latest hybrid cars.
Each wheel has its own electric motor and regenerative braking, with energy stored in a bank of ultracapacitors and re-used during acceleration.
...just another idea...




jetfuel

Is that what the new more Eco friendly Batman will be driivng in the next movie. It looks like it is a tiny Batmobile.

[Suze]

Originally Posted by jetfuel

The Riversimple Urban Car,
...just another idea...

Well, It's not very cute.