GM Hydrogen Fuel Cell fruition

[William Djubin]

Before the New Environment Site Web we discussed an opportunity to drive the GM Fuel Cell Equinox.
Reuter's covers the story for May 1, 2008:

GM shows off hydrogen car | Video | Reuters.com

Did anyone from Environment Site sign up for the test drive?, GM Guy, you still there?

[brianidaho]

Does anyone know how they are storing the H2 on board? High pressure cylinders, or one of the catylic methods we read about every so often? I question the viability of H2 as a energy storage medium, given the high energy requirements to split water molecules to liberate H2, and the high energy needed to compress it to the point that you can get a reasonable energy density. Will be interesting to see how it plays out.

[spadlet]

What happened to the idea of using some sort of matrix to store hydrogen?

[Wobs]

Originally Posted by spadlet

What happened to the idea of using some sort of matrix to store hydrogen?

Keanu Reeves shot them up with a mini-gun in slow motion.

[Windguy]

A fuel cell vehicle is basically an electric vehicle, why fuel cell is better than just hydrogen combustion is the 85% efficiency vs 15-30% for combustion.

Now the only reasons why we would go for Hydrogen eventually is if battery technology doesn't take off producing more efficient, cheaper and longer lasting batteries that also weigh less. (Has anyone heard of supercapacitors??). The other reason is Hydrogen production could utilise the excess electricity from renewables such as wind easily and you just need to fuel up instead of waiting a few hours to charge up. (supercapacitors will eliminate that by fast recharging times).

So toss the coin as to who will win, but I'm guessing we'll go electric eventually instead.

Electric sports car debuts in U.S. | Video | Reuters.com

[LMagic007]

Several big motor companies seem to be readying electric vehicles for the market over the next few years, if that's anything to go by. BMW seems to be pushing the hydrogen car though.

[William Djubin]

The first that I had heard of the Fuel Cell was in relation to Biomass.
I think that the Hydrogen Fuel Cell is the starting block for this technology.

I was once told of a future fuel cell vehicle that would operate all day on Biomass (possibly from Algae) then when you come home for the evening you plug it into your house and it will provide supplement Energy for your Home as well. And if you have a Biomass Fuel Cell for your house, you are 'off the Grid'.

In Fellsmere Florida an opportunist is working on Biomass Algae, however he is creating a liquid fuel mixture. Adding another liquid fuel mixture that you would have to purchase from Big Energy will not help to take me 'off the grid'.

I want "Off the Grid"

When will our Governments encourage and promote Biomass, Fuel Cell Technology, Solar and Wind for the Individual to seperate themselves from the Grid.
The only relationship I want with a Grid is for them to pay me for my contributions back to the Grid.

[William Djubin]

As a follow up to the Equinox Fuel Cell SUV,
AFS Trinity has transformed a Green Line Saturn Vue into an Extreme Hybrid capable of 150mpg.
Extreme Hybrid Tops 150 MPG | Green Car .com
-the website also has its perks.