Comments on: The Super-Small, Open-Source, Ultracapacitor-Using Hydrogen Car

By: hybrid vehicles

hybrid vehicles — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 18:54:05 +0000

I’ve just started a weblog, the knowledge you supply on this site has helped me tremendously. Appreciation for all of your time & work.

By: YJ Draiman

YJ Draiman — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 18:33:25 +0000

Use the sun to convert water into hydrogen.

By: John Gates

John Gates — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:56:34 +0000

We need to support all technologies. The ultimate source of energy will be hydrogen fusion power if we can ever develop it. Until then we should be building hundreds of nuclear power plants like France has. Hydrogen powered vehicles are the ultimate if we can develop the technology. IF we can power the space shuttle with it, we should be able to fugure out how to power cars with it. I guess the Japanese will figure it out and American cars will be even less desirable. Obama is printing trillions of dollars and he’s cutting hydrogen research? That’s insanity.

By: wallace

wallace — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 03:45:22 +0000

the electricity takes mostly coal to make. we need a viable nuclear energy source to replace all the coal burners…and then it will be feasible to run electric hybrids. i would like to see turbo diesel hybrids…maybe vw will make one soon. oh ya read the discovery magazine article online about nuke power these days..three mile island was over 30years ago some people should get a clue.

By: Mark

Mark — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:30:58 +0000

Why not avoid the need for a hydrogen infrastructure by using a reversible fuel cell that charges up through a standard electrical outlet? These systems already exist. Also storage of hydrogen can be done chemically as a hydride at much lower pressure.

By: Sundance

Sundance — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:49:04 +0000

Everything you said is spot-on, Nick ut there’s also the additional fact that liquid hydrogen has a much lower energy density than liquid hydrocarbons (about 7% as much energy per litre if I remember correctly). That fact alone should be enough to kill the concept of LH vehicles, in favour of plug-in hybrids. take all the energy-efficiency and weight-saving advancements for a vehicle like this, but power it with electricity and renewable hydrocarbons, not hydrogen.

By: Nick

Nick — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 01:23:18 +0000

Still trying to chain us to a small specialized distribution network when we all already have electricity piped directly to our homes, and available in the form of solar and wind energy should we choose to implement direct energy farming to our houses.

And… liquid hydrogen? LIQUID hydrogen?

“Liquid hydrogen requires cryogenic storage technology such as the special thermally insulated containers and requires special handling common to all cryogenic fuels. This is similar to, but more severe than liquid oxygen. Even with thermally insulated containers it is difficult to keep such a low temperature, and the hydrogen will gradually leak away (Typically it will evaporate at a rate of 1% per day[10]). It also shares many of the same safety issues as other forms of hydrogen, as well as being cold enough to liquefy atmospheric oxygen which can be an explosion hazard.”

It sounds like they have a lot more problems to solve than just making a fuel efficient design (though they are correct in stating that most other auto companies are just giving us more of the same). Honda’s cheapest and most efficient hydromobile is, what, 400k to a million to make and they’re not letting purchases happen either, lease only currently.

Their car does look pretty spiffy though, just the kinda stats I’d look for in an urban commuter. I just don’t want to be chained to gas/hydrogen stations forever. My next ride will be a plug-in hybrid (with 130+ mpg), bridging me over until battery technology finishes catching up (and hopefully will be able to be converted to full-electro when the time is right). Trying to build out a hydrogen infrastructure seems kinda senseless when you already have a well-functioning electricity grid with more and more people starting to go solar as the price drops.