Hydrogen power is just around the corner folks....

[Roger in Kensington]

The concept would be to use a small hydrogen powercell engine to keep the battery packs fully charged. That combined with regenerative braking, full electric motor drive with a decent range should soon be possible. Imagine the torque of direct drive brushless electric motors on all four wheels tied to a computer controlled traction application, enough torque to smoke all 4 hides from 0-80 mph and still have a cruising range of 600 miles between hydrogen fuelings. sign me up! I can't wait for the day that the internal combustion engine is laughed at for it's crude waste of energy........ (Most of you already know that most of the energy from an internal combustion engine is released in the form of heat. ) Such a waste. Noisy and fun...... but still a waste. I also can't wait for the day that I can nail the throttle from a dead stop, smoke the hides for 100 ft and yet be whisper quiet as I vanish in the distance.

With all due respect, it's obvious that you do not understand either the physics or the chemistry of what you propose.

Hydrogen only makes sense as a fuel for stationary fuel cells where their high temperature can be efficiently used for co-generation of power and heat. Even then, there are tremendous mitigating factors to be overcome regarding infrastructure and the efficient production, transportation and storage of hydrogen.

As a transportation fuel, hydrogen is utterly impractical. Low energy density; difficult and expensive to manufacture, transport and store; much less efficient than an internal combustion engine considering the type of fuel cells suitable for transportation applications. And that's only a few of the problems.

Far better to have centralized stationary fuel cells generating electricity to recharge e-hybrid vehicles.

Nevertheless, the dream lives on. Like the 200-mpg carburetor and the personal helicopter and interferon as a cure for cancer and the check is in the mail . . . Honest!

[Joe 1320]

With all due respect, it's obvious that you do not understand either the physics or the chemistry of what you propose.

!

So........ I'm not a physics or chemistry engineer. Big deal. I do however realize the byproduct of hydrogen combustion is water...... A much safer and cleaner byproduct of combustion. To be able to use that in place of the current fuels that current hybrids use would be a serious step in both being energy dependant (hydrogen is after all, the most plentiful) and environmentally friendly.

[Roger in Kensington]

So........ I'm not a physics or chemistry engineer. Big deal. I do however realize the byproduct of hydrogen combustion is water...... A much safer and cleaner byproduct of combustion. To be able to use that in place of the current fuels that current hybrids use would be a serious step in both being energy dependant (hydrogen is after all, the most plentiful) and environmentally friendly.

Okay, so tell us how hydrogen is produced.

[Joe 1320]

Okay, so tell us how hydrogen is produced.

Why? You point is?

Hydrogen- Element #1 in the periodic table. One electron, lighter than air, explosive. Can also be stored in a liquid state. (Edit: Combine 2 atoms of Hydrogen with 1 atom of Oxygen to make water. )

My point is that I don't have to be a chemistry major or physics major to understand that the fuels we use now poison the atmosphere, cause us to spend billions upon billions of dollars with foreign countries to get it. The fact is that our own technology is the limiting factor, not whether the idea has merit. No offence intended either, you aren't hip to the idea and that's fine. Some might think I'm crazy, it wouldn't be the first time.

[Red20170]

I think hydrogen for combustion engines is a good medium. Till fuel cell technology becomes practical and cheap for the everyday person to afford.
Infrastructure is the biggest problem. Who is going to pay for it? What incentives do oil/car companies have in investing such money.

Nevertheless, the dream lives on. Like the 200-mpg carburetor and the personal helicopter and interferon as a cure for cancer and the check is in the mail . . . Honest!

What do you propose we do for a solution?

[fastTa]

Why? You point is?

Hydrogen- Element #1 in the periodic table. One electron, lighter than air, explosive. Can also be stored in a liquid state. Combine 1 atom of Hydrogen with 2 atoms of Oxygen to make water.

My point is that I don't have to be a chemistry major or physics major to understand that the fuels we use now poison the atmosphere, cause us to spend billions upon billions of dollars with foreign countries to get it. The fact is that our own technology is the limiting factor, not whether the idea has merit. No offence intended either, you aren't hip to the idea and that's fine. Some might think I'm crazy, it wouldn't be the first time.

Well actually Joe, water is a molecule formed by 2 atoms of Hydrogen and 1 atom of Oxygen. Ionically speaking, a water(H20) molecule is a Hydroxide ion bonded with a Hydrogen ion.

I think this essentially envelopes Roger's point. Despite the fact the Hydrogen is by leaps and bounds the most abundant element known to man found within the Universe, it is not readily found in a 'usuable' fuel state here on Earth. It is semi-abundant when considering Hydrogen compounds, but that arouses the subject of having to extract the Hydrogen. It is also not very economically efficient to produce or manufacture 'usuable' extracted Hydrogen.

Don't get me wrong....I'm all for inspiring technology, however as of present, their are no real economically efficient or infrastructurally sound methods of extracting usuable Hydrogen for use in liquid form to power fuel cells that generate electricity.

The currently popular and most ecomical method involves the steam reforming of natural gas in order to produce Hydrogen. Though they have greatly improved the efficiency of this process as of late, it is still relatively very costly and then you the issue of having to dispose of the unfortunate by-product of this methane steam reformation....carbon dioxide. This in itself as you can imagine generates an ecological challenge. They are also using a far less efficient method of producing Hydrogen by means of conventional electrolysis.

There are some newer methods being tested that include a catalytical reaction involving the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, and yet another utilizing a biomass catalytical reaction speciafically glucose and sorbitol.

Neverthless, I think we are still a minimum of decades from an economical mass production of Hydrogen for use as transportation fuel.

[Joe 1320]

Well actually Joe, water is a molecule formed by 2 atoms of Hydrogen and 1 atom of Oxygen. Ionically speaking, a water(H20) molecule is a Hydroxide ion bonded with a Hydrogen ion.
.

yeah you're right. I did that before coffee this morning. I know better.

[fastTa]

yeah you're right. I did that before coffe this morning. I should know better.

Coffee is for the birds! You need to try that Rockstar Energy drink....it blows the doors off Red Bull.

Actually I do like coffee but it gives me gas.......hey maybe I can extract Hydrogen from my (_|_).

[Joe 1320]

Coffee is for the birds! You need to try that Rockstar Energy drink....it blows the doors off Red Bull.

Actually I do like coffee but it gives me gas.......hey maybe I can extract Hydrogen from my (_|_).

Never tried any of that stuff. been on the coffee kick for 35 years.

[fastTa]

Never tried any of that stuff. been on the coffee kick for 35 years.

They're great. Really puts a pep in your step.

[Steel2686]

Coffee is for the birds! You need to try that Rockstar Energy drink....it blows the doors off Red Bull.

Actually I do like coffee but it gives me gas.......hey maybe I can extract Hydrogen from my (_|_).

I'm hooked on the Sobe Adrenaline. Red Bull doesn't work at all. I gun one can of the Sobe and I'm wired for hours.

Never tried the Rockstar. I'll give it a look next time.

[Joe 1320]

I wonder how I'll react to the stuff. I typically drink about 2 pots of coffee per day.

[Steel2686]

I wonder how I'll react to the stuff. I typically drink about 2 pots of coffee per day.

2 Pots!?! That's dedication, baby!

As far as the Sobe goes, I take it even before a round of golf. Golf isn't the most physically demanding game out there, but downing a can before the round keeps me focused.

[fastTa]

I'm hooked on the Sobe Adrenaline. Red Bull doesn't work at all. I gun one can of the Sobe and I'm wired for hours.

Never tried the Rockstar. I'll give it a look next time.

Yeah, that Sobe has a pretty good kick as well. I haven't tried that Mountain Dew MDX yet. I did try that Amp by Dew and it was OK, nothing spectacular.

[fastTa]

I wonder how I'll react to the stuff. I typically drink about 2 pots of coffee per day.

If you drink that much coffee, I really couldn't tell you how you would react, but there's only one way to find out! First couple of cans might put you a little on edge, but you will grow to like them very quickly.

Like 02 WS6, they help me to focus as well.