An interesting site.

Roush bi-fuel conversion brings hydrogen fuel to existing ICE technology

Nick

Three underslung Hydrogen tanks+high speedbump = NASA mode low orbit available

Hehe.

Don't really see the point. A 2.3 litre petrol engine in a transit.. I'm sure that would be a huge seller!

And only about 100 miles from one fillup of hydrogen?!

Suppose its more of a technical showcase more than anything but would only be viable on a small engine I think that will be less thirsty!

Phil

Hehe.

Don't really see the point. A 2.3 litre petrol engine in a transit.. I'm sure that would be a huge seller!

And only about 100 miles from one fillup of hydrogen?!

Suppose its more of a technical showcase more than anything but would only be viable on a small engine I think that will be less thirsty!

Phil

This is the problem with hydrogen, you need so much to get a decent amount of range that its not worth it. Ditto the energy required to make it and then pressurize it to 5000psi so you can store a reasonable amount. And then you only get 100 miles

Although the Honda Clarity manages around 270 miles to a tank but this is an electric car using hydrogen to generate electricity and not directly run an internal combustion engine.

Think they've got the right idea but like you say its just prohibitive to make the engine conversion and all associated bits and producing the hydrogen.

I think as technology progresses we will have to turn more to this kind of technology and it will become cheaper to implement I reckon.

Still keep trying to convince Sven to run his pug on veggy oil! Now that's cheap motoring... although nowhere near as environmentally friendly as Hydrogen! But smells good! hehe

Hehe.

Don't really see the point. A 2.3 litre petrol engine in a transit.. I'm sure that would be a huge seller!

And only about 100 miles from one fillup of hydrogen?!

Suppose its more of a technical showcase more than anything but would only be viable on a small engine I think that will be less thirsty!

Phil

my brother's previous works van was a 2.3 petrol transit, as was the rest of the fleet(?)

Although the Honda Clarity manages around 270 miles to a tank but this is an electric car using hydrogen to generate electricity and not directly run an internal combustion engine.

Think they've got the right idea but like you say its just prohibitive to make the engine conversion and all associated bits and producing the hydrogen.

I think as technology progresses we will have to turn more to this kind of technology and it will become cheaper to implement I reckon.

Still keep trying to convince Sven to run his pug on veggy oil! Now that's cheap motoring... although nowhere near as environmentally friendly as Hydrogen! But smells good! hehe

Obvious question but hwere will we get all this hydrogen from? Dig it out of the ground?

my brother's previous works van was a 2.3 petrol transit, as was the rest of the fleet(?)

Really?! I'm just a bit suprised by that... how come they chose petrol over derv then?

Phil

Obvious question but hwere will we get all this hydrogen from? Dig it out of the ground?

Use geothermal power stations to create it..

Oil isn't going to run out anytime soon so I'm not worried.

Obvious question but hwere will we get all this hydrogen from? Dig it out of the ground?

Somewhere in the article or in the links there's reference to the fact that the same manufacturer is pushing a system for Home electrolysis (Electrolysis + pressurised stoarge) using "Off-peak" leccy i.e. excess capacity in the current system

Might be a bit more effcient than the current system that the major oil companies system use to derive hydrogen.

Nick

Somewhere in the article or in the links there's reference to the fact that the same manufacturer is pushing a system for Home electrolysis (Electrolysis + pressurised stoarge) using "Off-peak" leccy i.e. excess capacity in the current system

Might be a bit more effcient than the current system that the major oil companies system use to derive hydrogen.

Nick

I've read about similar systems before and running the home electrolysis over night will give you enough hydrogen for a massive 20miles... :eek:

So it's not quite there yet... and I think putting hydrogen into normal combustion engines is a lost cause.

Somewhere in the article or in the links there's reference to the fact that the same manufacturer is pushing a system for Home electrolysis (Electrolysis + pressurised stoarge) using "Off-peak" leccy i.e. excess capacity in the current system

Might be a bit more effcient than the current system that the major oil companies system use to derive hydrogen.

Nick

I've read about similar systems before and running the home electrolysis over night will give you enough hydrogen for a massive 20miles... :eek:

So it's not quite there yet... and I think putting hydrogen into normal combustion engines is a lost cause.

But still, there isn't enough electricity to go round if we all wanted to do that. With regard to Geo-thermal, is that a serious suggestion on this sort of scale? Given the UK is supposed to be looking at 10 off 2GW new nuclear power stations, how much more capacity do we need for the hydrogen economy?

If we end up going to the trouble of making hydrogen I think it would be more practical to synthetically manufacture hydrocarbon fuel. Most of the current supply infrastructure could be used and also the millions of cars ont he road.

Really?! I'm just a bit suprised by that... how come they chose petrol over derv then?

Phil

they had LPG conversions, I don't think diesels are (were?) up for that?

But still, there isn't enough electricity to go round if we all wanted to do that. With regard to Geo-thermal, is that a serious suggestion on this sort of scale? Given the UK is supposed to be looking at 10 off 2GW new nuclear power stations, how much more capacity do we need for the hydrogen economy?

Geothermal isn't really viable in this country but there are plenty of other places in the world were it is. Hydroelectric is another possibility and I think Japan have already starting doing it.

Hang on, 4.2 kgs of hydrogen is approx 10lbs weight. This would represent at the output stage about 13 lbs of water to electrolyse, given the ratios implicit in the H20 equation. Even if the process was only 10% efficient (Some reports claim up to 70% - see Wikipedia link below) this would mean, for input, you would have to electrolyse 130lbs or 13 gallons to get 13lbs out - IMHO not a particularly large amount to do in a 24 cycle, assuming you filled-up once a day. No doubt H -Van Man could fit extra tanks on the roof, which even at 20 or 40 Kg (8 days use) wouldn't weigh too much or disturb the aerodynamic line.

Electrolysis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Question is how much energy you would have to input to get 13lbs out - I guess that might be in excess of the limits of normal domestic supply. Anybody ?

Nick

Top Gear covered this in one of there specials Clicky

Car was the Honda FCX which was able to cover 270 miles, although only one state in the US has Hydrogen Service stations.

Correct me if I am wrong, but those stateside hydrogen stations were supplied by a remote large scale industrial process owned by . . . . the oil companies.

The hydrogen electrolysis method described, assuming its feasible and viable, above could be operated by any small business with the appropriate premises and local authority licence, giving small businesses the option to produce fuel for themselves for their own transport fleet or at least buy it from a locally produced source and, in so doing, provide real competition to the much maligned oil companies (especially on this site).

Nick

i hear you. I was just pointing out that the range of Hydrogen cars can be practical. Im all for anything that can challenge these oil companies.

Top Gear covered this in one of there specials Clicky

Car was the Honda FCX which was able to cover 270 miles, although only one state in the US has Hydrogen Service stations.

But that car doesn't have an internal combustion engine and is using the much more efficient method of hydrogen propulsion the fuel cell.

I'm half expecting the FCX to go the same way as the last electric car used in California went...