![]() ![]() ![]() so we know that powering vehicles with fuel cells is feasible. ![]() And then, in the 1990s fuel cells began appearing in city buses. The first practical fuel cell system was developed in the early 1960s by General Electric for use in orbital space capsules. The technology that these two inventors devised is essential to the operation of a hydrogen car. Much later, in the middle of the 20th century, the technology was further developed by the inventor Francis Bacon. He called his invention a gas voltaic battery, but today we know it as a hydrogen fuel cell. In 1839, the Welsh scientist Sir William Robert Grove took the familiar electrochemical process of electrolysis, which uses electricity to produce hydrogen from water, and reversed it, generating electricity and water from hydrogen. We'll look at those questions in the pages that follow, but we can give you one quick answer right now: Unless you happen to live in very specific parts of the country and have pockets lined with cash, don't expect a hydrogen car in your driveway within the next decade. For instance, where will we get the hydrogen? How expensive will these fuel-efficient cars be to purchase? Will you be able to find a hydrogen fuelling station to refill your tank? And, perhaps most importantly, as a fuel, is hydrogen really as non-polluting as it seems? But there are still a lot of problems that need to be overcome and questions that need to be answered before hydrogen becomes the fuel of choice for enough people to make much difference in our current use of fossil fuels. Hydrogen cars have the potential to be fuel-efficient and offer the hope of eco-friendly, green driving. A lot of people in the government and the auto industry are excited about its potential. Because it's non-polluting, hydrogen seems like the ideal fuel for the 21st century. What makes a hydrogen car possible is a device called a fuel cell, which converts hydrogen to electricity, giving off only heat and water as byproducts. These eco-friendly driving machines include the Chevrolet Equinox, the BMW 745h and the one that's currently available for lease in California, the Honda FCX. Several hydrogen cars are now in existence, but most of them are concept cars. What's new is that you might actually see a hydrogen-powered car on the road, with steam coming out of its exhaust pipe instead of foul-smelling gases. Actually, the technology for using hydrogen to generate power has been around since the first part of the 19th century - that's longer than cars have been around. And some people think that in 20 to 30 years, we'll all be driving these hydrogen-powered, fuel-efficient vehicles.Īlthough hydrogen-powered cars have a science fiction quality to them, the idea isn't really new. So what's the mystery fuel? Hydrogen - the simplest and most abundant element in the universe. In fact, it produces steam instead of exhaust. It doesn't use gasoline and it doesn't pollute the air. Of course, you can't buy one yet but if you live in California you can lease one. Hydrogen fuel cells are considered one of the best renewable energy sources for this reason, as they generate electricity without carbon dioxide emissions.The car of the future is here today. This singular byproduct is emitted via the exhaust. The battery also captures energy from regenerative braking, supplying additional power to the electric motor.ĭuring the process of hydrogen being converted to electricity within the fuel cell, any leftover hydrogen protons move across the cell and mix with oxygen to produce water vapour. This electricity also charges a small storage battery which is used to power an electric drivetrain (similar to an electric vehicle). The extracted electrons are gathered by the conductive current collector, which is attached to the vehicle’s high-voltage circuitry, powering the electric motor to turn the wheels In this way hydrogen powered cars differ to electric cars – they are capable of producing their own electricity, via their own little power plant on board (the fuel cell). Hydrogen enters the anode, coming into contact with a catalyst that separates the hydrogen atoms into an electron and proton. Harnessed safely within the fuel cell, this energy turns to electricity.Ī fuel cell is built similar to a battery. Hydrogen contains a lot of chemical energy which, if ignited will react with the oxygen in the air and explode. The hydrogen is mixed with oxygen and pumped into the fuel cell. The fuel tank has thick walls and is crash tested, for safety. Firstly, hydrogen gas is stored in a carbon-fibre reinforced fuel tank which is usually located beneath the rear seat of car. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |