Breakthrough in Affordable Hydrogen Cars

According to researchers from the University of Connecticut a new process for producing fuel cells could help bring the cost of hydrogen cars down significantly within 10 years.

The Waste Hydrogen Utilization Project (IWHUP) in BC

Treatment of waste hydrogen is being recylced for use in vehicular and stationary power applications in British Columbia, Canada. Captured waste hydrogen gas from places like sodium chlorate plants is being recycled into compressed hydrogen. It is known as the Waste Hydrogen Utilization Project (IWHUP). In the IWHUP project waste hydrogen that is normally burned off is being captured and recycled so that it can be used as fuel. The project in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada where they are building the world’s first small scale liquid hydrogen plant.

World's First Small-Scale Hydrogen Liquefaction Plant to be Built in BC

British Columbia announced $870,000 in provincial funding for the development of the world's first small-scale hydrogen liquefaction plant. The plant will be built in North Vancouver and it will supply clean hydrogen throughout the Pacific Northwest. It will produce 1200 kg/day of liquid hydrogen which is enough to fuel a fleet of over 1,500 passenger fuel cell vehicles or 50 transit busses.

World's Largest Hydrogen Fuel Cell

On August 11, Ballard Power Systems announced the deployment of the largest hydrogen fuel cell in the world. This first time deployment demonstrates the viability of clean energy on a large scale.

The fuel cell is the size of a tractor trailer and is completely transportable. It is capable of generating up to one megawatt of power which is enough to power 500 homes or the equivalent of a small town.

The Fuel cell will travel from its manufacturer Ballard Power Systems in Burnaby, B.C., to FirstEnergy Generation Corp, in Eastlake, Ohio for a five year trial run. The utility plans to run the fuel cell during periods of peak demand, to ensure uninterrupted power to customers.

This fuel cell generator is known as CLEARgen(TM) and it is based on Ballard's proton exchange membrane (PEM) technology. As a transportable technology it can replace dirty diesel generators with clean energy solutions in remote communities.It's also capable of running off by-product hydrogen from chemical plants.

Ballard provides clean energy fuel cell products enabling optimized power systems for a range of applications. Ballard fuel cells are powering zero-emission bus fleets, providing backup power solutions to cell phone companies and powering fleets of forklift trucks at major distribution centers.
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The Hazards of Hydrogen Vs. the Effects of Climate Change

Despite concerns about the net energy value (NEV)* and safety, hydrogen remains a promising fuel for the new energy economy. Because there are no naturally occuring reservoirs, hydrogen must be created from some other source of energy at a loss. However, an innovative approach from Honda employs a new technology that uses sunlight to make hydrogen.

Studies that analyze the risks of hydrogen compared to gasoline, have found that hydrogen is a higher flammability hazard. However, the flammability of gasoline did not impede the adoption of the combustion engine, and most of the time we have managed to fill our gas tanks without setting ourselves ablaze.

The value of hydrogen, particularly solar generated hydrogen power, is that it is one of the cleanest sources of energy on earth. You do not have to follow rising CO2 levels nor do you need to understand the concept of a tipping point to know that clean energy is good energy.

The daily news is full of global warming related reports from icebergs to fires and floods. Due to Greenland's melting glaciers, Canada's shipping lanes are being threatened by an iceberg bigger than Manhatten.

According to some meteorologists, the fires in Russia and the floods in Pakistan are attributable to global warming's effect on the Asian monsoon. Although the monsoon weather patterns are normal, according to Kevin Trenberth, a senior scientist at the Boulder, Colorado-based National Center for Atmospheric Research National Geographic, "they're also being enhanced by rising sea temperatures due in part to global warming."

In Pakistan, 1200 people are officially counted as dead and 6000 villages have been leveled. Disease and starvation are sure to follow. In Russia, the official death toll is at 52 (although some are suggesting it is much higher), and the fires are threatening a nuclear power plant in a region already contaminated by the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Thick smoke and choking pollution from the burning bogs has blanketed Moscow for days, making it dangerous to go outdoors. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said, ‎"What's happening with the planet's climate right now needs to be a wake-up call to all of us."

According to the NOAA’s National Climactic Data Center, highs of over 100 degrees in 19 US cities have broken local records alongside 11 countries across 4 continents. January to June 2010 has been the hottest first half of the year since temperatures were first recorded in 1880. Global temperatures have averaged 1.2 degrees warmer than normal. On May 26, Pakistan logged a mercury reading of 128.3 degrees Fahrenheit (53.5 degrees Celsius) the highest ever recorded in Asia.

These are only a few examples of the effects of global warming. If we do not succeed in reducing our impact on the environment, the effects of climate change will get much worse. From oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico and China, to fires and floods. Current events make it clear that we are in desperate need of cleaner alternatives to emissions causing fossil fuels.

Do the benefits of hydrogen outweigh the risks? In a contemporary context, the answer seems obvious.

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*Net Energy Value or NEV is defined as the difference between the energy in the fuel product. (output energy) and the energy needed to produce it.

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Honda's Hydrogen Powered FCX Clarity FCEV

Honda's FCX Clarity FCEV is a hydrogen powered electric car. The fuel cell combines hydrogen with oxygen to make electricity that powers the Honda E-Drive electric motor. Water vapour is the car's only emission.

Compared to previous generations of fuel cell vehicles the Clarity is over 397 pounds lighter and has 120% better power-to-weight ratio. The powerplant is 20 percent more fuel efficient, 45 percent more compact and 10 percent more energy efficient.

The FCX Clarity's compact and lightweight lithium-ion battery is used as a supplemental power source capturing lost energy during deceleration and braking.

This is a car that does much more than offer good performance and aerodynamic styling, it take safety very seriously. The FCX Clarity has reinforced unit-body structure, stability assist and a collision mitigation braking system.

The Clarity will come with the option of a home refueling solar array. Eight hours of home refueling will give the car enough range for the average commute, 30 miles (50 km). At a "fast-fill" public station, five-minute of refueling gives the vehicle a range of 240 miles.

The car is likely to be sold commercially around 2018 in the luxury large sedan category. This is a car that may very well offer us a glimpse into the automotive future.
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Toyota's Greener Vehicles

The Japanese have been leading providers of greener vehicles for decades. In the seventies Japan was well known for their fuel efficient vehicles, now they are known for hybrids, soon it will be the hydrogen fuel cell.

The interest in hybrid cars is growing exponentially. By March of 2007 there were already 20,526 hybrids sold. Toyota's Prius is the world's best selling hybrid car.

Toyota will unveil their updated Prius at the Tokyo Motor Show opening on October 24 and running through November 4. The new completely electric model, the FT-EV II, can be driven for more than 90km on a single charge. This third generation electric vehicle is designed for the city but with a top speed in excess of 100 km/h, it is also capable of highway driving. When not running solely on battery power, The hybrid mode offers significantly enhanced fuel economy. One liter of gas is enough for 55km, up from 38km for previous Prius models.

Each auto maker is forced to commit to a given strategic objective. Thus far Toyota has made some excellent strategic decisions. According to Takehi Uchiyamada, Toyota's executive vice-president in charge of research and development, each automaker is investing resources betting on a given technology.

While most automakers are focusing on lithium ion battery technology, Toyota remains committed to hydrogen fuel cell technology. Early in August, Toyota Motor Sales (TMS) announced the results of its fuel cell hybrid vehicle range and fuel economy field evaluation. The test reveals that for a typical commute. the Highlander prototype (FCHV-adv), has a 431 mile estimated range on a single tank of compressed hydrogen gas and an average fuel economy of 68.3 miles/kg (approximate mpg equivalent).

Jared Farnsworth, Toyota Technical Center advanced powertrain engineer said, "This evaluation of the FCHV-adv demonstrates not only the rapid advances in fuel cell technology, but also the viability of this technology for the future."

The 2009 Toyota Highland Hybrid achieves an EPA-estimated rating of 26 mpg combined fuel economy and has a full-tank range of approximately 450 miles. With premium grade gasoline currently priced at about $3.25, the gasoline-powered V6 Highlander hybrid is estimated to travel approximately 26 miles at a cost of about $3.25. Currently, hydrogen gas pricing is not fixed, but DOE targets future pricing at $2 to $3 per kilogram. Therefore, the FCHV-adv is estimated to travel approximately 68 miles at a projected cost of about $2.50 – more than double the range of the Highlander Hybrid, at equal or lesser cost, while producing zero emissions.

Irv Miller, TMS group vice president, environmental and public affairs added, "Toyota’s hydrogen fuel cell technology has advanced rapidly over the last two years. In 2015, our plan is to bring to market a reliable and durable fuel cell vehicle with exceptional fuel economy and zero emissions, at an affordable price."

Lexus has the most fuel-efficient of all luxury vehicles with 35 MPG rated. The Lexus HS Hybrid has a Exhaust Heat-Recovery System that reduces engine warm-up time, thus allowing it to stop earlier, more often, and for longer periods. This accounts for as much as a 7% increase in efficiency at low temperatures.

Pairing ingenuity with efficiency, regenerative braking converts braking energy into electricity to recharge the batteries, while the enhanced Electronically Controlled Braking (ECB) System is lighter, smaller and uses up to 29% less power than their previous regenerative braking system.

The combined 35 MPG rated HS Hybrid is over 50% more fuel efficient than Near Luxury competitors, and the most fuel-efficient Lexus ever. It delivers excellent driving performance while earning a Super Ultra-Low Emissions Vehicle (SULEVII) rating.

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NEXT: Nissan's Greener Vehicles / Honda's Greener Vehicles / Korean (Hyundai & Kia) Greener Cars / European Greener Cars / American Greener Cars (Ford's Greener Vehicles / GM's Greener Vehicles)/ Government Investment in Greener Vehicles

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