Hydrogen Fuel Cell Cars: The Hydrogen Fuel Cell Cars: The Best Solution?Best Solution?

Tim Cahill and Ryan SaranTim Cahill and Ryan Saran

A Hydrogen car uses hydrogen as its on-A Hydrogen car uses hydrogen as its on-board fuel for motive power.board fuel for motive power.

Hydrogen cars covert hydrogen energy to Hydrogen cars covert hydrogen energy to torque by two methods:torque by two methods:

– CombustionCombustion

– Electrochemical ConversionElectrochemical Conversion

CombustionCombustion

A series of exothermic reactions between A series of exothermic reactions between fuel and an oxidant accompanied by heat fuel and an oxidant accompanied by heat and/or light.and/or light.

Hydrogen is burned by the engine. Hydrogen is burned by the engine.

Very similar to the way that gasoline is Very similar to the way that gasoline is used in traditional cars.used in traditional cars.

Electrochemical ConversionElectrochemical Conversion

Hydrogen reacts with oxygen to produce Hydrogen reacts with oxygen to produce electricity and water.electricity and water.

More common among Hydrogen car More common among Hydrogen car prototypes.prototypes.

HydrogenHydrogen

Never found alone on Earth.Never found alone on Earth.

Easily extracted when in a compound.Easily extracted when in a compound.

Does not create energy, it carries it.Does not create energy, it carries it.

Hydrogen produced from natural gas only Hydrogen produced from natural gas only has 50% of the original energy.has 50% of the original energy.

BenefitsBenefits

The benefits of switching to hydrogen The benefits of switching to hydrogen vehicles clearly outweigh the vehicles clearly outweigh the disadvantages.disadvantages.

Some advantages are:Some advantages are:– Zero Emission TechnologyZero Emission Technology– MileageMileage– Foreign OilForeign Oil

Zero Emission TechnologyZero Emission Technology

Conventional fossil-fuel burning vehicles Conventional fossil-fuel burning vehicles produce all sorts of poisons such as:produce all sorts of poisons such as:– Carbon DioxideCarbon Dioxide– Carbon MonoxideCarbon Monoxide– Nitrous OxideNitrous Oxide

*** The only emission of a hydrogen fuel cell car *** The only emission of a hydrogen fuel cell car is water.is water.

Foreign OilForeign Oil

Developing a economy of mass produced Developing a economy of mass produced and effective hydrogen cars will reduce and effective hydrogen cars will reduce our dependency on foreign oil.our dependency on foreign oil.

Gas is clearly out of control and making Gas is clearly out of control and making this transition seems like the only way to this transition seems like the only way to get around at a reasonable price.get around at a reasonable price.

ProblemsProblemsAlthough many advancements in hydrogen Although many advancements in hydrogen technology has occurred, there still are technology has occurred, there still are many problems such as:many problems such as:– Fuel Cell CostFuel Cell Cost– Freezing ConditionsFreezing Conditions– StorageStorage– Hydrogen InfrastructureHydrogen Infrastructure– CompetitionCompetition

Fuel Cell CostFuel Cell Cost

Currently, fuel cells are costly and fragileCurrently, fuel cells are costly and fragile

We need to find a way to make We need to find a way to make inexpensive and tough fuel cellsinexpensive and tough fuel cells

Many designs require rare substances like Many designs require rare substances like platinum as the catalyst.platinum as the catalyst.

Fuel Cell Cost cont.Fuel Cell Cost cont.

The catalyst can be contaminated by The catalyst can be contaminated by impurities in the hydrogen supplyimpurities in the hydrogen supply

A nickel-tin catalyst is the most popular A nickel-tin catalyst is the most popular alternative for this problem. alternative for this problem.

Freezing ConditionsFreezing Conditions

Fuel cells produce water and utilize moist Fuel cells produce water and utilize moist air, especially during startup.air, especially during startup.

The current high for startup in freezing The current high for startup in freezing conditions is 50% power achieved in 30 conditions is 50% power achieved in 30 seconds at -20 °C. seconds at -20 °C.

Goal: 75% in 25 seconds at -15 °C .Goal: 75% in 25 seconds at -15 °C .

StorageStorage

Hydrogen is considered a “bulky” gas.Hydrogen is considered a “bulky” gas.

It is very difficult to store large amounts in It is very difficult to store large amounts in the liquid state and even harder in the gas the liquid state and even harder in the gas state.state.

Hydrogen InfrastructureHydrogen Infrastructure

Must get rid of typical gasoline pump Must get rid of typical gasoline pump stations and make them hydrogen pumps.stations and make them hydrogen pumps.

Hydrogen pump stations have already Hydrogen pump stations have already begun to be produced in many places begun to be produced in many places around the world.around the world.

Hydrogen infrastructure cont.Hydrogen infrastructure cont.

In California, private and public initiatives In California, private and public initiatives have been taken to build a “Hydrogen have been taken to build a “Hydrogen Highway”Highway”

This has already begun production and This has already begun production and has a sufficient amount of pump stations has a sufficient amount of pump stations to support the travel of the latest hydrogen to support the travel of the latest hydrogen car prototypes.car prototypes.

President Bush has already raised $2 President Bush has already raised $2 billion in Hydrogen Highway research and billion in Hydrogen Highway research and production.production.

CompetitionCompetition

There is not clear way to see which types There is not clear way to see which types of green car will be primarily in the future.of green car will be primarily in the future.

However, there is a strong possibility that However, there is a strong possibility that all can be nearly perfect to the point where all can be nearly perfect to the point where they are mass produced and sold to the they are mass produced and sold to the publicpublic

Competition cont.Competition cont.

There are two leading solutions to the There are two leading solutions to the conventional gasoline car excluding the conventional gasoline car excluding the hydrogen car.hydrogen car.

These the ICE Hybrid vehicle and the These the ICE Hybrid vehicle and the Electric vehicle.Electric vehicle.

ICE/PHEV Hybrid VehicleICE/PHEV Hybrid Vehicle

ICE= Internal Combustion EngineICE= Internal Combustion Engine

PHEV= Plug-in hybrid Electric VehiclePHEV= Plug-in hybrid Electric Vehicle

Can be plugged into a electric grid and Can be plugged into a electric grid and achieve higher gas mileage and lower achieve higher gas mileage and lower emissions that other hybrids.emissions that other hybrids.

ICE/PHEV Hybrid Vehicle cont.ICE/PHEV Hybrid Vehicle cont.

In a 2006 article in Scientific American, In a 2006 article in Scientific American, argues that these vehicles will be standard argues that these vehicles will be standard in the automobile industry, rather than in the automobile industry, rather than Hydrogen Fuel Cell Cars.Hydrogen Fuel Cell Cars.

Have huge disadvantages in their cost, Have huge disadvantages in their cost, weight, and size of battery. weight, and size of battery.

ICE/PHEV Hybrid Vehicle cont.ICE/PHEV Hybrid Vehicle cont.

Electric CarsElectric Cars

Commonly referred to as a EV, which Commonly referred to as a EV, which means Electric Vehicle. means Electric Vehicle.

Typically more fuel efficient that fuel cell Typically more fuel efficient that fuel cell cars on a wheel-to-wheel basis.cars on a wheel-to-wheel basis.

This is the main reason that these cars are This is the main reason that these cars are gaining popularity.gaining popularity.

Electric Cars cont.Electric Cars cont.

Hydrogen cars are without a doubt the Hydrogen cars are without a doubt the future.future.

This is our problem to deal with and solve.This is our problem to deal with and solve.

A hydrogen economy is just around the A hydrogen economy is just around the bend. Will we be ready?bend. Will we be ready?