Hydrogen POWER

First National of Omaha Banking on Hydrogen

2009-01-18T20:21:00.000-08:00

First National Bank of Omaha (FNBO) and its data center are now in their tenth year of being completely powered by Hydrogen fuel cells.

According to FNBO's CIO and SVP Ken Kucera "If the whole city of Omaha loses public power, we don't lose it." In the decade since this innovative data center project went live the performance has been flawless according to Mr. Kucera.

It is surprising that in ten years no other bank has followed suit and decided to use this green technology that is both efficient and reliable. Currently there are only a handful of data centers running their critical operations on Hydrogen fuel cells.

This ten year track record shows that Hydrogen fuel cells are not only a viable solution for data centers but also for other critical business operations given its proven reliability.

http://www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2009/01/16b_bank_goes_o.html

University of Birmingham To Test Hydrogen In England

2008-11-17T17:01:00.000-08:00

The British Midlands Development Corporation has announced that the University of Birmingham has unveiled a fleet of Hydrogen powered cars, making it the only university in the United Kingdom to have these vehicles.

The vehicles will be used as part of a study to research the viability of Hydrogen in transport applications. Engineers will be comparing the Hydrogen powered vehicles with gasoline, diesel and electric vehicles to learn more about their efficiency and performance. The researchers will determine how these vehicles need to be adapted in order to make Hydrogen an attractive and cost effective option.

The cars will utilize a Hydrogen fueling station at the university designed by Pennsylvania based Air Products that can fuel up to six vehicles per day. The Hydrogen fueling station is part of a cluster being set up across the region by the British Midlands Hydrogen Forum. The cluster known as the Midlands Hydrogen Ring consists of stations that will be at the heart of the Hydrogen fueling infrastructure planned throughout the region. A second station is already operational at Loughborough University and further sites planned include vehicle testing centers, an airport, a visitor attraction and eventually the open road.

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/British-Midlands-University-Unveils-Fleet/story.aspx?guid={9AC0AD32-92E3-451A-AA85-88266E8DB4FD}

Hydrogen Center Opens In Wales

2008-10-09T05:34:00.000-07:00

The UK's first dedicated Hydrogen demonstration center has opened at the University of Glamorgan.

Based near Swansea in Wales, the £2.2 million ($3.8 million) building will develop Hydrogen and fuel cell technologies to power cars and homes in the future.

The center will also test the viability and safety of making Hydrogen fuel from Welsh renewable energy sources such as wind and solar.

http://www.smartplanet.com/news/tech/10001742/glamorgan-opens-uk-s-first-hydrogen-centre.htm

Hydrogen Road Trip

2008-08-24T07:30:00.000-07:00

A group of Hydrogen powered cars and sport utility vehicles lined up for public test drives in Phoenix as part of an unprecedented cross-country Hydrogen Road Tour to promote the fuel of the future.

The two week road trip, which started in Maine and ends this weekend in Southern California, toured more than 30 cities in the United states as part of a joint venture by nine auto manufacturers and the U.S. Department of Transportation to demonstrate to the public that Hydrogen powered vehicles are nearly ready for showrooms.

The hand built demonstration vehicles on the tour are all based on existing cars and small sport-utilities and were put into the hands of regular drivers so they could experience how pollution free driving is visualized for the future. The automakers involved include BMW, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai-Kia, Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan and Volkswagen.

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2008/08/23/20080823hydrogen23.html

Going Postal Over Hydrogen

2008-07-24T06:19:00.000-07:00

General Motors (GM) has delivered a Hydrogen powered Chevrolet Equinox to an Irvine, CA post office that will be one of two locations nationwide to test the vehicle. The Hydrogen vehicle will be used to deliver mail to Irvine residences and businesses, putting the fuel cell technology through tough, daily workouts. The goal is to help GM refine the technology and, hopefully, make petroleum powered cars a thing of the past.

Fuel cell vehicles have been in use by the U.S. Postal Service since 2004. The GM HydroGen3 fuel cell vehicle was tested in Northern Virginia starting in 2004 and in Irvine starting in 2006 with both test drive programs ending in 2007. The programs helped GM refine the technology of its fourth generation fuel cell vehicle.

Although GM is on track to develop and finalize the vehicle's propulsion system by 2010 it won't start selling the cars until a Hydrogen fueling infrastructure is in place nationwide, making the gas widely available.

There are about 70 hydrogen fueling stations nationwide with California leading the way with 25 of them. Although just two of them are available to the public, including one at UC Irvine, operated by the National Fuel Cell Research Center, and the other in west Los Angeles. A third is however set to open at LAX this fall.

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/fuel-cell-vehicle-2103142-technology-irvine?slideshow=1

Honda FCX Clarity Available In July

2008-06-18T09:06:00.000-07:00

Honda has started production of the FCX Clarity, a new zero-emission four seater car that runs on Hydrogen and electricity.

According to Honda, the new car offers three times better fuel efficiency than a normal car. Honda is planning to produce 200 of the FCX Clarity cars, which for now will only be available on a three year lease for around $600 a month.

The first cars will be available for lease in July in California with a follow up launch in Japan later in the year. Actress Jamie Lee Curtis will be one of the first to have one of the new Honda vehicles.

http://www.enjoyfrance.com/content/view/1512/31/

Ronn Motors Introduces Its Scorpion Exotic Sports Car

2008-06-04T15:15:00.001-07:00

Texas startup Ronn Motors has unveiled its new Scorpion exotic sports car that is powered by a Hydrogen/gasoline fuel blend. According to the manufacturer, the Scorpion will run on a Hydrogen/gasoline fuel blend with 30-40% of the mix consisting of Hydrogen.

The automobile is unique in that drivers will not have to reply on Hydrogen stations but can just use water to fuel the car. Ronn Motors states that the Scorpion can produce Hydrogen on demand by fracturing water molecules drawn from a small on board water tank. As a result, the car will not need a high pressure, on board Hydrogen storage tank. The manufacturer claims that the car will hit about 40 mpg.

The 289 hp engine in the Scorpion is based on the motor used to power the 2008 Acura TL-S sedan. Ronn Motors will also offer a 450 hp twin-turbo option. The 2100 lb car is expected to accelerate from 0-60 mph in the 3.2 - 3.5 second range run the quarter mile time in the mid 10 second range at 130 mph. The car will initially be available with a 6-speed manual and later with a 6-speed automatic in 2009. The car will have a limited production run and will be priced at $150,000.

http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/37792/113/

Hydrogen Station Set To Open In Britain

2008-04-15T20:00:00.000-07:00

Britain’s first Hydrogen fuel station is set to open at Birmingham University this week with plans to open at least twelve stations across the country by 2010. The Hydrogen station will be a part of trials being conducted with a fleet of five fuel-cell vehicles. Three Hydrogen stations are planned for London with the first opening next year at a bus garage in East London.

Air Products, the company installing the fuel station, is working with Transport for London (TfL) to build fuel stations for a fleet of 70 Hydrogen-powered vehicles that are being introduced next year. TfL vehicles will contain a mixture of buses, vans, cars and motorcycles and will be used by TfL staff, the police and the fire brigade. The five-year trial of both fuel cells and Hydrogen combustion engines will cost around $43 million (£22 million).

A fuel cell combines Hydrogen from a tank with oxygen from the air to produce electricity, which powers an electric motor. The only byproduct is water and the whole process produces no carbon dioxide emissions

http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/driving/article3753961.ece

Boeing Takes Hydrogen To New Heights

2008-04-03T09:57:00.000-07:00

Boeing has laid claim to being the first company in the world to put into the air a plane powered by a Hydrogen cell battery. The plane, carrying just the pilot on board, was flown over the airport at Ocana, Spain at a speed of 62 mph (100kmh) for about 20 minutes at an altitude of some 3,300 (1,000m) using only the Hydrogen battery for power.

Although the plane is on the smaller side (wing span of 51 feet (16.3m), 21 feet (6.5m) long and weighing approximately 1,760 pounds (800kg)) this is promising news for Hydrogen technology being utilized in the aviation industry.

This type of technology use is something we can expect to see more of in the Hydrogen Future.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=080403162501.d2gts0go&show_article=1

BMW Hydrogen Fit For a Prince

2008-04-01T07:28:00.000-07:00

Prince Albert II of Monaco has been given a BMW Hydrogen 7 at the opening of the EVER MONACO environment exhibition. The event is part of the "Sustainable Environmental Protection" program, which is one of the cornerstones of policy in the Principality of Monaco.

The BMW 7 Hydrogen required 20 years of research and development at the BMW Group. The vehicle is powered by a V12 engine and the transition from gasoline to Hydrogen is done at the push of a button. The Series 7 Hydrogen can travel more than 430 miles (700km) and has a reservoir that safely contains more than 17 pounds (8kg) of liquid Hydrogen kept permanently at a temperature of minus 253 degrees.

http://www.thenewsmarket.com/CustomLink/CustomLinks.aspx?GUID=fb928bf8-0723-4522-970f-6c0e29723846&bhcp=1

New Fueling Stations for London's Hydrogen Buses

2008-03-18T11:34:00.000-07:00

Air Products & Chemicals Incorporated announced that it has signed an agreement with Transport for London to supply Hydrogen fuel and a dedicated fueling station for 10 Hydrogen-powered buses. The deal is worth around $6.8 million, with extra being paid for the fuel. The company expects the buses, which will form a central part of London's Hydrogen transport program, to be operating by 2010.

Air Products is based out of Allentown, PA and is the world’s largest supplier of merchant Hydrogen, operating over 60 gaseous and liquid Hydrogen production plants.

http://www.eta.co.uk/node/10409

Seaworld To See New Hydrogen Buses

2008-02-20T16:08:00.000-08:00

SeaWorld is unveiling two new Hydrogen-fueled shuttle buses that will be used to transport park guests and employees between its three theme parks (SeaWorld, Discovery Cove and Aquatica).

The shuttle buses are part of a pilot program between the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Ford Motor Company, Chevron Technology Ventures and Progress Energy. During the program, data will be collected from the SeaWorld vehicles to evaluate efficiency and best applications for Hydrogen-fueled vehicles.

http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/stories/2008/02/18/daily14.html

Hydrogen and Hythane Station In Delhi

2008-02-05T05:30:00.000-08:00

Hythane Company LLC (owned by Eden Energy Limited) has been selected by IndianOil Corporation to install and supply the first public Hydrogen fueling station in India. The $1 million retail outlet is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2008 and will be located at one of India's busiest natural gas fuelling stations in the center of Delhi .

The station will produce, store, blend, and dispense Hydrogen as well as Hythane (a patented mixture of Hydrogen and natural gas that provides a dramatic reduction in nitrous oxide emissions) that will used to power natural gas vehicles, including buses, cars, and trucks.

India has set a target of having at least 20% of all of its vehicles operate on Hydrogen based fuel by 2020 (an estimated one million vehicles). This Hydrogen fuel project in Delhi is seen as a important springboard for the commercial rollout of Hythane worldwide.

http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/industries/energy/article/eden-energy-install-supply-indias-public-hydrogen-fueling-station_463499_11.html

NIST Set To Test Hydrogen Pipelines

2008-01-27T19:29:00.000-08:00

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has started construction on a new laboratory to evaluate tests, materials, mechanical properties and standards for Hydrogen pipelines. The 750 sq ft laboratory, expected to be operational by mid-2008, will sit on the site of a former Hydrogen test facility at the NIST campus in Boulder, Colo.

Since long-term exposure to Hydrogen can embrittle existing pipelines and increase the potential for dangerous failures, researchers will be using hydraulic machines to test mechanical fatigue, residual strength and fracture toughness of various pipeline materials and equipment.

Some of the experiments will involve immersing pipeline materials in pressurized Hydrogen gas contained in steel alloy test chambers. NIST is coordinating its research and safety plans with other national laboratories and industry groups working with Hydrogen. In the future, the focus will expand to new pipeline materials such as composites.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080124094006.htm

Korean Researchers Make Hydrogen From Water Look Easy

2008-01-17T07:14:00.000-08:00

Korean researchers at the Korea Institute of Energy Research have successfully developed the processing technology necessary to mass produce Hydrogen from water. The researchers completed the development of the processing technology, which operates at normal temperatures with improved efficiency, to mass produce more than 3/4 of a gallon (3 liters) of Hydrogen from Hydrogen iodide.

This breakthrough is very positive as the least expensive way to produce Hydrogen is to separate Hydrogen from water molecules although the connection between Hydrogen and oxygen is very strong.

The Korean government aims to increase the proportion of Hydrogen used for energy to 0.1% by 2012, 3% by 2020, 7% by 2030 and 15% by 2040. Hydrogen is expected to account for 10% of the energy used in developed countries by 2030.

http://english.etnews.co.kr/news/detail.html?id=200801170002

Cadillac Provoqs The Hydrogen Vehicle Market

2008-01-08T20:18:00.000-08:00

General Motors has unveiled its new Cadillac Provoq Hydrogen concept vehicle at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, NV.

The Provoq contains two 10,000-psi Hydrogen tanks that feed a fuel-cell stack to produce up to 88kW of continuous power that charges a lithium-ion battery pack. This power is used to spin both a 70 kW co-axial electric drive system at the front wheels and two 40 kW in-wheel motors at the rear. Fully fueled and charged, the Provoq will run 300 miles and get to sixty miles per hour in a respectable 8.5 seconds and achieve a top speed of 100 mph.

The Provoq also comes with several nice options including dual battery charging ports in the left and right front fenders, a roof-mounted solar panel to boost the electric charge, and front grille louvers that close up at highway speeds to improve aerodynamics.

http://blog.wired.com/cars/2008/01/cadillac-unveil.html

Hydrogen To Go

2008-01-04T06:02:00.000-08:00

Millenium Cell Inc. and Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies have announced that they will be debuting a pre-production version of their HydroPak portable Hydrogen-fueled generator at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

The HydroPak will use disposable Hydrogen fuel cells to provide instant power in the place of traditional gasoline and diesel powered generators. The HydroPak has been designed to be lighter and quieter and will run indoors without problems thanks to the lack of harmful emissions. Just like a traditional generator it is able to provide continuous electricity for 14 hours to low-power devices like portable work lights, portable televisions, and communications networks. One Hydrogen fuel cell should provide enough electricity to recharge a laptop eight to ten times.

The generator should cost around $400, with refill Hydrogen packs costing around $20.

http://news.digitaltrends.com/news/story/15314/hydrogen-powered_generator_to_debut_at_ces

Hydrogen Station In Orlando Now Open

2007-12-20T14:41:00.001-08:00

Maryland based General Physics Corporation has just completed two demonstration Hydrogen fueling stations. Once station is located at the Progress Energy facility near Orlando International Airport. This station will fuel a fleet of shuttle buses used to transport employees around the airport and the Orange County Convention Center.

The other station is at the Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Macomb County, Michigan. Both stations were designed by Chevron Technology Ventures, a division of Chevron USA.

http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/stories/2007/12/17/daily26.html

Hydrogen Ford Focused On Florida

2007-12-12T19:10:00.000-08:00

Members of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Progress Energy Florida and the United States Department of Energy (DOE) recently joined officials from Ford Motor Company (Ford) and British Petroleum (BP) to celebrate the opening of a new Hydrogen fueling station in Oviedo, Florida.

The new station will be used by six Hydrogen powered Ford Focus vehicles as a part of a 30 strong Ford Focus fuel cell demonstration fleet currently being tested in the United States, Canada and Germany.

The Hydrogen fueling station in Oviedo is the second to be opened in the state in the last six months with Florida's first Hydrogen station opened in Orlando in May of 2007. The Hydrogen fueling stations are a part of the Controlled Hydrogen Fleet and Infrastructure Demonstration and Validation Project, a joint initiative between Ford and the DOE.

http://www.fuelcelltoday.com/online/news/articles/2007-12/New-hydrogen-fuelling-station-op

BC Transit Transitions to Hydrogen

2007-12-12T18:18:00.000-08:00

Government officials in British Columbia, Canada are two more stops along the road toward their planned "Hydrogen Highway." As part of a new deal, British Columbia will see the construction of two fueling stations for a fleet of Hydrogen-powered buses, said to be the largest fleet of Hydrogen fuel cell buses in the world.

Canadian company, BC Transit has signed a $19.7 million (C$20 million) contract with Air Liquide Canada Inc. of Montreal to supply Hydrogen for the new, non-polluting buses, which will begin to arrive in the summer of 2008. Air Liquide, along with two other companies, will build fuelling stations in Whistler, Canada and at a British Columbia Transit center in Langford, Canada.

The first fuel cell buses are scheduled to be tested in Victoria in the summer of 2008 and will eventually be based in Whistler as part of public transportation for the 2010 Olympic Games. The British Columbia government ultimately envisions a Hydrogen highway reaching from Whistler to California as part of its efforts to reduce greenhouses gas emissions by 33 per cent by 2020.

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5j6ttbmzNFNOVpHUQTD9edM9MdiPg

Iceland Opens First Public Hydrogen Station

2007-12-06T10:42:00.000-08:00

The world’s first ever Hydrogen filling station in Reykjavik, Iceland has now opened its doors to the general public. The filling station originally opened four years ago as part of a pilot project which introduced three Hydrogen powered buses to Reykjavik. The fueling station is now open to private vehicles and is part of a larger pilot project to introduce 40 Hydrogen cars into Reykjavik by the end of 2009.

The project, backed by the government, academics and private firms, is being realized through the work of Icelandic New Energy. As of this week, the fuelling station will also power 10 Toyota Prius Hydrogen cars that were given to three private companies. The general public as well as visitors to Iceland will also be able to test out the new Hydrogen cars as Hertz will be renting out three of the vehicles.

Iceland aims to be completely independent of fossil fuels by 2050 and its use of geothermal energy and hydroelectric power have already put the country well on its way to achieving this target. However, personal transportation, which is heavily based on private cars, remains the biggest challenge.

http://www.icenews.is/index.php/2007/12/06/worlds-first-hydrogen-station-opens-to-public/

Hydrogen Gift Ideas

2007-12-03T15:33:00.000-08:00

Looking for a great original gift idea?

How about giving someone a real Hydrogen powered toy car!

Here are two great toy cars that are available now.

The first is the H Racer and Solar Hydrogen Station (shown left). The H Racer operates on 100% clean fuel produced by a miniature Hydrogen fueling station that converts water to hydrogen using energy captured from the sun.

http://www.frontgate.com/jump.jsp?sort=1&itemType=PRODUCT&AS=1&keyword=hydrogen&itemID=12911&iProductID=12911

The second is the Hydrogen generating car. This Hydrogen-powered car uses its very own on-board reversible Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) fuel cell to conduct the entire Hydrogen-generating and electrolytic process.

http://www.hammacher.com/publish/74717.asp?promo=homepage_hero

Tata Motors To Go Hydrogen

2007-11-26T08:41:00.000-08:00

Tata Motors, India's largest automobile company, has announced plans to produce a Hydrogen version of its successful trucks and buses. The auto giant has drawn up an eight-year timeframe to deliver Hydrogen versions of its standard Indica model as well as other vehicles.

The fuel cell buses Tata is looking at will be able to run about 155 miles (250km) on one fill and could be used for inter-city and intra-city trips. The same fuel cell technology will later be used in smaller cars as well as SUV's. Tata is also working on a Hydrogen-based internal combustion engine as well as an Indica model that would run on a mix of compressed natural gas (CNG) and Hydrogen.

The push by Tata Motors comes along with the government of India's plan to pump in more than $5 billion (Rs 25,000 crore) into a national Hydrogen energy board to support the Technology Information Forecasting and Assessment Council and their focus on building technologies and engines using Hydrogen as fuel.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Business/India_Business/Tata_inks_plan_for_green_cars/articleshow/2570425.cms

Hydrogen Station Opened In Shanghai

2007-11-19T10:12:00.000-08:00

A new Hydrogen refueling station has opened in Anting, Shanghai. The station is the result of research and development conduced at Tongji University as well as funding and technical advice provided by Shell Hydrogen.

Tongji University will be responsible for operating the station that will dispense Hydrogen for a fleet of fuel cell cars and buses operating in the region.

The Anting Hydrogen station is part of the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology's 863 Program, named for the date on which it was created (March 1986). The program aims to stimulate the development of advanced technologies in a wide range of fields, including the commercialization of hybrid-electric drive and fuel cell vehicles.

http://www.energycurrent.com/index.php?id=3&storyid=6908

The Grass Is Greener On The Other Side

2007-11-13T04:37:00.000-08:00

Researchers at Penn State University have developed a process whereby bacteria is used to extract Hydrogen from almost any biodegradable organic substance (from grass clippings to wastewater).

The discovery, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is very promising given that the researchers were able to use existing technology meaning the process can be put to use immediately.

Professor Bruce Logan and his research assistant Shaoan Cheng discovered a method whereby bacteria called exoelectrogens break down acetic acid (produced by fermenting cellulose, glucose or other biodegradable organic matter) in a microbial electrolysis cell to create Hydrogen.

The way the process works is that when the bacteria consume the acid, electrons are transferred to a graphite anode. During the process the bacteria also release protons (which are Hydrogen atoms stripped of electrons) that are held in solution. As the electrons are then transferred to a platinum cathode they combine with the protons and generate 0.3 volts of electricity. When another 0.2 volts is added to the process it creates Hydrogen gas.

This is all very promising especially given that this method produces up to 82 percent more energy than the electricity and biomass needed to produce it.

http://www.wired.com/cars/energy/news/2007/11/hydrogen_bacteria

Norwegian Hydrogen World

2007-11-08T04:18:00.000-08:00

Mazda and Hydrogen Road of Norway (HyNor) have announced that they will collaborate in the development of Hydrogen fuel and Hydrogen vehicles. As part of the colloboration, HyNor will purchase thirty Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen RE vehicles making this the first time such vehicles have been sold outside of Japan.

Mazda has described the move as a big step in Mazda's Hydrogen vehicle development history and lauds Norway as being one of the countries closest to the realization of a Hydrogen energy society.

As part of the project, HyNor is looking to develop a Hydrogen energy infrastructure along a route of 360 miles (580km) from Oslo to Stavanger. The project envisions a Hydrogen world with buses, taxis, cars and other types of transport systems. Sounds like Norway might be one of the first countries to realize a Hydrogen Future.

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=123351

Working Together to Test Hydrogen Technology

2007-11-01T09:55:00.000-07:00

The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) are set to test Hydrogen fueling technologies in cold weather military applications. Through cooperative research and development agreements, the U.S. Army, Chevron Technology Ventures (CTV) and Hyundai-Kia America will collaborate on the project set up at a state of the art facility located at the Selfridge Air National Guard (SANG) Base in Michigan.

The facility will initially power a fleet of five Hyundai Tucson fuel cell vehicles used by the Army and National Guard. The facility will utilize Chevron's proprietary advanced steam methane reforming technology to produce about 88 pounds (40kgs) of Hydrogen per day.

The SANG Base station is the fifth Hydrogen demonstration station commissioned by CTV. Each of the five stations features a different production technology to assess and determine the benefits of various production systems.

http://www.energycurrent.com/index.php?id=3&storyid=6464

Hydrogen Honda Available Next Year

2007-10-28T13:14:00.000-07:00

Honda has taken the motoring world by surprise by announcing at the Tokyo motor show that it will be putting the world’s first Hydrogen fuel cell car into production next year. The car will travel an estimated 270 miles at speeds of up to 100 mph and will produce only water vapor from its exhaust. It is expected to cost around $101,000 (£50,000) and will be available initially only in America and Japan.

The Hydrogen automobile will be unveiled at the Los Angeles motor show next month and is expected to closely follow the design of the FCX concept car with space for four passengers in its futuristic looking cabin. Instead of a fuel gauge the vehicle will have a range meter that tells you how far you can travel with the Hydrogen left in the tank. It is also expected to feature lithium-ion batteries to recover energy during braking and a gearless transmission.

This is truly incredible news especially given that previous estimates for a viable Hydrogen fuel cell car ranged from 10 years to 20 years in the future. Also, this vehicle will have a modest price tag which means the Hydrogen Honda will cost less than many exotic vehicles available now. The Hydrogen Future is coming sooner than we think.

http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/driving/features/article2744803.ece

Traveling The World Supersonic Style

2007-10-26T04:44:00.000-07:00

The European Space Agency (ESA) has just been granted financing to study the development of a Hydrogen fueled hypersonic aircraft capable of travelling at Mach 5.5.

The first phase of this Long-term Advanced Propulsion Concepts And Technologies (LAPCAT) scheme winds up early next year and is being run by the ESA.

The $14.5 million funding will go towards studying how to bring this supersonic aircraft to life so that one day it will travel from Brussels, Belgium to Sydney, Australia in just 4.6 hours (covering 10,407 miles).

For now, researchers are trying to figure out how to develop an engine that will be capable of thrusting the airplane to Mach 5.5 speed. The engine will most likely consist of a rocket engine with a turbo compressor that will be also be able to fly at subsonic speeds while travelling over land where sonic boom is not permitted. This amazing technology is definitely something we can expect to see in the Hydrogen Future.

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/fast-plane/mach-8-hydrogen-hypersonic-airliner-on-the-drawing-board-314957.php

The Wunderbar Wunderengine

2007-10-25T03:06:00.000-07:00

Boeing has successfully completed testing the wunderengine, a Hydrogen powered airplane engine developed by the Ford Motor Company.

The engine will power the HALE, an endurance airplane that will be capable of flying for seven days in the stratosphere. As part of the testing, the wunderengine went for three days non-stop under the simulated conditions of a flight at 65,000 feet.

Although the HALE is expected to hit the skies within several years, its primary purpose will be communications for military or commercial purposes and may also be used for persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance purposes.

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/the-future-of-aviation/boeing-successful-hydrogen-engine-test-shows-future-of-aviation-314497.php

Hydrogen Honda Is Here To Stay

2007-10-24T04:06:00.000-07:00

Honda Motor Company has come out with a trial based Hydrogen fueled vehicle called the FCX Concept. During the debut of the vehicle Honda predicted a bright future for Hydrogen fuel cell cars, stating that mass production of such vehicles may happen within a decade.

Honda has stated that it is making significant efforts in the development of fuel cell vehicles with the hopes of bringing down the high price from $840,000 (more than 100 million yen) to below $87,700 (10 million yen) within the next ten years.

Honda also believes that there is no future for the auto history without Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles especially when other cleaner technology such as electric vehicles cannot go as far as needed without additional charging or a massive battery. After trying to mass produce electric vehicles three years ago Honda realized the technology was not enough and decided to pursue fuel cell technology instead.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific_business/view/307388/1/.html

So You Think You Can Drive?

2007-10-17T04:17:00.000-07:00

As a part of their Project Driveway Program, General Motors Corporation is launching an online research community whereby members will have a chance to test drive the Equinox Fuel Cell vehicle. You have to live or work in the metropolitan New York City, Washington, D.C. or southern California area and sign up on their website to become eligible to test drive this Hydrogen powered vehicle.

The first group of eligible test drivers will be identified in the fall of 2007, with the first mainstream driver vehicles available after the New Year. The program will stretch over a three year period with several hundred people getting a chance to test drive one of the Equinox Fuel Cell vehicles for an extended period of time. Unfortunately, due to the limited number of vehicles, not all online community members will become Project Driveway drivers.

Although Chevrolet seems to refer to this vehicle as being more of an electric vehicle than a Hydrogen powered vehicle, this program is a still good start as it will hopefully bring awareness to all of the possibilities that Hydrogen has to offer.

www.chevrolet.com/fuelcell

The Ultimate UAV

2007-10-15T05:13:00.000-07:00

Korean scientists at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have developed a Hydrogen fuel cell powered Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). The UAV weighs less than 4.5lbs (2kg) and is able to carry out a flight of over 10 hours with only one charge of its Hydrogen fuel cell.

According to the sceintists, the sodium borohydride used as the liquid fuel can produce more Hydrogen than Hydrogen gas and is also more convenient for commercialization. Furthermore, the Hydrogen fuel cell produces about 10 times more electricity that existing batteries.

http://www.avionews.com/index.php?corpo=see_news_home.php&news_id=1080690&pagina_chiamante=corpo%3Dindex.php

Hydrogen, Eh?

2007-10-14T13:14:00.000-07:00

As part of the Hydrogen on the Hill project launched last year, the Minister of Environment in Canada (John Baird) was on hand for the opening of the first permanent Hydrogen fueling station in Ottawa, Canada. The new station is the fifth permanent Hydrogen fueling station in Ontario and the tenth currently operating in Canada. The new station's first customers will be three Hydrogen powered buses operated by the Senate of Canada.

Hydrogen on the Hill is led by Industry Canada and Ford of Canada and managed by Advanced Technologies and Fuels Canada with the goal of assessing the environmental benefits and commercial feasibility of using Hydrogen as a transportation fuel.

The buses currently using the technology have already racked up more than 3,700 trouble free miles (6,000 km) over the past year. This project is proof that not only is Hydrogen a clean alternative but also a realistic alternative.

http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release.do?id=780489

Riding On Hydrogen In New Zealand

2007-10-12T11:52:00.000-07:00

As part of the Panasonic World Solar Challenge in Australian Steve Ryan is getting ready to drive more than 1,800 miles (3000km) from Darwin to Adelaide on a blend of waste oil and water. Mr. Ryan, the founder of New Zealand based Bios Fuel, will use an old 1989 Toyota Land Cruiser with nearly 250,000 miles (400,000km) on the odometer for the challenge.

Bios Fuel began in 1996 when Mr. Ryan started tinkering with an old motorcycle engine in his Auckland garage. Mr. Ryan's concept became a reality two years ago when he rode a 350cc motorcycle powered solely on water for the CBS television show 60 Minutes.

Mr Ryan says the water based fuel system he is using allows Hydrogen to be housed safely in water and released. Although it is blended with waste oil for lubrication and a bonding agent, ultimately the power comes from water. He says the fuel runs via a normal combustion system and that the delivery system is the key, which he says must remain under wraps.

It is great to see people like Mr. Ryan hard at work proving to skeptics that the possibility of creating a Hydrogen Future is here and now.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4235846a13.html

Keep On Truckin'

2007-10-11T17:11:00.000-07:00

Exide Technologies (the parent company of battery maker GNB Industrial Power) and Ballard Power Systems (a Canadian fuel cell manufacturer) have teamed up to develop a hybrid energy system for lift trucks that uses both a battery and a Hydrogen fuel cell.

As part of their contract with the U.S. Department of Defense the companies are looking to produce a system that will use a Hydrogen fuel cell to recharge a lead acid battery while the battery remains in the lift truck. The battery will do its traditional work of providing power and acting as a counterweight while the fuel cell will eliminate the need to lift the heavy batteries out of the trucks for electric charging. A working prototype of the hybrid system is expected to be ready in 12 months.

Although this is not something targeted for the masses maybe the technology could be leveraged into other uses such as for automobiles, motorcycles or even boats.

http://www.mmh.com/article/CA6489246.html

High Marks On The Hydrogen Report

2007-10-10T09:25:00.000-07:00

According to global growth consultancy firm Frost & Sullivan government led initiatives such as the Hydrogen fuel initiative in the United States as well as projects in the European Union are helping to accelerate active research and development technologies in Hydrogen.

Their report titled "Innovations in Hydro Production and Storage Technologies" states that as a result of these various developments, Hydrogen production and storage technologies could reach commercial stage and enter the market in a reasonably short time.

The report also confirmed that both production and storage technologies were some of the challenges that had to be overcome before the Hydrogen economy could become an achievable reality. Ultimately though cost is what they believe will continue to play the biggest role in determining which technologies will dominate.

http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article.php?a_id=118627

First One To Zero Wins

2007-10-09T12:18:00.000-07:00

As part of project Zero Regio (zero-emission region) a second Hydrogen station has been opened in Mantova, Italy. True to its name, the goal of the project is to establish a zero emission region. Financed in part by the European Commission and supported by 16 partners from four European countries, the project involves constructing two Hydrogen distribution networks for the refuelling of fuel cell vehicles in the municipality of Mantua, Italy and Frankfurt, Germany.

The newly opened service station allows for Hydrogen to be produced on site using a gas powered reformer, with the Hydrogen then being used to power a fleet of three fuel cell Fiat Pandas.

Although the service station uses gas to produce Hydrogen it is still a very positive project since it should help improve the acceptance of fuel cell and Hydrogen technology by the general public.

http://www.fuelcelltoday.com/online/news/articles/2007-10/New-hydrogen-station-opened-in-I

Hollywood Has Gone Hydrogen

2007-10-08T17:01:00.000-07:00

Davis Guggenheim, the director/producer of the movie Inconvenient Truth has just been given a set of keys to long term test drive the BMW Hydrogen 7.

He joins a select group of people that have been keys to test drive this amazing vehicle for an extended period of time. Among them are comic Jay Leno and opera singer Plácido Domingo.

This is hopefully a good sign of things to come from BMW in terms of more of these revolutionary vehicles being made available to the masses. As more of these vehicles become common place for everyday drivers so does the reality of a Hydrogen Future.

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=122945#2

Hats Off To The Hydrogen Man

2007-10-06T12:25:00.000-07:00

Mike Strizki of Hopewell, New Jersey has rigged his home to run on Hydrogen in the winter and solar power in the summer. This one of a kind home has zero public utilities bills and produces zero pollution. Not only does his house run on Hydrogen but so does his speed boat, car and even his golf cart.

To generate electricity all Mr. Strizki has to do is turn on a flow of water, which leads to an electrolyzer machine that splits the water into its component parts of Hydrogen and oxygen. The Hydrogen then feeds into oblong metal tanks that fuels his house, his vehicles and boat. The Hydrogen can be stored in pressurized tanks for months or even years and when needed is funneled into a Hydrogen fuel cell where, when recombined with oxygen, free electrons are created and captured in the form of electricity. At the end of the process the only byproduct is water which is fed right back into the electrolyzer, where the solar energy splits it into Hydrogen once again.

Hats off to Mr. Strizki and his wonderful set up! Although this system cost around $500,000 it is great to see that living in a Hydrogen Future is definitely possibly as Mr. Strizki is proof of it today.

http://www.theolympian.com/524/story/236061.html

Checks and Balances

2007-10-04T07:13:00.000-07:00

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has asked the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop methods, standards, and measurements with respect to bringing Hydrogen into the marketplace.

The NIST has been tasked with developing the standards, test procedures and test methods that are needed to buy and sell Hydrogen in the future marketplace as easily as gasoline, diesel and other fuels are bought today.

Even though accurate measuremnts and standards are critical for bringing us one step closer to the Hydrogen Future it still something that could have easily been overlooked.

It is great to see that accurate measurements and standards are being developed and implemented towards this technology, especially since such standards and measurements are necessary in almost every stage of Hydrogen, from production to distribution and sales.

http://www.gasworld.com/news.php?a=2062

Chemical Attraction

2007-10-03T10:22:00.000-07:00

Researchers at the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science have developed a model that could help speed up the development of Hydrogen vehicles by identifying promising Hydrogen storage materials.

The researchers have been able to predict the favored thermodynamic chemical reactions through which Hydrogen can be reversibly stored and extracted. One of these promising solutions involves storing Hydrogen within a material in the form of a chemically bound hydride such as lithium hydride (LiH).

This is all very promising news especially given that one of the problems when dealing with Hydrogen is how to store it given its volatility. Hopefully this will lead to safer and more efficient storage practices for Hydrogen.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071003100601.htm

Zoom Zoom SuPREMACY

2007-10-02T11:41:00.000-07:00

Mazda has unveiled a new hybrid vehicle that runs on Hydrogen but can switch to gasoline if needed.

The Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid also has a lithium-ion battery that drives the motor and recharges itself using energy from braking.

The vehicle will debut at the Tokyo Motor Show later this month and will be available in Japan next year. For now it will only be available on lease from the factory at around $3,577 a month.

This Hydrogen/electric/gasoline hybrid is very intriguing and should do well as it can bridge the gap for now between gasoline vehicles and vehicles that run solely on Hydrogen.

http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5g3Y7kOunpk649M_zNkwQ4nV3ng0A

Good Day Sunshine

2007-10-02T05:22:00.000-07:00

Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Bioinorganic Chemistry in Mülheim, Germany have developed a promising new catalyst for splitting water using sunlight and storing the Hydrogen and oxygen produced.

The team of scientists found that titanium disilicide (TiSi2) can split water using a photocatalytic process similar to photosynthesis whereby chlorophyll molecules use light energy to convert water and carbon dioxide into glucose. The semiconductor is also able to separate and store the Hydrogen and oxygen released.

Using simply the sun and no other fossil fuels to produce Hydrogen is about as clean as a method as one can find. Assuming this can be implemented on a large scale it will definitely be something that we can expect to see in the Hydrogen Future.

http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/News/2007/October/01100701.asp

Driving on Egg Shells

2007-10-01T15:23:00.000-07:00

Engineers at Ohio State University have discovered that egg shells can be used to filter out the carbon dioxide that is produced during the seperation of Hydrogen from hydrocarbons.

As it turns out the calcium carbonate found in egg shells is one of the most effective carbon dioxide absorbers ever tested.

The engineers were however quick to add that egg shells alone may not be adequate to produce enough Hydrogen for the whole country but at least it would be better than just dumping them into lanfills.

This is promising technology but not perfect since the use of hydrocarbons is still involved.

http://www.livescience.com/technology/071001_eggshell_hydrogen.html

He Sells Hydrogen Hyundai's on the Sea Shore

2007-10-01T11:26:00.000-07:00

Hyundai has unveiled its new Hydrogen fuel cell concept vehicle called the i-Blue at the Frankfurt International Motor Show. The company says that the zero emissions vehicle (ZEV) is built on a car based crossover platform in what it calls a two plus two crossover utility vehicle (CUV).

Hyundai is confident that they have succeeded in designing a true Hydrogen fuel cell ZEV that still retains the comfort, convenience, safety and driving range of a traditional internal combustion engine vehicle. The company is optimistic that it will begin mass production of the vehicle within the next decade.

Hopefully with all of their technology and ingenuity Hyundai will become successful in producing the Hydrogen fuel cells necessary for vehicles like the i-Blue without using any fossil fuels. This would position the company very well into the Hydrogen Future.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4217080a30.html

Coming to a Movie Premiere Near You - The New Toyota Hydrogen SUV

2007-10-01T11:08:00.000-07:00

Toyota has announced that a new version of the Highlander SUV fitted with Hydrogen fuel cells is capable of driving 900km (560 miles) at around 80 km (50 mph) on a single tank of Hydrogen. This is excellent news especially given that the only exhaust produced during the trip would be water.

The company did not mention when the vehicle might become available or what it might cost.

Once again though we have to ask whether the original Hydrogen fuel cell was made using fossil fuels or not. Either way, this is very promising.

http://www.tech.co.uk/gadgets/future-tech/news/toyotas-hydrogen-car-covers-new-ground?articleid=832724589

Pedalling Hydrogen in China

2007-10-01T10:17:00.000-07:00

Recently Shanghai Pearl Hydrogen Power Source Technology unveiled a Hydrogen fuel cell bicycle at an international fair in Shanghai, China. According to the company the $2,600 bicycle is similar to a conventional electric bicycle except that there are two hydrogen gas bottles and a small fuel cell. The bicycle has a range of 100km (62 miles) at a speed of around 25km (15.5 mph). The bicycle only takes 30 minutes to refill compared to three hours for recharging an electric bicycle battery.

Given the technology involved the bicycle is expensive although the company is confident that price will drop to around $670 once mass production begins.

This is a great start although one has to wonder how the Hydrogen fuel cell was made in the first place. If it was made using a wind mill or some other non fossil fuel source that is great. However if it was made using fossil fuels, although it is still great progress, it is not yet a true product of the Hydrogen Future.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22395601-664,00.html

The Basics of Hydrogen

2007-09-30T19:30:00.000-07:00

Hydrogen gas (H2) represents nearly 75% of the universes elemental mass and is the most abundant of chemical elements. It is odorless, colorless, tasteless, nonmetallic, and highly flammable. Hydrogen is lighter than air and since it rises into the atmosphere it is not found on earth by itself but rather compounded together with other elements. When combined with oxygen it is water (H2O) and when combined with carbon, it forms other compounds such as methane (CH4), coal, and petroleum. Hydrogen is also found in biomass and is an abundant element in the earths crust.

Since Hydrogen is not an energy source itself it has to be produced by either electrolysis of water or reforming of fossil fuels. Electrolysis of water is a process whereby electricity is used to split water molecules (H2O) to create pure Hydrogen and oxygen. Although this process can be done just about anywhere it is the more expensive of the two processes. In the reforming of fossil fuels, a device called a fuel processor or reformer is used to split Hydrogen off the carbon in hydrocarbons that are found in oil and natural gas (methane) to create pure Hydrogen and carbon, the latter being discarded into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.

In order to create a true Hydrogen Future pure Hydrogen should be derived from renewable sources and not fossil fuels so that there is no release of carbon into the atmosphere. Today this can be achieved only by generating pure Hydrogen through electrolysis utilizing electricity that is not generated itself by fossil fuels. There are several non fossil fuel options for generating the electricity needed for electrolysis which include wind turbines, solar cells, hydroelectric dams, nuclear power, geothermal power, wave and tidal power and co-generation.

The Hydrogen Future will be driven in large part by the non fossil fuel option that becomes not only the safest, most feasible and most efficient source of electricty needed to produce pure Hydrogen but also the most affordable.