The hydrogen based technology that runs on fuel cells may well be the Jewel in the crown of new vehicle-powering technologies. Why's that? Because unlike liquid hydrogen, ethanol & gasoline and more like electric cars: it makes a complete break from the combustion engine. Fuel cells work a lot like batteries. There is a an electro-chemical reaction that converts the hydrogen fuel cells into electricity thus powering the car. Despite the electric power, there are vapor emissions due to the hydrogen and oxygen reaction but its only water vapor. The fuel cells are placed on stacks and this appears to be a key development area in the science which probably needs work and solutions before the technology is market ready. Case in point: Chevy Equinox's fuel cell stack is good for 50,000 miles only owing to corrosion occurring from the reactions. Honda FCX is impressive in that it will run for 350 miles in one stretch over the Equinox's 200 miles. An apparent advantage Hydrogen Fuel Cells seem to have over liquid hydrogen is that hydrogen does not have to be maintained in its liquid form 420 degrees below zero which is costly. The hydrogen fuel cells are kept on the stacks. Oxygen flows in and reacts and out flows electricity. I put this question out on Yahoo Answers. Let's see what we get:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AlbB66Pa_TtUQvMGAejUx04jzKIX?qid=20061217082828AAzBR4Q
I was recently at the LA Auto show and both these cars were amongst the exciting stops for me. While Honda's is the concept car and makes a better futuristic statement, Chevy brings an exciting technology into the everyday SUV life and has quicker plans of starting special leases by late 2007. If you would like to participate in the special test lease program you can check to see if there is a fueling station near you on the following URL: http://www.chevrolet.com/fuelcell/checkzipcode/ .
I am not to be amongst the lucky ones that can lottery in for a fuel cell Equinox. Another terribly exciting break in this technology is that GM actually has a home based fueling station prototype ready to re-fill the fuel cell stacks. A great break and contribution coming from an American car company too often dumped on for its lack luster position in the world of cars and the future of cars. No doubt, such toys will be very expensive for the layman but the techno rich guys and regular rich folk who have gone green will scoop 'em like hot cakes. More importantly, it signals the beginnings of the era which looks like its destined to reach the masses. Take a look:
http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/04/gm-developing-home-based-hydrogen-filling-station/
I'm sure and very excited that there's gonna be much to report on this front in the coming months. When I started writing about this technology as the 'Jewel in the Crown', I had no idea that I would stumble across such an apt video to the statement. So my profuse thanks to user InaElly of YouTube who discovered and probably gave the overture to this jewel of a clip. Too bad she won't tell us where she got it. Ladies & gentlemen, Honda's FCX Fuel Cells car.....
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AlbB66Pa_TtUQvMGAejUx04jzKIX?qid=20061217082828AAzBR4Q
I was recently at the LA Auto show and both these cars were amongst the exciting stops for me. While Honda's is the concept car and makes a better futuristic statement, Chevy brings an exciting technology into the everyday SUV life and has quicker plans of starting special leases by late 2007. If you would like to participate in the special test lease program you can check to see if there is a fueling station near you on the following URL: http://www.chevrolet.com/fuelcell/checkzipcode/ .
I am not to be amongst the lucky ones that can lottery in for a fuel cell Equinox. Another terribly exciting break in this technology is that GM actually has a home based fueling station prototype ready to re-fill the fuel cell stacks. A great break and contribution coming from an American car company too often dumped on for its lack luster position in the world of cars and the future of cars. No doubt, such toys will be very expensive for the layman but the techno rich guys and regular rich folk who have gone green will scoop 'em like hot cakes. More importantly, it signals the beginnings of the era which looks like its destined to reach the masses. Take a look:
http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/04/gm-developing-home-based-hydrogen-filling-station/
I'm sure and very excited that there's gonna be much to report on this front in the coming months. When I started writing about this technology as the 'Jewel in the Crown', I had no idea that I would stumble across such an apt video to the statement. So my profuse thanks to user InaElly of YouTube who discovered and probably gave the overture to this jewel of a clip. Too bad she won't tell us where she got it. Ladies & gentlemen, Honda's FCX Fuel Cells car.....
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