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Strategies & Market Trends : ahhaha's ahs
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To: ahhaha who wrote (56)9/27/2000 12:30:24 PM
From: FR1Read Replies (1) of 24758
 
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Ahh, I am interested in your view on the fundamental weakness/strength of fuel cells.

I note that businesses like FCEL and BLDP are deploying working models now or next year. Governments, like California, are giving it a push demanding that 4% of all vehicles sold in 2003 be "zero emission" (Fuel Cells and water vapor is ok).

FCEL contends their models, which sell to businesses, compete favorably with utility rates. PLUG once said the same thing but if you look at the figures it is questionable.

BLDP, as we know, is going into cars and busses. The city of Oakland ordered a dozen or more busses - the first two of which will deliver next year.

Many people seem to argue that the best model is to have reformers (the box that extracts hydrogen from gas) at gas stations and just the Fuel Cells in the cars. Hydrogen would be stored in gas tanks using MetalHydrides (ENER does this). The tank is safer than gas if it punctures.

Others argue that both the reformer and cell will have to be on board vehicles to start with.

I assume that from the physics point of view the question is which path gets us the most energy with the least pollution.

The fuel cell model extracts hydrogen from each carbon, which costs energy, and puts it through the cell.

Our current model simply explodes the gas (far cheaper) but is much more inefficient and polluting.

I know you have probably given some thought to this and I wonder if you would share it with us.
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