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Technology Stocks : Energy Conversion Devices -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Futurist who wrote (5165)	8/25/2000 12:43:59 AM
From: Krowbar	Respond to of 8393

GM and Opel boast world's most advanced 'road-going' fuel-cell vehicle GM and Opel say their brand-new prototype is the world’s most advanced "operational" hydrogen-powered vehicle — and it may be hard to argue. The technology is stowed away in a single Opel Zafira MPV — the 200-cell "stack" measures a mere 23.2x11x19.7 ins. (59x27x50 cm). The Zafira application builds on previous generations of GM fuel-cell vehicles and carries the moniker HydroGen1. It is a full 5-seat, A-class-sized compact van, propelled by a 75-hp (55kW) three-phase electric motor that is powered by a fuel cell that consumes hydrogen. Unlike previous efforts with a fuel cell fed by hydrogen reformed onboard from methanol, the HydroGen1 is fueled by pure hydrogen.... Aside from the new ability to start relatively quickly in chilly temperatures, the fuel-cell stack of Hydro-Gen1 is improved as well. It develops 80 kW at constant load or 130 kW for brief peaks when aided by supplementary battery power. The glass-fiber cryogenic tank on HydroGen1 stores hydrogen in liquid form at -423.4°F (-253°C) and has an 11 lb. (5 kg) liquid hydrogen capacity and a volume of approximately 19.8 gallons (75 L). GM says the specially made tank has the same insulating effect as a 29.5-ft. (9-m) thick layer of polystyrene. Storage also requires a vast assortment of valves and mounting hardware — as well as a heat exchanger — and weighs in at 209 lbs. (95 kg). The size and capacity of the complete storage system give HydroGen1 an operating range of 248.5 miles (400 km).... From a business perspective, GM and Opel are placing heavy bets on hydrogen — despite today’s lack of infrastructure. "This is the only energy carrier that will satisfy the need for a lasting reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions despite a steady increase in the number of motor vehicles on the road," says Dr. Erhard Shubert, co-director of GM’s Global Alternative Propulsion Center (GAPC).... GM and Opel make clear that since an adequate infrastructure to support pure hydrogen vehicles is not in place, for now it embraces onboard gasoline reformation as its near-term focus. wardsauto.com A range of only 250 miles on nearly 20 gallons of liquid hydrogen? Surely it should be better than that. Perhaps it is the temperature management of their "state of the art" hydrogen storage where they lose so much. The hydrogen infrastructure need not be such a big deal if we place the reformers at the filling stations, rather than each vehicle, and have hydride storage at the station and on each vehicle. It would probably not be as difficult as the handling of propane filling. I am impressed with their FC progress, although ECD's regenerative fuel cell may be far better. I think GM needs to hire somebody to surf the net to find out what the latest technology is. Del