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Hydrogen fuel is one of the great hopes for the future of
transportation on this planet.
Why?
• hydrogen is the most
abundant chemical element on the planet, the potential supply is
unlimited
• it produces no pollution
• it would eliminate our dependency on foreign oil
The use of hydrogen as a
fuel source breaks down into two main types:
•
Hydrogen gas used
in an internal combustion engine replacing gasoline
•
Hydrogen used to create
electricity to power an electric vehicle (car, truck, bus, etc.) |
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Currently it is more
technologically efficient to use hydrogen to make electrical energy
than to burn it directly in an engine in the place of gasoline.
This method is known as
a hydrogen fuel cell. Think of this as similar to a battery.
In this "battery" (fuel
cell) hydrogen mixes chemically with oxygen to create electricity.
The electricity coming
out of the fuel cell ("battery") powers an electric motor which runs
the car.
The fuel cell "battery"
does not have to be charged.
There are no
commercially available hydrogen powered cars at the consumer level
at this time.
Hydrogen in the News
BMW Hydrogen 7, a
hydrogen and gasoline optional engine, has been announced. (2008)
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