Hybrid cars? All about the fuel cell according to Toyota
One of the biggest critics of hybrid cars has been GM, claiming that hybrid cars are just buzz and nothing but an interim technology to fuel cells.
So, when fuel cells arrive, hybrids disappear?
According to a new article by AutoWeek; however, hybrid cars are about one thing, fuel cells. "To the extent that the future is fuel cell, it's a hybrid fuel cell," says Dave Hermance, executive engineer for environmental engineering for Toyota Technical Center U.S.A. "All the work we do today lets us be the low-cost provider to three-fourths of the fuel cell system."
To be sure, the Toyota Prius has already led to around 650 patents covering the "power flow" of future fuel cell cars. Even when fuel cells eliminate gasoline-powered engines, "the hybrid's electric motors still will propel the car, and the electronics will convert the direct-current power of the fuel cell and battery over to alternating current," Hermance says.
And, in the interim, today's hybrids can still significantly reduce both pollution and foreign oil dependency, while also utilizing the gains of clean gasoline, diesel, and hydrogen engines, as fuel cells become cost-effective.
Perhaps, it's GM, rather than hybrid cars, that is the interim aspect of the automotive industry.
So, when fuel cells arrive, hybrids disappear?
According to a new article by AutoWeek; however, hybrid cars are about one thing, fuel cells. "To the extent that the future is fuel cell, it's a hybrid fuel cell," says Dave Hermance, executive engineer for environmental engineering for Toyota Technical Center U.S.A. "All the work we do today lets us be the low-cost provider to three-fourths of the fuel cell system."
To be sure, the Toyota Prius has already led to around 650 patents covering the "power flow" of future fuel cell cars. Even when fuel cells eliminate gasoline-powered engines, "the hybrid's electric motors still will propel the car, and the electronics will convert the direct-current power of the fuel cell and battery over to alternating current," Hermance says.
And, in the interim, today's hybrids can still significantly reduce both pollution and foreign oil dependency, while also utilizing the gains of clean gasoline, diesel, and hydrogen engines, as fuel cells become cost-effective.
Perhaps, it's GM, rather than hybrid cars, that is the interim aspect of the automotive industry.
Labels: clean diesel, electric cars, Foreign Oil Dependency, fuel cells, GM, Hybrid Vehicles, prius, toyota
posted by Dahcredyns at
1:30 PM
1 Comments:
More people should learn about electric cars as a solution. It’s amazing how far the technology has come in just a few years. Plus the savings becomes more and more attractive the higher gas prices go. There’s even an EV that will do 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds (source: zapworld.com). Electric is looking more and more like the way to go.
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