No respect: Fuel cell hybrid vehicles?
Honda's sad solar-powered fuel cell fantasy?I'm a big fan of hybrid vehicles. Not long ago, however, I wasn't much of a fan of mild hybrids. Recently, the Chevy Malibu hybrid eased my case of mild hybrid angst, especially when coupled with GM's plans to soon make these BAS hybrids lithium-powered.
Now, it seems only fuel cell hybrid vehicles receive less respect than mild hybrids. Even GM's own, Bob Lutz, has announced his preference for plug-in electric vehicles over fuel cell vehicles, despite the billions GM has invested in fuel cell technology. On the other hand, Honda, the world's most efficient automaker, is aggressively and confidently moving ahead with fuel cell hybrids.
Obviously, there are huge technological obstacles to cost-effective fuel cell hybrid vehicles, but at one time the technical obstacles of reaching the moon seemed even more insurmountable. And, like the moon missions, striving towards fuel cell technologies has resulted in many technological insights, revelations and developments that have advanced electric drive trains and lithium batteries.
Big dreams breed innovation. Aren't fuel cell hybrids a big dream worthy of investment if not just to push the technological envelope?
Labels: fuel cells, Hybrid Vehicles
posted by Dahcredyns at
10:17 AM
7 Comments:
I think it is not correct to put gasoline hybrids in line with (hybrid) fuel cells vehicles. The existence of the battery doesn't make it hybrid, because in such a car there are only electrical engines.
I would be happy to drive such a car, however, we are unlikely to see them soon (where's my hydrogen dude?). On the other hand, we need more fuel efficient vehicles. Here come real, gasoline-electric, hybrids as today's reality that wouldn't vanish in a second.
Toyota specifically calls their fuel cell vehicle a FCHV, fuel cell hybrid vehicle. GM's top fuel cell guy, Larry Burns, often calls such vehicles fuel cell hybrid vehicles. Fuel cells helped drive the development of today's hybrid vehicles. Likewise, companies like Toyota use much of the Hybrid Synergy Drive in both the Prius and their fuel cell vehicle.
You are using two different fuels inside the same vehicle. Just as with the Volt, just because one fuel is being used to make another fuel doesn't mean it cannot be referred to as a hybrid. GM says extended range electric vehicle, others might call it a series hybrid.
A pure electric vehicle, on the other hand, uses only one fuel from plug-to wheel. Or, a pure hydrogen vehicle could work without a battery at all.
Fuel cells produce elictricity directly. This is the point. You don't need all complicated devices to couple mechanical and electrical engines. Such cars aren't true hybrids. This seems to be some marketing trick, such as calling Volt extended electric vehicle, lest not admit it is simply a hybrid.
Well, it is a bit of a naming convention game, that is true. Nonetheless, just as with a Prius, a Chevy Equinox fuel cell vehicle, for example, also stores electricity in a battery captured via regenerative braking that is used for extra power to go up a hill, to pass on the highway, etc.. Thus, the Equinox is supplanting hydrogen with electricity not produced via hydrogen through the fuel cell, much like the Prius gas/electricity combo.
And, new generations of lithium technology enable smaller hydrogen tanks and smaller fuel cells because 'hybrid capabilities', especially regenerative breaking stored in small, powerful batteries, enable even more electric/hydrogen possibilities.
Ford, for example, has already prototyped plug-in fuel cell hybrid vehicles.
Of course, the fuel cell promise was made to CARB in exchange for the auto makers being able to wiggle out of the ZEV mandate. The manufacturers were supposed to make a certain number of these fuel cell vehicles by a certain date (I forget the specifics), BUT as we all have seen, fuel cells vehicles are even WORSE than the EV1 in terms of monetary losses.
IMO, FCV's are a boondoggle that will never become mainstream in our society. We can blame the cost of the vehicles (1 million per) or we can blame the lack of Hydrogen infrastructure or we can blame the high energy cost of producing Hydrogen, ad nauseum, ad infinitum....
I have heard that the Honda fuel cell vehicles will be provided with an adapter that will be installed in your house-connected to your gas supply. It then can be refilled at home. The hydrogen is obtained from the natural gas. This would also be helpful for their CNG Civics, which could use a similar refilling apparatus.
i don't think the home fueling station for Honda's FCVs is yet cost-effective, but that is the plan and its an interesting idea.
more interesting, the home fueling station can manage all of your homes energy and it does so more efficiently. likewise, Honda has also added solar power into this system in prototypes.
the technology isn't there yet, but its a very interesting direction.
Post a Comment
<< Home