Accord Hybrid..watch out

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Oct 7, 2004 | 03:05 PM

fdl

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Accord Hybrid..watch out

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepu...ydrocar01.html

Quote:

The truck is hydrogen-powered and creates its own fuel from solar energy and water, a technical feat that rivals the advanced technology being researched by major auto companies and universities. The four-cylinder engine is tuned to run on hydrogen, which is produced by a hand-built electrolysis system mounted in the bed.

Teacher Cory Waxman and his students took four years to build the experiment, believed to be the only self-sustaining hydrogen vehicle that uses a conventional internal-combustion engine.

"Nobody has ever made a car that runs on sunlight and water," Waxman said. "There are other cars that run on hydrogen, but they don't make their own fuel."

Built for less than $10,000, the project has caught the attention of experts in alternative-fuel research.

Oct 7, 2004 | 03:12 PM

ClutchPerformer

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Quote:

Originally Posted by article

The four solar panels and hydrogen-generating system create only enough fuel per day to travel a few miles.

This is the only part that makes this impractical. The "how far did the first airplane fly?" analogy is interesting. But there's not many ways to make this process happen much faster unless you get more solar panel area (which is impractical). Electrolysis takes a while no matter what.

At least they didn't try to feed the Hydrogen into a freakin' fuel cell.

Vivat Combusto Semper!

Oct 7, 2004 | 03:36 PM

biker

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BMW might want to talk to these guys - they are going in a hydrogen direction with their hybrids.

Oct 7, 2004 | 03:42 PM

sauceman

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Hmm... This is probably one of the topics that has my mind running the most.

He must also be doing more electrolysis while driving, and taking advantage of the alternator for that.

Even though he can produce energy with solar panels, I'm sure if he plugged the whole system on an electrical system he could probably enhance his hydrogen production, have say 2 or 3 more systems.

But one of the big problems with hydrogens right now is that it takes about 3-5times as much hydrogen in volumes than gasoline to get a similar power output. That would have to be resolved by dramatically increasing cylinder pressures to accomodate a leaner mix. Which is why the system would probably work better on a detonation-type engine (diesel).

Anyway... just thinking out loud...

Edit: They could also produce more hydrogen exterally of the truck by laying more solar panels say on a garage roof top and have a few electrolysis systems working simultaneously to produce more hydrogen...

Oct 8, 2004 | 12:47 PM

ClutchPerformer

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Quote:

Originally Posted by sauceman

....But one of the big problems with hydrogens right now is that it takes about 3-5times as much hydrogen in volumes than gasoline to get a similar power output. That would have to be resolved by dramatically increasing cylinder pressures to accomodate a leaner mix. Which is why the system would probably work better on a detonation-type engine (diesel).....

This is an issue, but if you can stratify the intake chare (overall lean, locally rich--next to the spark plug), then you don't need to go the diesel route (even though it is nice to have the high compression ratio sometimes). Most gasoline direct injection engines are going this way.