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Ray Swindle wrote:
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It's coming. Toyota hydrogen powered engine. Still has a battery, but you just refill the hydrogen tank for the engine, which recharges the battery...unless I am missing something.
Ray, I think you are missing something...
There are 2 (or possibly more) ways to power a vehicle with Hydrogen.
Method 1, a Hydrogen fuel cell. Fuel cells have been around for a long time, NASA powers some space hardware with fuel cells. Basically the fuel cell breaks down the Hydrogen to produce electricity which is used to charge the battery pack that moves the vehicle. Basically an electric vehicle that you drive to the Hydrogen filling station and fill up, unlike waiting extended periods for a charger to charge the battery pack. Note: Toyota has been selling a fuel cell car (Toyota Mirai) in limited numbers, and in a very limited geographical area, for a few years now. The limited numbers and limited area is due to the fact that there are currently 60 filling stations in all of California, and half of those are in Los Angeles alone.
https://www.energy.ca.gov/data-reports/energy-almanac/zero-emission-vehicle-and-infrastructure-statistics/hydrogen-refueling
As more Hydrogen filling stations are built Hydrogen powered vehicles (both types) become more viable.
Method 2, a Hydrogen powered engine. This is what Toyota is currently developing. Basically an internal combustion engine designed to burn Hydrogen instead of gasoline. Operates the same as a gasoline/diesel engine. It converts a fuel into horsepower and noise. The basic difference is that the Hydrogen engine produces less horsepower (at least currently) and The Hydrogen engines exhaust isn't called pollution, it's called water.
EDIT: sorry I was incorrect, the Hydrogen fuel cells exhaust is water vapor, The Hydrogen engine in addition to the water vapor does produce some pollution in the form of Nitrogen Oxides so Hydrogen combustion engines aren't recommended for use in vehicles that operate in enclosed spaces.
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