Honda Clarity Burns Hydrogen, Emits Only Water: Jason H. Harper

[Joanne98]

Nov. 26 (Bloomberg) -- It’s not every day that you get to kick the wheels on the car of tomorrow. After all, the question of what will power future automobiles is a guessing game, with candidates ranging from electricity and compressed natural gas to hydrogen fuel cells.

Honda made an expensive bet in that guessing game by designing the hydrogen-powered FCX Clarity. It’s costly (perhaps $500,000 each to produce), yet the sedan emits only water.

Both Honda and Chevy are testing fuel-cell vehicles by making them available for lease by select customers. Hydrogen’s big upside is its cleanliness and ability to be produced from many sources, even water and human waste.

Fuel-cell stacks are akin to mini power stations in which the chemical energy of hydrogen and oxygen is converted into electricity, which then powers an electric motor. Since hydrogen is a gas, it’s stored under pressure in reinforced tanks.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601093&sid=atizckxemqGw&refer=home

[msongs]

1. they could name these cars "Hindenburgs" nt

[mckara]

8. Or Should They Be: Hondanburgs?

n/t

[ben_meyers]

2. Great idea, the problem is those bulky refueling stations

Wouldn't you have to haul one around with you?

[lostnotforgotten]

3. Where Will The Hydrogen Come From To Run A US Fleet Of 250,851,833 Cars

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passenger_vehicles_in_the_United_States

[gristy]

4. Hydrogen mines!

:party:

[Orrex]

6. You're right--fossil fuels are the way to go

Especially since they're non-polluting and available in limitless quantities.

[gristy]

9. Hydrogen is made from natural gas or the electrolysis of water,

with the former being the most economical right now. Nothing clean about either approach.

Hydrogen can be prepared in several different ways, but economically the most important processes involve removal of hydrogen from hydrocarbons. Commercial bulk hydrogen is usually produced by the steam reforming of natural gas.<68> At high temperatures (700–1100 °C; 1,300–2,000 °F), steam (water vapor) reacts with methane to yield carbon monoxide and H2.

CH4 + H2O → CO + 3 H2

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen#Production

[mckara]

10. Yes, One Can Separate Oxygen and Hydrogen from Water with Electrolysis

Shouldn't it be possible to use hydro or wind generators to power electrolysis for a a completely green method of producing energy?

[gristy]

12. Yes, I said that.

The electricity for electrolysis would have to come from our existing electrical generating capacity, and until we can generate all the electricity we would ever need without putting carbon into the air, this would mean more coal and oil burned and more carbon in the air.

[Citizen Number 9]

19. PV generates triple the initial energy investment

It's just not comparable in economic costs to other sources of energy right now.

All that is required is the will to do it.

[gristy]

13. Generating power cleanly is a separate issue

In the case of cars powered by hydrogen, the hydrogen is simply a material in which energy has been stored, not unlike a battery. They do nothing to address our lack of sufficient non-carbon-based sources of energy.

[Citizen Number 9]

18. Yes, it is an ideal method.

It's just not as cheap as other things right now.

[madrchsod]

5. nice idea that will never see production

to costly to mass produce.

[Orrex]

7. But as a test of concept, it's nice to see.

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

11. "yet the sedan emits only water."

I wonder what "type" of water? I mean is it drinkable and how much does it emit?

[eppur_se_muova]

15. Water vapor. No point in collecting it. Let it fall to earth as rain. nt

[northernlights]

17. it emits H2O

pure water. Yup -- let it head into the atmosphere and rain on us.

We're about 10 years from clean, efficient and low cost hydrolysis. Or maybe 10 months, if 1 big breakthrough happens soon.

[xchrom]

14. i want a car that emits coffee. nt

[CLE Aviation]

16. Shh...

Don't ask questions! This car obviously emits only water and sunshine and rainbows. How cool would that be?