Recent Comments:
AutoblogGreen Q&A: Honda's Stephen Ellis on hydrogen, Part 2 {Autoblog Green}
Nov 29th 2007 7:42AM Well, I don't want to enter into a indeep discussion. But I'm partly misunderstood. When I say that we all agree I just refer to that if there is a battery that fullfills all the needs we don't need hydrogen. Fullstop. Industry sometimes is a bit unflexible but they are not stupid. If there is a battery we will just have electric vehicles in the future. Because (like hydrogen) electricity can be produced from any renewable or fossil source.
To compare the Tessla for example with the new GM Equinox or the FCX we clearly see differences in the vehicle. Putting the Tessla drive train into a equinox would end up in half of the range of the hydrogen version (just gessing, don't count numbers here). We can talk about "smarter" mobility but that is another discussion.
I was heavily involved in well-to-wheel calculations together with automotive and oil industry. Results can be found here (for those who wants to know the details) http://ies.jrc.cec.eu.int/wtw.html
Generally a lithium-ion battery has inherently too many restrictions. For example never store them without fully loaded, capacity at very low temperatures and clear limitations in lifetime when not treated the right way, sensitivity to too high voltage (burns). My cellphone batteries never reached their announced cycles. Sorry, that is not something industry can count on. But there might be other batteries, who knows?
A fuel cell car will always be a hybrid. Why not a plug-in hybrid. That works, because a hybrid battery is typically never below 80% of full capacity. That is why the Prius battery works so well. A refill of a 70 MPa hydrogen storage tank is about 3.5 minutes. No problem here.
One thing to "TIM". I can't remember that somebody forced us to become oil edicted. We became it on a voluntary basis. I agree that the use of renewable energies will free us from many things. And hydrogen could be the enabler because it makes electricity storable. If there is a more efficient solution. Just do it, we welcome any chance to reduce costs!
My message is, remain open.
AutoblogGreen Q&A: Honda's Stephen Ellis on hydrogen, Part 2 {Autoblog Green}
Nov 27th 2007 5:45AM Following the discussion I think we all agree that if there is a battery that is reliable (let's say good for 100,000 miles minimum), cost competitive to a fuel cell system (in mass production), quick in recharge (let's give it 5 minutes for recharge) and that provides a range of at least 400 miles to go, well then we should stop talking about hydrogen. And by saying that I'm a clear advocate for hydrogen.
What we can see now is that a fuel cell car like the FCX fulfills all this needs already today, except of the costs. They have to work on it.
At the same time there is no (and has never been) a battery vehicle fulfilling all this needs. And by saying that we all have to face reality, the battery guys are working on this for decades. Because also my notebook computer could need a better battery!.
It's still an open race but the fuel cell vehicle is clear ahead. That does not mean that this couldn't change. We have to be open.
Natural gas (or bio gas) as a source for hydrogen can just be part of the initial supply solution. But why not replace it step by step (let's say 3% per annum) by renewable electricity? Consider it as a transition strategy!
