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Why aren’t hydrogen engines mainstream?

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Hydrogen is a terrible fuel for an internal combustion engine. The RON (Research Octane Number) rating is 130 which is good for such engines but it’s MON (Motor Octane Number) is very low such that the PON (Pump Octane Number which is the average of RON and MON) is 60. This means that as a internal combustion engine fuel, the motor would run well without a load but would be disastrous as a load is applied. An internal combustion engine would have to have a variable compression ratio to mitigate the unusual octane characteristics of hydrogen and even then it would have a difficult time developing reasonable torque. This is why most of the focus is on fuel cell powered electric cars instead of hydrogen internal combustion engine cars. The fact that BMW was able to produce a usable hydrogen ICE is a testament to their engineering skills.

The energy density of hydrogen is also very low. Hydrogen is delivered locally in pressure tanks at 150 bars of pressure which is over 2,000 psi, at that pressure the energy density is 405 WH/l whereas the energy density of gasoline is 9,000 WH/l and gasoline doesn’t require a pressure tank. Even liquid hydrogen only has 2,600 WH/l.

Hydrogen is made commercially from the steam reformation of hydrocarbons so currently, it is a fossil fuel that is often produced by combustion in a low oxygen environment into which steam is injected. Electrolysis of water requires a lot more energy than steam reformation as much of the energy comes from the partial burning of the hydrocarbon feedstock. Research at Sandia Labs into more efficient ways of liberating hydrogen from water concluded that it would be just as easy to synthesize fuels like methane , gasoline and diesel.

So why is there even any interest in hydrogen cars. The same reason as there was for flexfuel, hybrid, hemi’s, SUV’s, tail fins and annual models. Automobile manufacturers want their business model to grow as fast as possible and discovered a long time ago that designed obsolescence allowed for product demand to be greater than the standard demand for replacement vehicles and population growth would allow. Essentially, through marketing, the public can be convinced to purchase new vehicles when what they currently have is still serviceable. With hydrogen and electric, as with the flexfuel and hybrids before them, the marketing of environmental concerns encourages people to buy new vehicles. Hydrogen wasn’t as attractive for this as FlexFuel and Hybrids due to the requirement for a new distribution infrastructure but it was better than Electric Vehicles as fuel cells though expensive would come down in price with mass production while batteries would increase in price with mass production due to limited global lithium supplies. Hence hydrogen is simply the next marketing tool to get the public to buy what they don’t need. Of course, this “Ponzi Scheme” of manufacturing employs a lot of people such that governments will gladly bail these companies out as the various bubbles they’re surfing on pops.

Hydrogen cars are being introduced from the high end because the initial development costs are high and since it’s a major technology conversion, significant market demand must be created before affordable models are offered so selling to celebrities is the best way to introduce hydrogen. Even so, it’s not as sure a gamble as was hybrids or flexfuel so they’re moving somewhat slower on hydrogen fueled cars.

Ironically, since the manufacturing of any vehicle involves a lot of energy and materials, this constant promotion of an unsustainable growth rate in car production is more damaging to the environment than the marginal difference in efficiencies between each technology whether it’s efficient gas, hybrids, flex, or hydrogen. This means that the people who are purchasing these cars are actually harming the environment if they haven’t kept their previous car long enough to amortize it’s carbon footprint of manufacture when compared to the earlier available technologies.

Technically speaking, oil is never running low, at $86 dollars a barrel for oil, bio-mass to liquid technology which synthesizes gasoline and diesel from garbage becomes economical. Gasoline and diesel can also be synthesized out of thin air as with Sandia Labs CR5. It’s only oil from fossil sources that are a finite resource. Other methods of obtaining hydrocarbon fuels become economical as the cost of fossil sourced oil rises. Any hydrocarbon can be synthesized, it’s just a matter of cost, and the investment required to bring such costs down. It’s like computer chips, ultimately they’re just sand hence oil is ultimately just carbon and hydrogen.

As a private individual, you shouldn’t be in such a hurry to buy into this latest tail fin fashion.

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Hydrogen Generator Water Fuel Additive Brown Gas Engine $112.50

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Hydrogen Generator Gas for Vehicles and Engines (200… $54.76

H-Cell High Performance R/C Hydrogen Fuel Cell Upgrade Kit — Turn your regular hobby car into a car of the future with this kit. The H-cell kit is designed for well-known battery powered model RC hobby cars and designed to fit into the original 7.2V NiCad battery slot located on Tamiya TT-01 car chassis. — Fuel cell power unit is designed as a futuristic power source using light emitting air cooling fans. The new power sou…

Hydrogen Generator Gases for Vehicles and Engines: Volumes 3 and 4 $19.77 We have combined two unique works and republished them as the second book in our Hydrogen Generator Gas for Vehicles and Engines series to help fill the continuing needs and desires for information in this fascinating field. Contains Construction of a Simplified Wood Gas Generator for Fueling Internal Combustion Engines in a Petroleum Emergency, includes detailed, illustrated instructions for the …

Water for Fuel – The Hydrostar System $9.99 The Incredible HydroStar System. Cutting edge Hytronics make it possible to construct a simplistic, affordable and Powerful Hydrogen Fuel System for your vehicle. An Incredibly Affordable System that provides FREE Energy! Now you can run any vehicle on FREE energy! The HydroStar can power your engine with the incredible energy of hydrogen, natures’ perfect fuel. It’s more powerful than gas, but it…

Fuel Cells, Engines and Hydrogen: An Exergy Approach $81.98 Fuel cell technology is the most exciting and legitimate alternative source of power currently available to us as world resources of non-renewable fuel continue to be depleted. No other power generating technology holds the same benefits that fuel cells offer, including high reliability and efficiency, negligible environmental impact, and security of supply. Fuel cells run on hydrogen – the simp…

Hydromax 2000 Premium HHO Hydrogen Assist Generator Fuel Cell System for (Up to 2.5 Liter Engines) $449.00 Get maximum performance and 20 to 40% savings at the fuel pump with our awesome Hydromax 2000 Hydrogen Hybrid complete package. When you purchase a Hydromax Hydrogen Assist performance package, you will be pleased with the quality of every single component in your Hybrid System. Our Hydromax 2000 (9 cell Generator) is built with all the best materials on the planet like our Super Alloy electrode…

The Nebulyzer Hydrogen Generator – DIY HHO Cell – Unassembled $249.95 This Nebulyzer Hydrogen Generator is ready for you to assemble. * 9″ Tall * 7.5″ Wide And 3.25″ Deep * An efficient simple design that Bob Boyce gave to the public, so it could not be patented. 2v.- 2.3v between the plate voltage means no erosion of the electrodes from oxidation, no anode mud occurs in your water. Your cell stays clean. The plate design keeps the cell cool at all times and has a m…

Reservoir Tank 2 Quart Hydrogen Generator Systems And General Purpose $24.95 Seamless Wall Construction Which Gives The User The High Quality And Low Maintenance Usage Necessary In Fluid Handling Applications. We also carry Custom 1 Qt. bubbler/scrubber tanks for your hydrogen generator system….