See also:

• Hydrogen Fuel

Hydrogen internal combustion

Hydrogen internal combustion engine cars are different from hydrogen fuel cell cars. The hydrogen internal combustion car is a slightly modified version of the traditional gasoline internal combustion engine car. These hydrogen engines burn fuel in the same manner that gasoline engines do. As in hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, the volume of the vehicle that the tank occupies is significant. Research is underway to increase the amount of hydrogen that can be stored onboard using high pressure hydrogen, cryogenic liquid hydrogen, or metal hydrides.

In 1970, Paul Dieges patented a modification to internal combustion engines which allowed a gasoline powered engine to run on Hydrogen US patent 3844262.

Mazda has developed Wankel engines that burn hydrogen. The Wankel engine uses a rotary principle of operation, so the hydrogen burns in a different part of the engine from the intake. This reduces intake backfiring, a risk with hydrogen-fueled piston engines. However the major car companies such as DaimlerChrysler and General Motors are investing in the more efficient hydrogen fuel cells instead.^[38] Ford Motor Company is investing in both fuel cell and hydrogen internal combustion engine research. Because of the large heat exchanger necessary for fuel cells and their limited load change and cold start capability, they are certainly first choice as range extender for battery electric vehicles. The Wall Street Journal, reviewing BMW's new internal combustion hydrogen vehicle concluded: "A more efficient route for car makers would be to focus on high-mileage gasoline-powered vehicles. They are far simpler than hydrogen cars... but for now they stack up as the cleaner option."^[39]

Automobiles

Many companies are currently researching the feasibility of building hydrogen cars. Funding has come from both private and government sources. In addition to the BMW and Mazda examples cited above, many automobile manufacturers have begun developing cars. These include:

Hyundai Tucson FCEV in the background (on the left) and Toyota Highlander FCHV in the foreground (on the right) during UC Davis's Picnic Day activities

• BMW — The BMW Hydrogen 7 is powered by a dual-fuel Internal Combustion Engine and with an Auxiliary power based on UTC Power fuel cell technology. The BMW H2R speed record car is also powered by an ICE. Both models use Liquid Hydrogen as fuel.
• Daimler AG — F-Cell, a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle based on the Mercedes-Benz A-Class.
• Fiat - Panda hydrogen, a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle utilizing Nuvera's Andromeda fuel cell stack
• Ford Motor Company – Focus FCV, a hydrogen fuel cell modification of the Ford Focus, and E-350 buses, which began leasing in late 2006.
• General Motors — multiple models of fuel cell vehicles^[40] including the Hy-wire and the HydroGen3
• Honda – currently experimenting with a variety of alternative fuels and fuel cells with experimental vehicles based on the Honda EV Plus, most notably the Honda FCX, powered by a front-mounted 80 kW AC electric motor, with 20 kW pancake motors providing supplemental power to the rear wheels. Electrical energy is provided by a 100 kW hydrogen fuel cell, with regenerative braking energy stored in ultracapacitors. The first production version of the FCX, dubbed the FCX Clarity, was announced at the 2007 Greater Los Angeles Auto Show. The vehicle is expected to be available in mid-2008 in limited numbers for lease only in the Los Angeles area^[41]. As of June 2008, The cost of the vehicle is "several hundred thousand dollars each to produce, though [Mr. Fukui] said that should drop below $100,000 in less than a decade as production volumes increase."^[42] In November 2007, Honda announced its new Home Energy Station IV that uses steam reforming of natural gas to derive hydrogen from both the steam and natural gas in equal parts, as well as heat and electricity for the home.
• Hyundai — Tucson FCEV, based on UTC Power fuel cell technology
• Mazda - RX-8, with a dual-fuel (hydrogen or gasoline) rotary-engine^[43] Mazda leased two dual-fuel RX-8s to commercial customers in Japan in early 2006, becoming the first manufacturer to put a hydrogen vehicle in customer hands. Also the Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid, with a dual-fuel (hydrogen or gasoline) rotary-engine^[44]
• Nissan — X-TRAIL FCV, based on UTC Power fuel cell technology.
• Morgan Motor Company – LIFEcar, a performance-oriented hydrogen fuel cell vehicle with the aid of several other British companies
• Toyota – The Toyota Highlander FCHV and FCHV-BUS^[45] are currently under development and in active testing. In November 2007, ten new hydrogen powered Prius cars were delivered to three companies in Iceland by VISTORKA, a shareholder in Icelandic New Energy.^[46]
• Volkswagen also has hydrogen fuel cell cars in development.

Supporting these manufacturers are fuel cell and hydrogen engine research and manufacturing companies. The largest of these is UTC Power, a division of United Technologies Corporation, currently in joint development with Hyundai, Nissan, and BMW, among other auto companies. Another major supplier, Ballard Power Systems, pulled out of the Hydrogen vehicle business in late 2007.^[12] The Hydrogen Engine Center is a supplier of hydrogen-fueled engines.

Most, but not all, of these vehicles are currently only available in demonstration models and cost a large amount of money to make and run. They are not yet ready for general public use and are unlikely to be as feasible as plug in biodiesel hybrids.

Buses

Fuel cell buses (as opposed to hydrogen fueled buses) are being trialed by several manufacturers in different locations. The Fuel Cell Bus Club is a global fuel cell bus testing collaboration.

Hydrogen was first stored in roof mounted tanks, although models are now incorporating inboard tanks. Some double deck models uses between floor tanks.

Bicycles

Hydrogen bicycle

Pearl Hydrogen Power Sources of Shanghai, China, unveiled a hydrogen bicycle at the 9th China International Exhibition on Gas Technology, Equipment and Applications in 2007.

Motorcycles

ENV is developing electric motorcycles powered by a hydrogen fuel cell, including the Crosscage and Biplane.

Airplanes

Companies such as Boeing and Smartfish are pursuing hydrogen as fuel for airplanes. Unmanned hydrogen planes have been tested, and in February 2008 Boeing tested a manned flight of a small aircraft powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. The Times reported that "Boeing said that hydrogen fuel cells were unlikely to power the engines of large passenger jets but could be used as backup or auxiliary power units onboard."^[47]

References