Hydrogen Fuel Cells For Honda, Toyota And London Cabs
High Octane Fuel From Algae Within 18 Months?
July 1, 2008Record Visitors AND Recycling At Sydney Food & Wine Show
July 3, 2008July’s free Fuel Cell Technology Update announces a Fuel Cell blog, at www.fuelcellinsider.org and passes on the latest on progress in this field.
What Is A Fuel Cell?
A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, with water and heat as its by-product. Since the conversion of the fuel to energy takes place via an electrochemical process, not combustion, the process is clean, quiet and highly efficient – two to three times more efficient than fuel burning.
Honda Begins Production Of FCX Clarity
Honda has started production of the new FCX Clarity, with the first vehicle meeting US specifications coming off the new dedicated fuel cell assembly line at the Honda Automobile New Model Centre in Japan. Lease sales are scheduled to begin in July in the US and this Autumn in Japan.
Toyota‘s FCHV-adv Achieves 515 Miles On Single Tank
Toyota has developed a new version of its fuel cell hydrogen vehicle, the FCHV-adv, which can travel about 515 miles on a single hydrogen fueling. Toyota doubled the pressure of its hydrogen storage tanks to 70 megapascals and incorporated a higher-performance fuel cell, enhanced regenerative braking to recharge the battery while slowing down, and a more efficient auxiliary power system to achieve a 25% improvement in fuel economy. The FCHV-adv has already received government approval and will be available for leasing in Japan later in 2008.
London Cabs Go For The Green At The 2012 Olympics
London black cabs will be powered by hydrogen fuel cells for the 2012 Olympics, as part of the UK government’s Technology Strategy Board’s £23 million program that includes an innovative low carbon vehicle development program. The fuel cell/battery hybrid cabs will be able to operate for a full day without refueling, and can achieve speeds up to 75 mph. The project involves Intelligent Energy, Lotus Engineering Ltd, London Taxis International (LTI) Ltd. and TRW Conekt.
A Bit More About Fuel Cells
No other energy generation technology offers the combination of benefits that fuel cells do. In addition to low or zero emissions, benefits include high efficiency and reliability, multi-fuel capability, siting flexibility, durability, scalability and ease of maintenance. Fuel cells operate silently, so they reduce noise pollution as well as air pollution and the waste heat from a fuel cell can be used to provide hot water or space heating for a home or office. Click here for info about fuel cell applications.
