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I've wondered about a battery fuel cell car but here are some issues. First, "fuel" is the equivalent of $16/gal. Second, the energy to produce hydrogen is immense, and most is derived from natural gas anyway. Third, fuel cells are outrageously expensive to manufacture, with no long term testing being done. Forth, the weight penalty to lug thousands of pounds of batteries around is extreme and reduces the hydrogen fuel cells efficiency even more.
Maybe in a time far away but right now it seems the simplest solution is exactly what we have currently - a plug in hybrid that runs 50 miles or so on electricity with a gasoline powered generator backup...kind of like the, I don't know, Chevy Volt or BMW i3.
Unfortunately they just aren't that popular at $2/gal gas.
I agree. They mention the cost to add the hydrogen and it's stupid high.
As for the PHEV: I also agree. We are buying a Honda Clarity this year. I know a lot of people think it's ugly, and it's not beautiful, but the specs are very impressive.
With PHEV’s available, a fuel cell car doesn’t make much sense, otherwise the downsides are due to a chicken or the egg conundrum.
Fuel cell cost are high because there’s little demand for fuel cells and there’s no economies of scale.
Hydrogen production uses natural gas because the hydrogen being created now largely isn’t intended for environmental purposes.
Hydrogen production cost are high because there isn’t a large demand for hydrogen.
None of these are insurmountable problems but for a car there’s little benefit as we already have the technology that already achieves the same goals. What it does excel at is being a more portable fuel storage medium to replace conventional engines for use in long haul trucking, aircraft, shipping, etc.
I agree. They mention the cost to add the hydrogen and it's stupid high.
As for the PHEV: I also agree. We are buying a Honda Clarity this year. I know a lot of people think it's ugly, and it's not beautiful, but the specs are very impressive.
Yeah that's a good car. Very practical and useful.
Yeah that's a good car. Very practical and useful.
The Facebook group is full of very happy owners.
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