Ford seems more interested in H2 with ICE than others.

I don't see it myself. ICE is a relatively heavy and complex machine. And to that they add hydrogen storage and injection in the vehicle?

But the given pollution stats are impressive. I wish them well.

This is not so dumb you know!

Fuel consuption reduction of 40 to 60 % (partial load were everyone drives)

Reduction of know do to zero emmision levels to permit the simple use of an oxidizing cat (much cheaper that full three way)

No lambda sensor and ascociated bits to offset against a hydrogen bottle (how much is the big question????????)

and a set of simple H2 injectors. The add on costs would be relatively minor.

If the can use V.little H2 then its a really good idea!!!

Ciao,

Mike

PS My profession is engine design and testing, specialising in advanced fuel sytems :-)

Thanks Mike:

I might comment that I don't see the advantage. But I almost never figure there is no merit whatever in an technical (as opposed to a marketing) approach being tried by a significant company.

You cite some real offsets if they can simplify tail pipe catalysts and sensors. And H2 in very low volume is much different from trying to distribute enough liguid or compressed H2 for use as the primary fuel.

H2 as a fuel is absurd to the point of insanity. Think of the nightmare, you want to go on a long trip, normally you would bring a jerry can of spare gas with you, forget it, fuel can only be obtained at an expensive high-tech custom oil company owned distribution station. Run out of gas - call the tow truck. Even with a BEV, if you run your battery dead, you can charge it up with a $100 portable generator or anywhere that there is 120vac power. If you live in the country where you would store 45 gal drums of diesel or gas, forget it, you're screwed. How about fuel for your boat, lawn mower, chain saw, 4 wheeler, snow machine or aircraft - what an expensive bulky Hydrogen tank you have to take to a service station to fill, nutso. And what about driving in the winter in the country, where you should bring extra fuel in case you get stuck in a snow storm?

Ever notice how heavy & bulky a standard 2300 psi O2 or N2 cylinder is, and all the safety precautions for use and storage that are required for their use, well it would hold a whopping 1.6 lbs of H2 in a 120 lb cylinder. H2 is the hardest gas to prevent from leaking, and can form explosive mixtures with air in any semi-enclosed space, which can be ignited by a lighting strike one mile away. It also causes metals to become brittle, so high tech materials are needed to use it. Where I live propane gas is readily available for use in vehicles, and is less expensive than gasoline, but few people use it, because of its inconvenience and danger. Insurance companies are unwilling to insure people with propane vehicles, as there have been many explosions from propane leaks (park your vehicle in the garage overnight, next morning turn on the lights in the garage, and when (if) you wakeup, check out your garage roof in your neighbors yard.) Hydrogen would be even worse.

Besides, what’s wrong with Methanol, costs $1 per gallon, simple to produce by numerous methods including from H2 and waste CO2. Burns at 43% efficiency in a simple Port Fuel Injection Turbocharged high Compression Spark Ignition engine and meets the tough Tier II New Low Emission Vehicle requirements. Easy to store & transport. Can be mixed in all proportions with ethanol & gasoline to facilitate a gradual change away from oil products. Six times the energy per liter of H2 compressed to 3000 psi. Whereas methanol is sold in grocery stores in flimsy plastic containers (they wouldn’t let you buy gasoline in those packages). People use it routinely in Northern Countries to add to their gas tanks to prevent gas line freeze-up. It would save many lives and the destruction of property in accidents, since it burns with a very cool flame. (that is why racing cars are required to burn it or a mix with ethanol). Also dissipates to atmosphere in a spill quickly, or can easily be washed down (mixes with water) no environmental damage. Whereas gasoline or diesel, spill that in your yard (i.e. your oil tank leaks), and you’re forced to dig up your whole yard, at many thousands of dollars of expense, and the soil must be stored at a special toxic waste site.

It is the C in ICE that creates the oxides of nitrogen and such...that is where fuel cells come in. If they can advance SOFCs for transportation or lower the amount of platinum needed for PEMS, we might just solve that problem too.

DME developments in China today:
Since DME has an advantage of decomposition at lower temperature than methane and LPG, R&D for hydrogen source for fuel cell has been carried out. DME has a potential of feedstock for chemicals. DME to olefins is under development in Japan.

If you would like to know more on the latest DME developments, join us at upcoming North Asia DME / Methanol conference in Beijing, 27-28 June 2007, St Regis Hotel. The conference covers key areas which include:

DME productivity can be much higher especially if
country energy policies makes an effort comparable to
that invested in increasing supply.
By:
National Development Reform Commission NDRC
Ministry of Energy for Mongolia

Production of DME/ Methanol through biomass
gasification could potentially be commercialized
By:
Shandong University completed Pilot plant in Jinan and
will be sharing their experience.

Advances in conversion technologies are readily
available and offer exciting potential of DME as a
chemical feedstock
By: Kogas, Lurgi and Haldor Topsoe

Available project finance supports the investments
that DME/ Methanol can play a large energy supply role
By: International Finance Corporation

For more information: www.iceorganiser.com