Re: The HINDENBURG Coupe - by AMC

[farna@xxxxxxx]

The concept is actually interesting. The storage tanks are the costliest single item, that and the solar cells. One could easily connect the generator to house current and stiull be way ahead on fuel costs, though the solar cells at zero cost sure do sound good! The problem is it takes 24 hours to fill a small tank, and that's run time for the hydrogen generator. So it would take at least eight days (if you have 12 hours of good sunlight) to fill four tanks for ~350 miles with solar power. Now it doesn't sound so good. But combined with household current at night you should be able to fill four tanks in four days, or about 80 miles a day. That should be fine for most commuters, switch back to gas on long trips. I'm wondering about power from hydrogen vs. gasoline. Sent them an e-mail about that, will let the list know if I get a response. 

Oh, the storage system isn't new. If you're familiar with oxy-acetylene torch systems you should know that acetylene is stored by absorption into acetone, which in turn is held by a porous material in the acetylene bottle. The heating is the big expense with the hydrogen tanks. I'm thinking why not have ONE electrically heated bottle for starting then have the others heated by water from the engine. Then there would have to be switching gear so the electric bottle doesn't run out. Better yet, run on gas until heat builds to the point the switch over to hydrogen can occur, preferably in an automatic fashion. 

If you consider the cost of gas at $3 per gallon, and you get 20 mpg average, you'd have to go ~67K miles to pay for the system @ $10K. At $6K that would be ~40K miles. I believe if you used the non-electric tanks and household current to generate hydrogen the initial cost could be kept down to $6K (installing yourself too), but you'd spend the $4K on fuel and electricity over the next few years anyway. 

Still, the concept is interesting. Higher production will bring pricing down -- new technology always has a high initial buy-in cost. In five years cost might be down to a point this is feasible. Right now I'd only consider powering my riding mower this way. I can put off cutting grass for a couple days while fuel is being generated! Initial cost should be real low too, unless I have to convert the mower to EFI... 


On September 13, 2005 Brien Tourville wrote:

> Subject:        	mail Digest for 13 Sep 2005 in hour 0:00
> 
> 
> From: "Bruce Hevner" <scramblr@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: "AMC AMC" <mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: Switch To Hydrogen!
> Date: Mon, 12 Sep 2005 23:59:23 -0400
> 
> OK,, here it is. A HYDROGEN conversion kit!!
> Never have to run on gasoline again,,, and it only cost's $10,000. Oh
> yeah,,, NO turbos, supercharging or push over 9.5-1.
> 
> 
> http://www.switch2hydrogen.com/
> 
> ------------------------------------
> 
> [quote]
> 
> 
> We'll cover each option in order.
> 
> 1. If you choose to store the Hydrogen as a compressed gas, you'll
> need HUGE tanks, and many of them, since Hydrogen isn't very dense,
> so a tank really can't hold all that much.
> 
> In addition, you'll be driving a giant bomb.
> 
> In a collision, expect to die in a huge fireball/explosion.
> 
> 
> ==
> 
> 
> *
> 
> !@ !!
> 
> 
> This'll make GREAT Viewing on Web Cams at night!
> 
> 
> 
>              Brien.
>          NEW YORK
>    eagle registry #501
> 
> eagle kammback registry


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