October 25, 2004

IT'S ALWAYS NICE TO SEE A GIANT CORPORATION WITH A SENSE OF HUMOR

SCHOOLS IN AND IT STARTS WITH SCIENCE CLASS (General Motors)

General Motors has adapted a HUMMER H2 SUT to run on hydrogen, and will share it with the office of the Governor of California. The HUMMER H2H will assist efforts to learn more about hydrogen storage and refueling infrastructure development. This experimental vehicle also illustrates how industry and government can collaborate to make fuel cell technology and California's Hydrogen Highway Network viable.

Posted by David Cohen at October 25, 2004 6:58 PM
Comments

Last week, my physics adviser passed on, as something I ought to know about, a Science takeout on hydrogen as a fuel.

I don't have it by me, but not in your lifetime.

There's a reason free molecular hydrogen does not exist on Earth.

Posted by: Harry Eagar at October 25, 2004 7:35 PM

You have to think of it not as an alternative fuel, but an alternative energy storage system, like a battery. You put energy into making hydrogen, then use it where you need it.

This is pretty much just a stunt, since the thing gets about 60 miles per fillup, and there are something like seven places to get hydrogen in California.

Posted by: PapayaSF at October 25, 2004 7:59 PM

Harry - Gravity's too weak?

Of course, I'm not sure I want to drive a vehicle with built-in explosives. I hope Arnold lets his Democratic aides drive the Hummer.

Posted by: pj at October 25, 2004 9:16 PM

PJ:

What, like gasoline? Hydrogen doesn't drip into puddles, it disperses very rapidly.

Now, if the storage is just compressed tanks, you may have something to worry about...

Posted by: mike earl at October 25, 2004 9:22 PM

If they promote this with Henry the Hydrogen atom, I predict it won't go over too well.

Posted by: jim hamlen at October 26, 2004 1:04 PM

To store it, you need to reduce the volume to make it reasonable. To do that, you have to chill it way down.

In small installations, like vehicles, the cost per is going to be absurd.

Probably in large ones, too, but for sure in small ones.

Posted by: Harry Eagar at October 26, 2004 2:23 PM
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