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Sam Alexander on ABC report

Discussion in 'Fuel Cell Vehicles' started by bwilson4web, Dec 13, 2020.

  1. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    Orignal article: https://apple.news/AQlrGxp97TCaZEyFkJ...

    We've rehashed most of these problems before. But I didn't realize there was normal venting. Given the wide flammability range of hydrogen, the largest range, I wouldn't want one parked in an enclose garage. Driveway, OK, but not in a structure that might accumulate the gas inside a structure.

    From the ABC report, "Neither cold weather nor heated seats deplete the range, another added bonus." Alexander correctly points out that heated seats will require power but typically closer to a trivial, less than a hundred watts. However, the inefficiencies of a hydrogen fuel cell may provide enough waste heat for the cabin.

    The loss of range in cold weather is a strong function of the increased, cold air density. Cold air has more drag than thinner, warm air, even if the tires are properly re-inflated.

    Bob Wilson
     
    #1 bwilson4web, Dec 13, 2020
    Last edited: Dec 13, 2020
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    does that really say 'powerd'?
     
    #2 bisco, Dec 14, 2020
  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Are there hybrid (and/or plug-in hybrid) fuel-cell vehicles in the works?
     
    #3 Mendel Leisk, Dec 14, 2020
  4. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    Didn't know that even the gaseous hydrogen tanks vent.
    You want to add an ICE to the fuel cell?:p

    FCEVs already have a hybrid sized battery, and some call them hybrids because of that. Fuel cells don't change energy output fast enough to meet driver demand. The battery provides energy during times of high demand. Without it, FCEVs would have really slow acceleration.

    A plug in would be very easy to do, and they could ease the hurdles to adoption. You'd use a design like what Nissan uses; large battery with small fuel cell. They literally use a leaf battery in their FCEV testers, and the fuel cell has one tenth to one twentieth of the output of the gen1 Mirai. It just needs a charger.

    The smaller fuel cell reduces cost, and will have a longer life as it will operate at a steady output and see less use overall use. With the fuel cell being a range extender, hydrogen stations are only needed along major highways at first. Instead of needing to replace every gas station. The issue will be in packaging the battery with the hydrogen tanks. Nissan doesn't use hydrogen. They have a solid oxide fuel with autoreformer that runs on ethanol and water.

    I thought someone was bringing out a plug in FCEV. Probably one of the companies that stopped FCEV car development. When asked about a plug in, Toyota basically said that a plug in one would lower hydrogen demand, and slow its growth.
     
    #4 Trollbait, Dec 14, 2020
    hill and Mendel Leisk like this.
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