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Hydrogen-powered Prius tests in U.S.

Hydrogen-powered Prius tests in U.S.

Posted Dec 26th 2005 8:00PM

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The Public Works department of Burlington, Connecticut, will be receiving a Toyota Prius next year. This is not an ordinary hybrid, though, but one of a hundred modified to run on hydrogen (fuel-cell).

The vehicle is part of a country-wide program to demonstrate the efficacy of using hydrogen as an alternative to gasoline-powered vehicles. The New England site will be of special interest since it will be conducted in realistic cold weather conditions.

The U.S. Department of Energy is funding the project.

Category: Trends, Hybrid

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11 Comments

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John

We could be making hydrogen at every power plant in the nation by using the generating capacity at night (during off peak hours) to make hydrogen.

Also, think of all the remote areas (Canada, Alaska) that hydroelectric could be tapped to crack water where in the past the site was too remote for generating electricity.

December 28 2005 at 7:46 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Lithous

"The U.S. Department of Energy is funding the project."

Toyota profits over $10 billion and the federal gov't is in huge debt and so what do we do? Fund a foreign companies advancements that they could easily afford to do themselves. You (Toyota) got to love this country!

December 28 2005 at 11:14 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

RSMarg

There are over 30 hydrogen fueling stations in the US, with 17 of them in California. CA has another 15 slated to come on-line in 2006. Contrary to Jim's statement, none of these produce hydrogen from gasoline. They either extract it from water or natural gas. Using natural gas is a highly efficient and clean source of hydrogen: it results in fewer well-to-wheel emissions than gasoline and is cleaner and more efficient than using that NG directly in an internal combustion engine. This is because a fuel cell is vastly more efficient than an ICE. CA has over 100 fuel cell vehicles on the road with hundreds more coming in 2006. We are seeing a rate of growth and cost reductions similar to hybrids. While no one expects it to be a 'silver bullet', its also not 'pie-in-the-sky.' And if you all think everyone in the world except oil companies sees that oil is a finite resource, and that they're not preparing to stay in business beyond what everyone else sees as inevitable, then I would suggest reconsidering that line of reasoning.

December 27 2005 at 7:48 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Jim

At the moment, H2 is pie-in-the-sky. I have no doubt fuel cells can and will work. The problem is getting the H2. At the moment, H2 is only derived commerically by - you guessed it - gasoline, and some natural gas. Until H2 is available at a price equal to gas per BTU, well, sorry, it ain't gonna happen.

Nuclear power holds a glimmer of hope, but the public doesn't want Nuc power and it takes 15 years to bring a nuc plant on line.

A blind man could have seen this price increase in natural gas 10 years ago. I certainly did, but was to stupid to put my money where my mouth is at the time. There hasn't been a power plant built that wasn't natural gas (yes, a coal fired plant came on line in MO recently and more are planned on a VERY LIMITED basis) in 15-20 years. As a result there is not enough natural gas to be making H2. The supply just isn't available. So that leaves....??

Until the silver bullet comes along, well, it just isn't going to happen.

December 27 2005 at 4:07 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

BioDieselPhil

Woo hoo! Right on, Norm!

December 27 2005 at 1:25 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Norm Hadley

The site of this installation will be in Burlington VERMONT, not Connecticut. Note that the H2 will be generated on site from a wind turbine now located at the Burlington VERMONT Public Works department.

December 27 2005 at 11:34 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

HandyGeek

To anyone who is thinking of fueling up their hydrogen-powered vehicle at some kind of station - think again. You really need to think bigger than that. It's not that difficult to make hydrogen right at home. Just look at what Honda is doing for just such a scenario. And much more research is being done like that. Don't think that the big energy companies or oil conglomerates "have" to be in this game at all.

December 27 2005 at 9:35 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Cory

Where are the Hydro Pumps? Sign me up! To heck with all these scetchy gasoline prices! Our Mother Earth deserves better.

December 27 2005 at 6:47 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

tcc3

If this is a realistic test then where are they going to get the hydrogen? I doubt the local Exxon is going to be able to accomodate.

We need to start thinking about Ethanol until the fabled "Hydrogen economy" can stand on its own two feet.

December 27 2005 at 1:51 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Joe

Oy Vey! I just got my CalTrans exempt sticker.....I can ride in teh carpool lane all by lonesome.

December 27 2005 at 1:23 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply