I think it would be cool to have a hydrogen fuel cell battery hybrid version. I think a hydrogen tank would be faster to refuel than to charge the batteries. the fuel cell would give it more power when needed. the fuel cell could charge the batteries. having the solar cells on top would complete the hybrid package. (me thinking out loud). Could this be done?
Like?
Nikola‘s Badger Truck
✅ 300 mile electric range than 300 miles on hydrogen but...
🤔good luck finding hydrogen charging stations
✅ looks like a truck
💵 More expensive than the Tesla‘s Cybertruck
😁hey, whatever makes ya smile! Your hard earned money... Your ride
Current hydrogen state of the art is the Toyota Mirai. Good range, low power, high price, quality compromise on most other aspects of the car, charging takes 30 minutes, hydrogen charging scares me (I work in petrochem) very few charging stations, can't charge at home, hydrogen has a slower technology curve, i'd rather not be in a hydrogen car crash (I'm up to speed with all the safety technology). Hydrogen might have a place in grid energy storage, augmentation of consumer natural gas and overseas energy export when electrolysis of water becomes more efficient, storage becomes denser and the technology cheaper.
While hydrogen itself is very light, the pressurized tanks and fuel cells: not so much. Also, it's not cheap! Perhaps in a decade or so, Hydrogen will make sense for big, heavy transport. Think ocean liners, ships and long distance semi trucks. Or air transport, like dirigibles.
The one that gets me the most excited is hydrogen powered electric passenger aircraft. Even hydrogen fuelled jet engines would be very cool.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58SNzuuaqLo
Some good stuff if you skip through the fluff. Hydrogen is 1/3 the volumetric energy density of methane so a gas turbine needs a beefed up fuel system. It also burns hotter so the lining of the combustion chamber, and hot stage turbine blade design will be a challenge. Hydrogen can also cause metal embrittlement which is another turbine design challenge. Currently GE has calibrated their frame machines to burn a methane hydrogen mix. Cool. There is also a tech demonstrator from the 50's below, maybe this will catch on.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6rsMyyQnBA
I think the Toyota hydrogen fuel cell car uses carbon fiber tanks. https://www.toyota.com/mirai/assets/modules/carpagehowitworks/Docs/MY20_Mirai_eBro_FuelCellTech.pdf
https://www.toyota.com/mirai/fuel.html
All fuel cell cars are battery-powered: The fuel cell charges the battery - it does not power the traction motor. So the vehicle needs a large, heavy battery, a large, heavy fuel cell and large, armored pressure tanks for the fuel in addition to an entire electric drivetrain. There are currently 74 hydrogen fueling stations in the US, 40 of which are in California, but only 60 are currently operational. There is one in Canada, but they're planning to open a second...
Hydrogen is the technology of the future and it always will be. People who don't want any change from fossil fuels have been pushing hydrogen research for 30+ years.
I drove home last night behind a Mirai and it was pouring water out onto the road, so I guess you can't drive it into your living room to park like you can with an electric vehicle. Not exactly emissions free.
@Randy Spencer But you COULD pull it into your laundry room because that's mineral-free water - the kind your steam iron prefers! 🤣
But my wood floors cannot handle that. I don't wanna park my car in the living room anyway despite always being jealous of Dan Tanna being able to do that at his house in Vega$. It's just one of the benefits of having an electric vehicle.
And it's not distilled, it's freshly created water from a thermal chemical reaction.
@Randy Spencer You're correct - I meant to write "demineralized". Have you seen this video? The fellow installed a hydraulic ramp in his living room to "gravity-roll" his Ferrari out of it without starting the engine in the house!
I don't know what kind of car would attract me SO MUCH that I had to always be with it. I guess my RVs, because I can literally LIVE in them, but otherwise I am OK with the car waiting for me in the garage or driveway
@Randy Spencer IKR? I'm thinking this elevates "boys and their toys" to the level of obsession...