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Member's Forum Question of the Month: Which technology will power automobiles in 20 years?
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  • electric vehicle
  • hydrogen power
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Question of the Month: Which technology will power automobiles in 20 years?

dychen
dychen over 3 years ago

e14 Question of the Month

The future of transportation is renewable energy. Electric vehicles are growing in popularity, and more resources are being invested into the development of hydrogen-powered vehicles. Take the poll and let us know what technology will power cars in the near future, and please elaborate in the Comments section below!

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  • scottiebabe
    scottiebabe over 3 years ago

    Interesting question! I'm not sure about hydrogen being energy source for the everyday car

    image

    If an ICE engine is 25% efficient,  you are making use of approximately 8MJ/L of the energy in gasoline. So assuming a hydrogen powered drivetrain is 100% efficient. It would seem you would need the same volume of liquid hydrogen as gasoline to travel the same distance. SUVs have 80L gasoline fuel tanks. Not sure...  

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  • michaelkellett
    michaelkellett over 1 year ago in reply to scottiebabe

    A hydrogen powered drive train will not be 100% efficient - the kind of fuel cell which might be used in cars is only about 40% efficient (better ones exist but molten carbonate technology is unlikely to be feasible in a car). The electric parts of the drive chain won't be perfect either - estimates vary but 90% seems fair. So the hydrogen  car will manage 36% v 25% - an improvement but not enough to make the tank smaller.

    And  I don't fancy liquid hydrogen , one warm day too many and ....... at best the tank vents itself - or do we have to factor in the cryogenic cooler in the garage ?

    MK

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  • scottiebabe
    scottiebabe over 1 year ago in reply to michaelkellett

    Riding a 3000PSI tank of natural gas(methane), gives me the heebeegeebees too.

    Though kudos to the people who made it happen.

    image

    https://www.cycleworld.com/motorcycle-news/bajaj-freedom-125-cng-powered-motorcycle/

    Right now nat gas is selling at $1/GJ, which is equivalent gasoline being 3.8 C/L (thermal equivalent)

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  • scottiebabe
    scottiebabe over 1 year ago in reply to michaelkellett

    Riding a 3000PSI tank of natural gas(methane), gives me the heebeegeebees too.

    Though kudos to the people who made it happen.

    image

    https://www.cycleworld.com/motorcycle-news/bajaj-freedom-125-cng-powered-motorcycle/

    Right now nat gas is selling at $1/GJ, which is equivalent gasoline being 3.8 C/L (thermal equivalent)

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  • michaelkellett
    michaelkellett over 1 year ago in reply to scottiebabe

    If only it were that price in the UK, it's about £1 per therm = £10 per GJ.

    MK

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