Scientific American: Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2015. #1- Fuel Cell Vehicles

[nationalize the fed]

March 4, 2015 |By Bernard Meyerson |Scientific American.com

Technology is perhaps the greatest agent of change in the modern world. Although never without risk, technological breakthroughs promise solutions to the most pressing global challenges of our time. From zero-emission cars fueled by hydrogen to computer chips modeled on the human brain, this year’s Top 10 Emerging Technologies list—an annual compilation from the World Economic Forum (WEF)—offers a vivid glimpse of the power of innovation to improve lives, transform industries and safeguard our planet...

1. Fuel Cell Vehicles

Zero-emission cars that run on hydrogen


Honda Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle coming to the US in 2016 Credit: Honda

Fuel-cell vehicles have long promised several major advantages over those powered by electricity or hydrocarbons. The technology has only now begun to reach the stage where automotive companies are planning launches for consumers, however. Initial prices are likely to be in the range of $70,000 but should come down significantly as volumes increase within the next couple of years.

Unlike batteries, which must be charged from an external source and can take from five to 12 hours depending on the car and charger, fuel cells generate electricity directly, using hydrogen or natural gas. In practice, fuel cells and batteries are combined, with the fuel cell generating electricity and the batteries storing it until demanded by the motors that drive the vehicle. Fuel-cell vehicles are therefore hybrids and will likely also deploy regenerative braking, which recovers energy from waste heat, a key capability for maximizing efficiency and range.

Unlike battery-powered electric vehicles, fuel-cell powered ones have a long cruising range—up to 650 kilometers per tank (the fuel is usually compressed hydrogen gas); a hydrogen fuel refill only takes about three minutes. Hydrogen is clean-burning, producing only water vapor as waste, so fuel-cell vehicles using hydrogen will be zero-emission, an important factor given the need to reduce air pollution...

...There are a number of ways to produce hydrogen without generating carbon emissions. Most obviously, renewable sources of electricity from wind and solar sources can be used to electrolyze water...SNIP

Complete article: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/top-10-emerging-technologies-of-20151/

World Economic Forum: Top 10 emerging technologies of 2015
https://agenda.weforum.org/2015/03/top-10-emerging-technologies-of-2015-2/

Jordanian student invents home solar hydrogen generator
http://al-shorfa.com/en_GB/articles/meii/features/2015/02/02/feature-02

Hydrogen Trivia: There are 22 litres of Hydrogen in ONE TABLESPOON of water

[Kalidurga]

1. Good news on the cars

I thought they would end up being fueled with solar paint, but that technology is still very much in development.

[eppur_se_muova]

2. There are 22.4 liters (at STP) of water vapor in 18 g of water.

This is just because liquids are several hundred times more dense than gases -- kg/L, vs g/L. That 22.4 L of H2 would weigh only 2.02 g.