Tests show BMW's hydrogen car cleans the air
Tests show minimal emissions from BMW's hydrogen car.
BMW showed off a hydrogen-powered 7-series sedan at the 2008 SAE World Congress in Detroit that actually emits less carbon monoxide than are found in the air around it. This means the engine breaks down or converts the carbon monoxide it takes in. The emissions tests, run by Argonne Laboratories, also show a similar reduction in nonmethane organic gases. The vehicle's other emissions are all so low that standard automobile emissions testing wouldn't have detected them.
This particular demonstration vehicle uses a 6-liter combustion engine that uses hydrogen as fuel, burning it in the cylinders and, according to BMW, delivering performance on par with a standard gas-powered 7-series. Most hydrogen cars from other automakers use fuel cells to generate electricity. Currently, BMW has been handing its Hydrogen 7 sedan, a car with a dual-fuel hydrogen and gas system, over to various celebrities and decision influencers, such as J.D. Power III. But the new demonstration vehicle only uses hydrogen for fuel. BMW doesn't consider the car a prototype, and won't be building more on the same scale as the Hydrogen 7.
BMW's Hydrogen 7 car runs on gas and hydrogen.
(Credit: BMW)
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So as soon as we build thousands of fueling stations and fancy trucks to distribute hydrogen, and many nuclear plants to power the hydrogen production plants, then maybe you will be able to fuel your BMW.
The real issue is that hydrogen does not exist in a natural state in a pure form we can use. It is highly unstable and will bind with other atoms to form other molecules. The energy required to split it as a ratio of the energy hydrogen can carry is a lossy proposition. Even if current technologies were to get 10 times more efficient, it still would not make sense. Don't take my word for it - Google "the gurus lair + hydrogen" for more info on this.
another way would be this: http://engineuity.co.il/1342.html
This company has made something that uses metal such as aluminum or magnesium, mixed with water in the car that will produce steam and hydrogen to power a car. I don't know why it hasn't gotten more publicity. Although, if it was me I would probably use hydrochloric acid instead of water since that would be a much more exothermic reaction. But w/e, if their way works, i hope it gets more publicity.