Jul 27 2007

"8-track" hydrogen cartridge for cars

FST energy's DC3 hydrogen cassette system.

The FST hydrogen system fills cartridges to power fuel-cell cars.

(Credit: FST Energy)

Critics of fuel-cell cars often point to the dangers of storing hydrogen in a vehicle. FST Energy gets around this problem by storing hydrogen in an absorbent material that is contained in a cartridge. (Actually, the company calls it the FST Fuel Cassette, but cartridge works better with our 8-track reference.) Anyway, FST's cartridge would hold some sort of catalyst that could absorb and release hydrogen molecules. When you drive up to a fuel station in your fuel-cell car, instead of connecting up a hose, you'd pull out your car's empty cartridge and exchange it for a full one.

But wait, FST has another trick up its sleeve. Its DC3 stack includes an electrolyzer that splits water into oxygen and hydrogen. You could plug it in overnight, and have a full hydrogen cartridge in the morning. Now, if FST Energy could strike a deal with the music industry, we could plug a Doobie Brothers hydrogen cartridge into our car and be Rockin' Down the Highway.

 

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You're lucky #5000!!!
by audiodonald July 27, 2007 11:11 AM PDT
Congrats Wayne! We'll need to get a Crave cake made, or some kind of trophy.
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"Dangers" of storing hydrogen? LOL
by ack-thbbft July 27, 2007 11:24 AM PDT
People who have been brainwashed to believe there are dangers to storing hydrogen in a vehicle need to stop using the Hindenburg as their only view of the volatility of hydrogen. The truth is that gasoline is MANY times more volatile than hydrogen. Even under high-pressure, hydrogen will simply burn out like a blowtorch until gone, as opposed to the explosive result you see with gasoline. With a leak, hydrogen will also more likely simply evaporate, whereas gasoline will spread and cause a much bigger fire upon ignition. Don't believe the hype about the so-called "dangers" of hydrogen. We are all driving much bigger deathtraps, already.
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