Jack Nicholson debuts his hydrogen powered car

[teacherone]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=TjfONpsFvyM

[Travlyr]

Too good to be true...

[Travlyr]

What ever happened to this technology? Anybody know?

[Icymudpuppy]

Quite feasible, just very inefficient. One Problem is that Hydrogen gas is tough to store. It will leak out of compressed gas cylinders like those shown in the video. Fairly rapidly, too. The other issue is production of the hydrogen. Converting electricity into hydrogen via water electrolysis is an inefficient process which generates a lot of waste heat, then the combustion engine is an inefficient design that loses most of it's energy to both heat and friction. It is more efficient to convert that electricity (magnetic energy) directly into kinetic energy with an electric motor, than to convert it into hydrogen (chemical energy) than into heat (thermal energy), to drive a combustion engine to generate movement (kinetic energy). Each time energy is converted from one form to another, you lose some to waste such as heat, friction, or byproducts.

[torchbearer]

what happens when a hydrogen power cell gets crushed in a high speed impact?

[torchbearer]

Quite feasible, just very inefficient. One Problem is that Hydrogen gas is tough to store. It will leak out of compressed gas cylinders like those shown in the video. Fairly rapidly, too. The other issue is production of the hydrogen. Converting electricity into hydrogen via water electrolysis is an inefficient process which generates a lot of waste heat, then the combustion engine is an inefficient design that loses most of it's energy to both heat and friction. It is more efficient to convert that electricity (magnetic energy) directly into kinetic energy with an electric motor, than to convert it into hydrogen (chemical energy) than into heat (thermal energy), to drive a combustion engine to generate movement (kinetic energy). Each time energy is converted from one form to another, you lose some to waste such as heat, friction, or byproducts.


add to that- they are getting their hydrogen from fossil fuels right now. lulz.

[Icymudpuppy]

Depends on how the hydrogen is stored. Modern Hydrogen fuel cells are safer than a tank of gasoline, and cannot even be ignited with flame. However, the compressed gas cylinders shown in the video could explode just like a nitrous tank in a drift car.

[Travlyr]

Quite feasible, just very inefficient. One Problem is that Hydrogen gas is tough to store. It will leak out of compressed gas cylinders like those shown in the video. Fairly rapidly, too. The other issue is production of the hydrogen. Converting electricity into hydrogen via water electrolysis is an inefficient process which generates a lot of waste heat, then the combustion engine is an inefficient design that loses most of it's energy to both heat and friction. It is more efficient to convert that electricity (magnetic energy) directly into kinetic energy with an electric motor, than to convert it into hydrogen (chemical energy) than into heat (thermal energy), to drive a combustion engine to generate movement (kinetic energy). Each time energy is converted from one form to another, you lose some to waste such as heat, friction, or byproducts.
Good information, Thanks!

[Icymudpuppy]

Improvements in battery technology are more promising than hydrogen fuel cells for using electricity to power our cars.

However, wireless power grids such as those envisioned by Tesla, and what some people use to recharge their IPODs are an even more promising future. If wireless power rechargers were embedded in roads, you could recharge while driving, just like your IPOD can recharge on it's little wireless charger and still function.

[torchbearer]

Improvements in battery technology are more promising than hydrogen fuel cells for using electricity to power our cars.

However, wireless power grids such as those envisioned by Tesla, and what some people use to recharge their IPODs are an even more promising future. If wireless power rechargers were embedded in roads, you could recharge while driving, just like your IPOD can recharge on it's little wireless charger and still function.

here is a perk to electric cars- you can get electricity from many different sources. many. meaning if one resources becomes scarce, you don't have to change your entire car system and fuel infrastructure to keep commerce moving.
the biggest problems with electric is battery waste. but the good news- capacitor tech is greatly improving. imagine only needing the typical car battery for your electric car, as most of your power is stored in capacitors that can hold charges for days.

[Working Poor]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztFDqcu8oJ4

[Brian4Liberty]

Compressed air holds a lot of promise as a store of energy. Once economies of scale set in, it should be a good alternative for autos. You can compress air with wind, hydro, and solar, so it has a lot of potential as a renewable energy source. (Although generating electricity to charge batteries may be more efficient).

(The part at the end of the video about perpetual motion hurts the credibility of the video).

[roho76]

F@$k batteries. Super capacitors are the wave of the future and the only viable option for electric cars.

[Brian4Liberty]

F@$k batteries. Super capacitors are the wave of the future and the only viable option for electric cars.

Every time I hear about super-capacitors in cars, I get this image of Joe the Home Mechanic accidentally discharging one... :eek:

[jrskblx125]

the compressed air idea is a good one but i cant see it generating any kind of REAL power. i would love to see hydrogen work... the fuel cells have been getting much better. and yes the amount of energy for electrolysis of water needed is high but solar panel technology is getting better too. not too long ago i was reading in my mechanical engineering magazine about putting photovoltaics on something similar to aluminum foil. sign me up for that shit when it becomes possible the cost was ridiculously lower than current solar costs. dont remember the number.

[buenijo]

"Too good to be true"... exactly, it was BS then and it's BS today.

[qh4dotcom]

Jack Nicholson is a liberal s***bag

He has contributed $24,000+ to help Democrats get elected including Hillary, Barbara Boxer, Al Gore, etc.

http://www.newsmeat.com/celebrity_political_donations/Jack_Nicholson.php

[HazyHusky420]

Sh1t gotta tax that

[HazyHusky420]

Jack Nicholson is a liberal s***bag

He has contributed $24,000+ to help Democrats get elected including Hillary, Barbara Boxer, Al Gore, etc.

http://www.newsmeat.com/celebrity_political_donations/Jack_Nicholson.php

It's more about the car than Jack Nicholson.