Companies unite to promote hydrogen future
October 23, 2009
Two British firms have joined forces to provide sustainably-produced hydrogen for use as a car fuel
ITM Power sells technology that enables electricity generated from renewable sources to be converted into hydrogen, and researchers from its new partner Revolve claim to have developed a conversion mechanism that enables the average internal combustion engine to operate on hydrogen.
ITM Power chief executive Dr Graham Cooley said: “The combination of our refueller unit and Revolve’s elegant solution for hydrogen internal combustion engines provides a very pragmatic way to introduce low carbon vehicles which can be implemented immediately.”
Hydrogen car technology is over 100 years old
A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: “The idea of running the internal combustion engine on hydrogen is far from new – the cost of engine modifications is one of the main hurdles.”
The first internal combustion engine to run on hydrogen was built in 1807.
In 1970 a patent was filed for a modification to internal combustion engines to allow a petrol engine to run on hydrogen
The power output of a direct injected hydrogen engine vehicle is 20% more than for a petrol engine vehicle, so modifications to a conventional engine usually include hardened valves, stronger connecting rods, modified spark plugs and fuel injectors designed for a gas instead of a liquid.
Why power cars with hydrogen?
Hydrogen produces only water when it is burned, and whilst its production currently requires significant amounts of energy, if these are from a sustainable source, the fuel makes sense for use in cars since it produces no harmful emissions at point of use.
Information correct at time of publication.
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