Ford: Hydrogen ICE's in Five Years.

Chuck · #1 07-12-2007, 09:19 AM

13% better fuel economy with virtually zero emissions

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2007_Ford_E-Series_Commercial_Van.jpg

AP – July 10, 2007

DEARBORN, Mich. - The relatively quick-and-easy answer to foreign oil dependence and automotive greenhouse gas emissions is circling the grounds every day at Orlando International Airport in Florida, according to a top Ford Motor Co. official.

It's a utilitarian 12-passenger parking lot shuttle bus powered by a 6.8-liter internal combustion hydrogen engine, which Ford officials said is their hydrogen technology that's closest to mass production.

"We really believe this technology is ready to be evaluated at the consumer level," John Lapetz, the company's program manager for the buses, told reporters on Tuesday at an event staged to tout Ford's future vehicles.

About 30 E-450 Hydrogen shuttle buses are working across the U.S. and Canada, and Ford engineers are monitoring them electronically in real time, Lapetz said. The vehicles, powered by a modified gasoline engine, have near zero emissions and get up to 13 percent better fuel economy than their gasoline counterparts, he said.
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Chuck · #2 07-12-2007, 09:23 AM

Just keep in mind this is a hybrogen ICE - not fuel cell vehicles.

I can see this for fleet vehicles such as airports and local governments - it would be a great testbed for passenger vehicles. It would be sort of like LGVs. I wonder if the engines would be simpler since catayltic converters would not be needed. The rub is fueling hydrogen - no infrastructure.

noflash · #3 07-12-2007, 09:34 AM

Only $250,000 each?!? Where do I sign up?

Chuck · #4 07-12-2007, 09:37 AM

Obviously the price has to come way down if their prediction is meaningful.

johnf514 · #5 07-12-2007, 09:38 AM

Hey! I've seen those!

They just need to adjust the MSRP . . . a bit.

BailOut · #6 07-12-2007, 10:34 AM

I have no idea why anyone thinks it takes a 6.8L engine just to ferry a few people and their luggage to and from a parking lot.

Additionally, even though this setup is an ICE rather than a fuel cell, the same basic problems with hydrogen still apply:

- Lack of availability
- High cost
- High amount of energy required for electrolysis
- Highly unstable, requiring gobs of additional shielding (more weight)

Pravus Prime · #7 07-12-2007, 11:31 AM

... and we'll be getting the Hydrogen to power the fleet from where? And the other 4 miracles needed to make Hydrogen something other than Warp Drive?

Himmitch · #8 07-12-2007, 11:39 AM

There would be a filling station at the airport. It's not perfect but it is a giant leap in the right direction for Ford. I am happy to hear of it.

gflippin · #9 07-12-2007, 12:30 PM

Wow, you can go from 15 MPG to 16.95 MPG for a mere $250K. What will they think of next?

Greg

WriConsult · #10 07-12-2007, 02:12 PM

As most people here already know, hydrogen isn't a source of energy, just a storage mechanism. The only reasons we're talking about hydrogen are (a) fuel cells can directly turn it into electricity for use by electric motors to drive the wheels, and (b) it has far greater energy density than any current battery technology. Otherwise there is no point to hydrogen.

Rather than burning fossil fuel to electrolyze hydrogen, we'd be better off just burning it directly in the engine. Wait a minute ... D'oh! We already do that!