Corgi i-H2GO R/C Car Runs on Hydrogen Fuel

While this R/C car technically doesn’t run solely on water, it’s still a pretty interesting scientific toy to have around. This new revision of the hydrogen-powered R/C car is more energy efficient and cheaper than the 2008 original.

corgi i h2go rc hydrogen water car

Water is poured into the i-H2GO car’s refueling station, then it is electrolyzed. The process splits H2O into hydrogen and oxygen using the power of a solar panel. The hydrogen is then directed into the car, and the car basically runs off hydrogen by converting it into electricity. On cloudy days, you can use a USB cable to electrolyze the water.

The i-H2GO is controlled by an iOS app at the moment. An Android app is forthcoming.

corgi i h2go rc hydrogen water car refuel station

You can get the whole setup for $180(USD) from Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies. It will ship on August 15.

[via Werd]

GM and Honda fuel-cell team sees engines and infrastructure come 2020

GM and Honda will collaborate on fuel-cell car development, the two companies have confirmed, preparing hydrogen power systems, storage, and refueling infrastructure for a 2020 launch timeframe. The team effort will see GM and Honda work with third-parties on building out networks for hydrogen availability, with the goal being a broadly accessible three-minute refuel. Both companies already have fuel-cell powered cars on the roads, though in limited numbers.

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Honda began leasing the FCX more than a decade ago, following it up with the FCX Clarity. In total, there are 85 examples of both models combined in the US and Japan. As for GM, that has 119 Project Driveway cars on the US roads – modified versions of the Chevy Equinox – with a total of almost 3m miles under their collective belts since 2007.

Hydrogen-powered vehicles have already made headlines this week, with Toyota revealing plans to have a 2015 model year car, powered by fuel-cells, on the road in 2014. The unnamed vehicle is expected to cost in the same region as a Tesla Model S – putting it somewhere in the $50,000 to $75,000 bracket – and offer a roughly 300 mile range on a full tank.

GM-FuelCell-MIlestones-medium

However, the potential for fuel-cells has also been loudly criticized of late. Elon Musk, founder of Tesla, held little back when criticizing the technology, arguing that range and refueling issues made it impractical in comparison to EVs such as the company’s own Model S. Meanwhile, there remain questions around hydrogen supply infrastructure, which is currently limited to a small number of locations.

Despite the arguments, Honda is already working on a successor to the FCX Clarity, which it expects to launch by 2015. GM hasn’t publicly confirmed its fuel-cell production plans, though holding off a broad launch until the refueling points are more widespread seems sensible.

Fuel cells work by combining hydrogen gas – stored under high pressure in a tank in the car – and oxygen in the presence of layers of polymer electrolyte membranes coated with a catalyst. Each layer produces less than a volt, individually, but when harnessed in large numbers, the power becomes sufficient to drive electric motors and, thus, a car.

Both companies have taken multiple approaches to cutting reliance on gas engines. In GM’s case, the company already has the Volt, which pairs electric and gas, and more recently has launched the Spark EV, which is an entirely electric version of the Spark city car. The Cadillac ELR meanwhile, set to launch in early 2014, also pairs gas and electric power, though the traditional engine is only ever used to recharge the batteries for the electric motors.

Over in Honda’s range, there are hybrid versions of the Insight, Civic, and CR-Z, along with a natural gas Civic, and full-electric Fit and Accord variants.


GM and Honda fuel-cell team sees engines and infrastructure come 2020 is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2013, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Toyota fuel-cell car in 2014 with 300 mile range and Tesla-competitive price

Toyota’s upcoming fuel-cell powered car will be priced roughly in line with the Tesla Model S, and deliver around 300 miles on a full tank of hydrogen, the company has revealed, ahead of the FCV-R-based vehicle’s debut at the Tokyo Motor Show later this year. The new car, which may be launched under Toyota’s own

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Ford, Nissan, And Daimler To Work Of Fuel Cell Car

ford nissan daimler Ford, Nissan, And Daimler To Work Of Fuel Cell CarIt has been said for a fair number of times that hydrogen fuel cell-powered cars could very well be the future of the automobile (and not flying cars, although that would definitely be a highly desirable mode of transport), and Ford, Nissan, and Daimler firmly believe in that vision. In fact, it is said that all three of them have committed to one another to roll out an affordable fuel cell car for the masses by the time 2017 rolls around, clearly making this one of the more bold goals towards hydrogen in vehicle use to date.

This will certainly add to the momentum where Toyota and BMW recently partnered with one another to develop fuel cells and a new sports car, while Daimler and Ford do have a joint venture known as Automotive Fuel Cell Corporation to date. As for Honda and Hyundai, they have decided to fly solo when it comes to having a working prototype of fuel cell vehicles that they can call their own. Good luck guys, I am quite sure that the industry is looking at all of you closely.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class Is Most Aerodynamic Production Vehicle, 2014 Cadillac ELR Unveiled,

Ford, Daimler and Renault-Nissan team on fuel-cell cars by 2017

Ford, Daimler AG, and the Renault-Nissan alliance will jointly a develop a fuel-cell system for eco-conscious motoring, with the first mass-market, “affordable” model tipped for 2017. The pact – which follows a similar agreement by BMW and Toyota, also concerning fuel-cell technology – will see a single fuel-cell stack and system that will form the basis of a new range of cars from each marque, with the same underlying technology rebranded to suit different consumer segments.

mercedes_f125

Fuel-cell electric vehicles, or FCEVs, power their motors by combining hydrogen and oxygen, with water the only physical byproduct. A high-pressure tank contains the hydrogen, while oxygen is extracted from the air.

The three companies involved have, they point out, a cumulative total of over 60 years of fuel-cell vehicle development, and more than 6m miles in test driving and demonstration models. Work on the homogenized stack will take place in multiple locations around the world, while teams from the three companies will also look at collaborating on other components FCEVs will require so as to achieve further economy of scale.

Unlike the BMW-Toyota partnership, however, which will take an active role in pushing the development of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure, Ford, Daimler, and Renault-Nissan instead hope that their work “sends a clear signal” to existing hydrogen network stakeholders that they need to pull their finger out and get working.

Still, that focus means today’s deal may result in a workable car – or cars – before BMW and Toyota have something ready for the forecourts. The trio today claim 2017 is the earliest a fuel-cell vehicle may be on the market, whereas BMW and Toyota gave themselves a little more wiggle-room, estimating that they would have something prepared by 2020.


Ford, Daimler and Renault-Nissan team on fuel-cell cars by 2017 is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

BMW and Toyota official tech buddies: Sports cars, Li-Air batteries, more

BMW and Toyota have finalized their partnership on sports cars, fuel-cell tech and more, signing a binging agreement that will also see the German and Japanese marques collaborate on new lithium-air batteries. The deal, which builds on the two car company’s previous “memorandum of understanding” back in June 2012, focuses on four key areas for the future, with green motoring and lightweight, fun performance cars both on the agenda before 2020.

bmw_i8_spyder

On the green side, BMW and Toyota plan to continue their joint work on fuel cell systems. They will share their existing research, and then collaborate on a “fundamental fuel-cell vehicle system” – consisting of fuel-cell stack, system, hydrogen storage tank, battery, and motor(s) – as well as the infrastructure to fuel it, with a mind to producing a working, practical setup by 2020.

Beyond that, however, will come lithium-air batteries, jointly researched as the eventual replacement for lithium-ion power packs as used in most recent all-electric or hybrid cars. That will take a little longer than the fuel-cell technology, but the target is a battery with far greater energy density than current-gen technology, improving range and reducing bulk and weight.

Slimming cars is, indeed, another of BMW and Toyota’s goals, not to mention applicable both to performance models and to green vehicles. Reinforced composites, more traditionally used in racing cars, will play a greater role in mainstream models, it’s suggested, including the fourth strand of the two companies’ collaboration: a new sports car.

bmw_i8_spyder_2

A joint platform for a mid-sized car will be created, with a goal to complete that by the end of this year. The system – which will presumably be used as the underlying basis for two differently designed, branded, and positioned vehicles – will combine the best of Toyota’s EV, fuel-cell, and hybrid technology as well as BMW’s strengths in driving experience and dynamics.

It’s unclear when production models based on the platform might appear, though both firms have been flirting with squeezing performance out of what would normally be considered green technology. Toyota revealed the sleek NS4 hybrid concept last year, as well as demonstrating the speeds that could be squeezed out of electric vehicles with its Le Mans car, while BMW’s i8 Spyder is resolutely a sports machine, despite running on electricity.

Meanwhile, there are indications that this won’t be the end of Toyota and BMW’s work together. Comments from Dr. Herbert Diess, a member of BMW’s board, at a press conference in Japan to announce the binding agreement suggested it is the first in “a shared vision” that is necessary to cater for all types of mobility requirement in the future.


BMW and Toyota official tech buddies: Sports cars, Li-Air batteries, more is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Nectar Mobile Power System Promises up to Two Weeks of Power for Your Gadgets

Lilliputian Systems and Brookstone have announced that they have teamed up for the launch of a new mobile power system called the Nectar Mobile Power System. Neither of those companies specifically come out and say just how the Nectar system generates power. It uses a Nectar Pod, which is hot-swappable to create energy, presumably using fuel cell technology.

nectar fuel cell power

Each Nectar Pod provides 55000 mW-hours of electricity – enough energy for about two weeks of device charging. When one pod runs out, you simply pop another pod in and you can keep your devices charged indefinitely. The manufacturers say that the lightweight and portable device can charge any device that uses the USB 2.0 power standard. Nectar Pods and the power system itself are both certified to be allowed to be taken on commercial aircraft as well.

The charging system will be available this summer with the charger itself costing a rather pricey $299.99(USD). Replacement Nectar Pod cartridges will sell for $9.99 each. You can pre-order the Nectar over at Brookstone.

Toyota installs massive 1.1-megawatt hydrogen fuel cell generator at its Torrance HQ

Toyota Motor Sales USA has announced that it has installed and activated a new and very large hydrogen fuel-cell generator on the campus at its Torrance, California headquarters. The new fuel cell was activated yesterday and can produce 1.1-megawatts of electricity using hydrogen as the fuel. The gigantic fuel cell will be able to produce approximately half the electricity for six headquarters buildings during peak demand.

Like all hydrogen fuel cells, the newly installed unit at the Toyota HQ produces zero emissions. The fuel cell was designed and built by Ballard Power Systems and uses the company’s Proton Exchange Membrane stationary fuel cell. The company says that this is the largest Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cell of its kind.

Hydrogen is delivered to the massive fuel-cell via a pipeline that also supplies a hydrogen filling station adjacent to the Toyota campus that is used to fill Toyota and other manufacturer’s fuel-cell hybrid vehicle fleets. The 1.1-megawatts of electricity that the fuel-cell produces would be able to provide power for about 765 homes.

That amount of electricity is roughly twice the capacity of the existing solar panel systems on the campus. Toyota expects the giant fuel cell to reduce CO2 emissions by 3.3 million pounds during summer peak period operation hours. That CO2 savings is equivalent to taking 294 cars off the road for a year. Toyota will save about $130,000 a year in reduced energy purchased from local power companies.


Toyota installs massive 1.1-megawatt hydrogen fuel cell generator at its Torrance HQ is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.


Honda, Toyota, Nissan and Hyundai plan Nordic fuel-cell splurge

Honda, Toyota, Nissan, and Hyundai have inked an agreement with various Nordic countries to splay fuel-cell infrastructure – and the cars to take advantage of it – across the region starting from 2014. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a combination public and private companies and organizations in Norway, Iceland, Sweden, and Denmark will see zero-emission vehicles and a hydrogen distribution network set up by 2017, following similar agreements in Europe.

As well as the four car companies, three hydrogen infrastructure firms are onboard: HyOP AS of Norway, and H2 Logic A/S and Copenhagen Hydrogen Network A/S both of Denmark. Meanwhile five non-governmental organizations – NyNor Norway, Hydrogen Sweden, Icelandic New Energy, Hydrogen Link Denmark Association, and the Scandinavian Hydrogen Highway Partnership – are also signees of the MoU.

Honda already has a fuel-cell vehicle on US and Japanese roads, with the Honda FCX being supplied to fleet customers – though not private owners. Earlier this year, meanwhile, Honda revealed its next fuel-cell vehicle would launch in 2015, with “significant cost reductions” promised.

Whether Honda, Toyota, Nissan, or Hyundai will be offering fuel-cell cars to individual drivers or prioritizing fleet sales and rentals is unclear at this stage. Even with the MoU in place, there is still plenty of work to be done to actually equip the four countries with suitable hydrogen infrastructure.


Honda, Toyota, Nissan and Hyundai plan Nordic fuel-cell splurge is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.


Rohm 5Wh hydrogen fuel cells power up smartphones, ready for the trash after one charge

Rohm 5Wh hydrogen fuel cells power up smartphones, ready for the trash after one charge

Rohm’s hydrogen fuel cells are meant to power smartphones and other mobile devices, but unlike other juicing-up solutions, the cells are only good for one charge. Rohm says disposable fuel cells can be made smaller and lighter than their multi-use counterparts, and as the only byproduct is hydrogen, the company is touting the cells’ eco-friendliness. The system generates electricity by using hydrogen that’s created by the reaction of a metal material and water. While the device we saw here at CEATEC is a prototype, Rohm may offer its recharging system as both a smartphone case and a USB-attachable juicepack. Each offers 5Wh and can fully charge a handset once. There’s also a 200W power generator, which certainly stretches the meaning of portable but can keep a laptop, LCD TV and a peripheral or two going for three to four hours. Rohm says its fuel cells will see a commercial release some time in 2013; for now you can get a sneak peek in our hands-on gallery below.

Zach Honig contributed to this report.

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Rohm 5Wh hydrogen fuel cells power up smartphones, ready for the trash after one charge originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Oct 2012 11:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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