Originally published March 22 2005
General Motors solves hydrogen storage problem with new materials
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Automaker General Motors believes that it has achieved a breakthrough in the safe storage of hydrogen fuel, one of the key sticking points in the development of hydrogen vehicles. Hydrogen is much lighter than gasoline; therefore it is much bulkier for the same energy content. GM's new materials will hold hydrogen at higher densities and lower temperatures.
The Detroit automaker and its scientific partners said they have found a way to make materials that not only hold more hydrogen, but release it at much lower temperatures than previously achieved.
"We feel we have made progress and we have a growing confidence we will be able to have safe, affordable, practical, hydrogen storage systems in vehicles for our customers," said Larry Burns, vice president of research and development and strategic planning for GM.
Hydrogen storage is one of the biggest challenges to fuel cells for vehicles, said Sunita Satyapal, hydrogen storage team leader for the U.S. Department of Energy's hydrogen programs.
"The molecules just don't want to be in the same space with each other," he said.
So to drive the same distance, either cars would need a hydrogen tank much larger than current gas tanks, or scientists would have to find a way to increase density.
GM would like to keep the configuration of conventional gas vehicles rather than having a much larger tank, although the reality will probably be a mixture of both options, said Mr. Spearot.
Concept car The Sequel, a GM concept fuel-cell car presented at the Detroit Auto Show in January, has been designed with three tanks totaling twice the size of a normal gas tank.
Sodium alanate hydrides, the new class of complex metal hydrides that GM and Hughes created, have come closest to achieving industry goals for fuel cells, but still fall short, said GM.
Researchers are still working to get those hydrides to release more hydrogen at lower temperatures, and to avoid using more than 5 percent of the energy just to raise the heat to produce the energy.
The system also must cool the tank when refueling to allow the hydrogen to bond with the other elements, and to recharge the hydride with hydrogen more quickly.
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