I found this article interesting because it gives examples of fuel cells being used in the real-world by average Americans and not merely tested in laboratories by scientists.
I wonder why some technical problems in one car were not problems in the other, and vice versa. For example, the air compressor was quiet in the Equinox though the battery cooling system was loud, while in the Clarity the air compressor was loud and the battery cooling system quiet. It seems like the next prototypes should be able to solve these problems.
The performance of both cars sounds like it will be acceptable to most Americans. I suspect that some stubborn people may not find these cars adequate in terms of power or speed. There will always be people who do not care about fuel economy or enviromental effects especially if it is at the cost of power.
I wonder if the current economic difficulties faced by Americans, and in particular, American car companies, might limit the ability of American car companies to research and develop fuel cell cars.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Early Tests for Fuel Cell Cars (1)
http://libraries.maine.edu/mainedatabases/authmaine.asp?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f5h&AN=34375922&site=ehost-live
Healey, James R. "Fuel-Cell Cars" Scientific American Oct. 2008: 80-81.
This article describes the early testing of two models of hydrogen fuel cell cars developed by GM and Honda. They "are putting close to 300 street-legal, full-featured, hydrogen fuel-cell machines into the hands of individual American drivers for use in the real-world conditions"(Healey, 80-81). The article describes the testing of these two models.
GM has created the Chevy Equinox and given them to consumers to use for three months. The company pays all the bills and the drivers receive a short training class. The drivers pump their own hydrogen at GM selected sights. James Healey was impressed that the air compressor that feeds oxygen into the fuel cell was so quiet though the fans that cool the battery pack were too noisy. He liked the strong torque of the electric motor at low speeds. Though the car was less responsive at medium and high speeds. Healey mentions, "When I nailed the throttle at highway speed, little punch was left. Passing on two-lane roads can be done only with careful consideration"(Healey, 80-81). This car had 120 horsepower and a one-speed transmission. He would have preferred a continuously variable transmission like in hybrid cars to better leverage the motors power.
Honda is producing the Clarity and leasing them for $600 a month over a three year lease. This car had a louder air compressor though quieter battery cooling compared to the equinox. The car had good acceleration and was better that the equinox. He thought the car handled well, given that its features were designed for good economy rather than performance.
After testing both of these new street-legal, full-featured, hydrogen fuel-cell machines, James Healey concluded these cars were quite similar to regular, gasoline-powered cars.
Healey, James R. "Fuel-Cell Cars" Scientific American Oct. 2008: 80-81.
This article describes the early testing of two models of hydrogen fuel cell cars developed by GM and Honda. They "are putting close to 300 street-legal, full-featured, hydrogen fuel-cell machines into the hands of individual American drivers for use in the real-world conditions"(Healey, 80-81). The article describes the testing of these two models.
GM has created the Chevy Equinox and given them to consumers to use for three months. The company pays all the bills and the drivers receive a short training class. The drivers pump their own hydrogen at GM selected sights. James Healey was impressed that the air compressor that feeds oxygen into the fuel cell was so quiet though the fans that cool the battery pack were too noisy. He liked the strong torque of the electric motor at low speeds. Though the car was less responsive at medium and high speeds. Healey mentions, "When I nailed the throttle at highway speed, little punch was left. Passing on two-lane roads can be done only with careful consideration"(Healey, 80-81). This car had 120 horsepower and a one-speed transmission. He would have preferred a continuously variable transmission like in hybrid cars to better leverage the motors power.
Honda is producing the Clarity and leasing them for $600 a month over a three year lease. This car had a louder air compressor though quieter battery cooling compared to the equinox. The car had good acceleration and was better that the equinox. He thought the car handled well, given that its features were designed for good economy rather than performance.
After testing both of these new street-legal, full-featured, hydrogen fuel-cell machines, James Healey concluded these cars were quite similar to regular, gasoline-powered cars.
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