FUEL CELLS FOR CARS IN 10 yrs??

[JohnWxy]

http://ecofinance.blogware.com/blog/_archives/2006/2/22/1777302.html

Italy’s Acta (ACTA.L) is the inventor of direct ethanol platinum-free catalysts for fuel cells.

Acta chief operating officer Toby Woolrych expects its catalyst to be commercialized in smallscale applications by 2008, but sees commercialization in transportation farther off, around 2015.

2015??

Hydrogen Hype vs Reality

by ecolog on Wed 22 Feb 2006 07:13 AM PST

Ballard Power System’s (BLDP) stock shot up today, apparently boosted by the presidential speak on hydrogen fuel cells. Yet following President Bush’s State of the Union Address, the ethanol economy appears to be closer to reality than the hydrogen economy. In fact, both are complementary visions. With close to 200 ethanol plants under various stages of construction, more service stations accommodating high ethanol blends (E85) and more flex fuel cars on the road, ethanol-powered fuel cell cars seem a logical next step.


Trouble is, the direct ethanol fuel cell faces a substantial technical challenge. Conventional low temperature platinum-based fuel cells running on ethanol do not operate at commercially acceptable output levels. Thus, investors are starting to place a premium on platinum-free fuel cell technology alternatives. Italy’s Acta (ACTA.L), the inventor of direct ethanol platinum-free catalysts for fuel cells, went public on AIM in October 2005 and is up 20 percent, trading close to its 52-week high. Sumitomo Corp has an exclusive marketing agreement to market Acta catalysts in parts of Asia.


Other companies competing at the ethanol pump include venture-backed QuantumSphere and Franklin Fuel Cells. QuantumSphere—the leading supplier of metallic nanopowders—is using nanotechnology-enabled nickel as a replacement for platinum catalysts, similar to Acta’s technology. Nickel is less expensive than platinum. Nobel Prize laureate Dr. George A. Olah, the developer of the direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC), has just joined QuantumSphere’s board.


Franklin Fuels is developing a direct oxidization solid oxide fuel cell employing a copper-ceria impregnated anode, dispensing of more expensive nickel. The fuel cell, which Franklin expects to commercialize within 12 months, has been demonstrated on retail pump gasoline, ethanol and other fuels. Acta chief operating officer Toby Woolrych expects its catalyst to be commercialized in smallscale applications by 2008, but sees commercialization in transportation farther off, around 2015, in line with Ballard’s view.

[benburch]

1. Source of fuel is STILL a problem.

The fuel cell is now a panacea.

[JohnWxy]

2. Fuel cells I understand, are 2 to 3 times as efficient as ICEs -

ICE = Internal Combustion Engine

[benburch]

3. Yes... Except...

Fuels that take a lot of processing and distillation eat into that efficiency. The fuel cell itself might be efficient, but the fuel production and delivery system has to be too.

And when there is NO fuel, neither an ICE nor a fuel cell will do us much good.

[JohnWxy]

7. Oh, I see. All plant life will die off. I guess you're ready to pick a

bridge then, Huh?

Argonne National Laboratory study - if you are up to it.

I know global warming is accelerating but I thought we had more than 10 yrs till we all the plant-life dies off.

[JohnWxy]

4. Not interested unless it's a panacea, huh?

just not worth the effort? Guess we'll just have to wait for fusion cars like in "Back to the Future".

[benburch]

5. No, but I think you may underestimate how unlikely it is...

that there will be any fuel at all in ten years...

Ten years is much too long.

[JohnWxy]

9. Ohhhhh, now I get it.. Are you gonna sing some Hari Krishna songs now?

[benburch]

11. Man, you are weird.

Or have you started drinking early today?

[Dead_Parrot]

13. Hey, why not. I have.

If our future transport is going to rely on something that might be commercial 10 years from now, I want to get as much in as possible while the brewery can still deliver...
:beer::scared:

[rfkrfk]

6. this story is not about fuel cells

this story is about the reformer that
uses ethanol to produce hydrogen.


fuel cells for cars --> fantasy

[JohnWxy]

8. Oh, can I quote you .... to Mr. Olah.

Maybe you could teach a Nobel Prize winner something about this (LOL)

"Other companies competing at the ethanol pump include venture-backed QuantumSphere and Franklin Fuel Cells. QuantumSphere—the leading supplier of metallic nanopowders—is using nanotechnology-enabled nickel as a replacement for platinum catalysts, similar to Acta’s technology. Nickel is less expensive than platinum. Nobel Prize laureate Dr. George A. Olah, the developer of the direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC), has just joined QuantumSphere’s board.

[rfkrfk]

10. nobody cares about fuel cells for a laptop computer

the reality is,
fuel cells for cars, essentialy don't exist

another way to provide hydrogen{the reformer}, to something
that doesn't exist, doesn't change much

[JohnWxy]

12. Okay, okay, Just take it easy, you'll be okay. Now, maybe you

should go ask the male nurse for another shot, huh? You'll feel a lot better. Yes, you will.