The BMW press event was possibly the fanciest I've seen. The X-5 which I couldn't care less about, has slightly better fuel economy than it used to, but they've made it bigger, meaning that the technological advancements could, in fact, have made it significantly more fuel efficient.
But the real news was the unveiling of the Hydrogen 7, a liquid hydrogen combustion vehicle that can also run on gasoline. The vehicle has serious limitations, of course. The hydrogen tank will only take the car 125 miles, while the gasoline tank will take it 300 miles. Plus, the car isn't really for the mass market at all. A hundred of them will be distributed across the country, fifty of them in the LA area.
The Hydrogen 7, just like all the hydrogen powered vehicles being
showcased at the LA Auto Show, is waiting for the future. The
infrastructure isn't there, the methods of producing cheap hydrogen
aren't there. We're just gonna have to wait. But, in the future, a car
that can seamlessly transition between multiple types of fuel could be
very important to the widespread adoption of alternative fuels.
EcoGeek's coverage of the LA Auto Show was underwritten by the General
Motors Company, which, we agree, is very strange since we say some
fairly mean things about them with some regularity. The only condition
of their assistance (travel and lodging) is that I disclose it, which,
of course, I would have done anyway.
Hits: 41756
Comments (13)
Subscribe to this comment's feed
written by marchisi, August 03, 2007
I believe that buyers want to be noticed for their ecological efforts and the design does not make a statement or stand out from the pack at all. Unless of course they left the giant letters on the side. Uh no. Make it look unique.
-
- +0
-
-
written by matilda, December 05, 2007
YouTubeRobot.com today announces YouTube Robot 2.0, a tool that enables you to download video from YouTube.com onto your PC, convert flv files to various video formats to watch it when you are on the road on mobile devices like mobile phone, iPod, iPhone, Pocket PC, PSP, or Zune.Product page:youtuberobot.com
Direct download link: youtuberobot.com/download/utuberobot.exe
Company web-site: youtuberobot.com
E-mail: \n This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it '> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Direct download link: youtuberobot.com/download/utuberobot.exe
Company web-site: youtuberobot.com
E-mail: \n This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it '> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
-
- +0
-
-
written by Dragonfire, January 02, 2008
The view taken by the masses is still one of mass consumption. If there were a shift in thinking about your car like you think about your cellphone you'd plug it in at night... so why not have a home based hydrogen production tool comprising a solar panel & wind turbine producing H2 in your backyard by electrolysis. yes you'd need filling stations still... but the brunt of users could fill their cars from their faucet. The revolution is coming... 
-
- +0
-
-
written by MikeDC, February 11, 2008
There was a previous post on EcoGeek about the REEV concept similar to diesel trains. I'm more of a fan of that design. Electric vehicle where the electricity production can come from any fuel source. The future is about modularity. It might be less efficient than a direct drive because of power loss due to conversion of one energy source to another, but so is our power grid system!
-
- +0
-
-
written by Caleb, March 25, 2008
I've read a bit on the H7 and it is only a demonstrator of what may be possible. For one thing liquid hydrogen is not very stable. I don't mean in a Hindenburg sense. It is constantly leaking from the car. You have to fill the tank every day, and make sure it is parked in a well ventilated area. My hopes are high for a future with hydrogen. I think that it may just the avenue that we should travel. Once it is more efficient to produce. Build Hydrogen Generator Cell With Household Items - Watch more amazing videos here
-
- +0
-
-
written by Uncle B, April 12, 2008
There are a number of solar projects utilizing Desert Sun to make hot water and electricity in the works. A storable secondary fuel source for these folks, if not their 'raison d'etre' is hydrogen for BMW's piston engine (high heat losses) antique and the much more efficient fuel cell electrics. The market and the fuel sources are coming together faster than OPEC et al., ever anticipated, and possible in irreversible fashion due to the benzine molecule/cancer relationship and its publicity.
-
- +0
-
-
written by ErikL, May 28, 2008
The only advantage hydrogen has is that it gives the oil companies something to monopolize and sell at their gas stations once the oil runs out.
I vote for battery powered transport to be the best option, you can re-charge at home, battery technologies are leaping forward with demand and so are electric motors. Best of all, nobody can force you to recharge at a service station at artificially high prices. Even with today's technology it is feasible to use solar set-up to store the power and simply swap flat batteries for full ones when you get home. I suspect that eco-diesel, ethanol and hydrogen are being pushed by by oil companies as replacement options for for fossil based fuels so they can continue to manipulate the market through their chains of filling stations.
I vote for battery powered transport to be the best option, you can re-charge at home, battery technologies are leaping forward with demand and so are electric motors. Best of all, nobody can force you to recharge at a service station at artificially high prices. Even with today's technology it is feasible to use solar set-up to store the power and simply swap flat batteries for full ones when you get home. I suspect that eco-diesel, ethanol and hydrogen are being pushed by by oil companies as replacement options for for fossil based fuels so they can continue to manipulate the market through their chains of filling stations.
-
- +0
-
-
written by Cliff, August 09, 2008
have you heard nothing about the idea of point-of-use hydrogen production? Stored battery power produces hydrogen/oxygen in a perfect stoichiometric mix to power the gas or diesel engine. The advantages are many -- no need to store the hydrogen being the most significant. Hundreds of YouTube videos by people working on solving the problems. Check out HHO or Hydrogen injection.
-
- +0
-
-
written by joeAnne, October 03, 2008
I've seen such a car when I went on a trip with Greek Island Cruises a year ago. Indeed it is that beautiful that I've fallen in love with her. I hope that I will get to drive such a car one day!
-
- +0
-
-
written by Elepski, January 08, 2009
This care is great!
But,
Hydrogen is only a step measure until the battery tech is improved.. But it will never take off until the fuel infrastructure exists. I praise Europe and its efforts in making it happen... The USA again is falling behind the rest of the world... Nothing seems to happen here unless someone can rape it for money and control it's cost. I believe the federal government need to set fast acting mandates to assure Hydrogen tech will take off.
But,
Hydrogen is only a step measure until the battery tech is improved.. But it will never take off until the fuel infrastructure exists. I praise Europe and its efforts in making it happen... The USA again is falling behind the rest of the world... Nothing seems to happen here unless someone can rape it for money and control it's cost. I believe the federal government need to set fast acting mandates to assure Hydrogen tech will take off.
-
- +0
-
-
written by David - green thoughts, April 27, 2009
@ErikL, I agree 100% The oil/auto cartels of course would like to continue control. They can not do so with electricity, which is so easy to generate locally or on a community-basis. Hydrogen seems like such a ridiculous stretch. What are the real advantages? Tesla already gets 225 on one charge (granted, it still costs too much), which is comparable to a gasoline tank full (12 gallons x 20 mpg = 240 miles). Just continue to improve electric. One entrepreneur is also trying to develop a network of battery exchange locations so that one could quickly swap a discharged battery for a newly charged battery for a modest fee.
-
- +0
-
-
written by Phillip Greene, May 13, 2009
To me electric will eventually be the answer for personal mobility. Batteries will improve. I like the quick swap battery station idea.
-
- +0
-
-
Write comment
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
NOV 29
"To me electric will eventually be the answer for personal mobility. Ba..."
View all Comments