Hydrogen Hybrids

By | May 12, 2006
6 Comments

Will Brown directs us to this site, where they sell kits that you can use to convert your existing car into a gas / hydrogen hybrid. It’s a very interesting model.

In keeping with our discussion on economic disruption, these kits enable you to collect your own hydrogen. Hydrogen is extracted from the atmosphere via solar power. Free fuel! Plus, if you don’t collect enough — or say if you need to go on a long trip — you can always switch back to burning gas.

hydro.jpg

Answer to the problem of gas proces?

There are bound to be numerous objections to and problems with this approach. I was a bit alarmed by the presence of the tanks reading DANGER! HYDROGEN! stacked on each other in the back of the car, but apparently the hydrogen gas is bonded to a metal and stored in an inert state. (I guess the warnings are only there in gas the gas begins to leak out for some reason, although I’m not clear on how that coul happen.)

Anyway, with what it’s costing me to fill the Jeep these days, I certainly like the idea of collecting fuel for free in my back yard.

  • https://www.blog.speculist.com Stephen Gordon

    With all conversions – this conversion, the conversion of standard hybrids to plug-in hybrids, the conversion of diesel engines to burn used cooking oil – it all comes down to payback time.

    The payback period for things like solar cells for electricity has been dropping, but apparently we haven’t reached the tipping point yet.

    How many miles powered by hydrogen would it take to pay for the conversion and the hydrogen generator equipment?

    The longer the payback period, the less market penetration, which means fewer benefits from economies of scale. Almost a chicken/egg problem except we’re busy making both chickens and eggs.

    It’s just a matter of time.

  • http://www.boxingalcibiades.blogspot.com Boxing Alcibiades

    For those of us who tend to keep cars for very long stretches of time, I can see this being a smaller chicken and a larger egg. For instance, I have a big nostalgia for Vista Cruisers… currently not practical, but with a hydrogen kit like this, all of a sudden VERY doable.

    If it’s not vaportech. THAT’s the problem as I see it.

  • https://www.blog.speculist.com Stephen Gordon

    And yeah, I would definitely insist on a hydrogen storage solution OUTSIDE the passenger compartment.

  • http://www.technoeventhorizon.blogspot.com Micah Glasser

    That is really cool. I just recently bought a new car. I almost went with a VW TDI (diesel) but didn’t for various reasons. If this system becomes affordable I would definitely consider installing one – not to save money or the earth but just to satisfy my inner eco-gearhead. : )

  • http://www.artofwarplus.com/wordpress/ Will Brown

    Well, since nobody’s twigged yet, I guess I’d better face my Paul Harvey moment.

    First off, to the best of my knowledge this is a serious business development by the owner of a business called United Nuclear which markets chemicals and metals – some of which have nuclear power applications, hence the name – to hobbyists and researchers around the country.

    Late last year, the BATFE announced a list of chemicals and processes that they wanted to criminalise without possession of an explosives license from them, much of UN’s inventory and gunpowder being only two examples. Rand Simberg put up a post on this some time ago from the amateur rocketry angle and the NRA is heavily breathing in anticipation of proposed Congressional hearings on the BATFE proposal.

    The estimated conversion cost is $7k – $10k with the variable being largely a product of the uncertainty of building a separate enclosure for the tanks, etc in the vehicle the customer selects. This is decidedly not a DIY operation. Assuming the regulatory issues are successfully resolved, I’m hoping to convert my ’97 Dodge pick-up to this system (it being conveniently paid for :) ). At current prices, two additional solar panels and a 1.5kw wind generator add ~ $4.5k but would provide sufficient capacity to run this system and my (anticipated at this point) home supplimentary power system.

    Oh, one other thing. The owner of United Nuclear is named Bob Lazar. You know, Area 51 … recovered “alien” technology … that Bob Lazar.

    Make of that what you will. I can only say he would not be the oddest individual with whom I’ve had dealings in my life. I’m too busy living it to think what that says about my life.

  • https://www.blog.speculist.com Phil Bowermaster

    “I can only say he would not be the oddest individual with whom I’ve had dealings in my life. ”

    Well of course not, Will. You hang around this site, don’t you? :-)