Green Energy News | August 19, 2001

August 19, 2001 – Vol.6 No.21

ENERGIES... week of August 19, 2001

BURNING HYDROGEN. Though Ford still claims fuel cells are the ultimate technology to replace the internal combustion engine (ICE), the company has developed a concept hydrogen-fueled ICE vehicle. Introducing a hydrogen-fueled ICE soon would encourage the development of a hydrogen extraction and refueling infrastructure giving more time for fuel cell technology to mature. Moreover, for the automaker, preserving the ICE as long as possible would delay the enormous investment needed to switch to fuel cell production.

The P2000 H2ICE uses a modified 2 liter engine normally found in the Ford Focus. The car will travel 62 miles on 87 liters of compressed hydrogen. Ford plans to extend its range to 150 miles with improved fuel storage.

Carbon dioxide emissions are present from the burning of engine lubricating oil in the cylinders, but those emissions are 1/300 of those from the same gasoline-fueled engine. Hydrocarbon (HC) and carbon monoxide emissions (CO) are one-tenth those of U.S. EPA SULEV requirements. Nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions are one-fourth of the gasoline counterpart and could be reduced further.

Ford has also introduced a new, more efficient, transaxle system for its hybrid Escape sport utility vehicle to be marketed in 2003. The Escape HEV (hybrid electric vehicle) should get close to 40 miles per gallon (gasoline) in urban driving, lesser on the freeway. Visit Ford at http://media.ford.com/ (click news section - technology) .

TOYOTA’S HYBRID FUEL CELL VEHICLE. Now being tested at the California Fuel Cell Partnership is Toyota’s FCHV-4 (fuel cell hybrid vehicle) based on the company’s five-passenger Highlander SUV. The FCHV-4 has a Toyota-developed 90 kilowatt (120 horsepower) fuel cell stack that works in tandem with a nickel-metal hydride battery pack. Overall, using the hybrid configuration, the fuel cell output can be smaller than expected for a vehicle of this size and still provide adequate performance for the vehicle. The battery takes up the slack for the smaller fuel cell.

The hybrid technology is similar to that of the company’s Prius sedan. The power output from smaller-than-typical engine is aided by stored energy in the battery pack.

The FCHV-4 has a maximum speed of 95 miles per hour and can travel more than 155 miles on its charge of hydrogen. The company cautions that fuel cell vehicles for the mass market - from any manufacturer - are at least a decade away. Visit Toyota at http://www.toyota.com/ (click About Toyota - news - product).

READY-TO-GO SOLAR. Green Mountain Energy (sm) is now offering installed solar systems for residents of California. Customers can order systems that can supply up to 100 percent of a home’s power needs. Green Mountain will handle everything, including design, permitting, assisting in applications for subsidies and permits, complete installations and check-ups for five years.

The company offers three standard-sized BP Solar systems from 1 to 4 kilowatts. A 1 kilowatt system, after the California Energy Commission Buydown Program Incentive, will cost approximately $7000 , a 4 kilowatt system $22,000. Systems will be grid connected, but a back-up power supply is available for approximately $3000. Customers should see their investment recouped in about 10 years. The solar panels themselves have a 20 year limited warranty. Visit Green Mountain Energy at http://www.greenmountain.com/ .

WORLD WIND WATCH. If the U.S. had the political courage, it could displace two-thirds of coal generated electricity with wind power and meet the goals laid out in the Kyoto Protocol - all at no cost to the taxpayer. That is the finding of a new study published in the journal Science.

To meet Kyoto, approximately 225,000 1.5 megawatt and larger turbines would have to be installed at a initial outlay of $338 billion and $4 billion annually for maintenance on the turbines - all of which would be recouped over their 20 year life span as power from the turbines is sold to customers.

A realistic goal beyond Kyoto would be to eventually power 50 percent of the nation with wind energy installed in stages to eventually reach 370,000 turbines. To provide 100 percent of the power for the nation an area the size of two-thirds of North Dakota would be needed.

The authors also point out that wind power using state-of-the-art megawatt-class turbines now generates electricity at less overall cost than coal. The direct cost of wind has dropped to 3 - 4 cents per kilowatt-hour - comparable to that of coal. However when the long term human health and environmental costs of 2 - 4.3 cents per kilowatt-hour are added to cost of coal, wind comes out the clear winner. Visit Science magazine at http://www.sciencemag.org/