Comments on: Fuel cell and battery-powered vehicles: what is our future?

By: How To Run A Car On Water

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By: Philip A. Block

Philip A. Block — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 00:59:35 +0000

In an answer to Mr. Trocciola’s about FC fork lifts and boats. I spent quite a bit of time in th U.S. Navy rebuilding and servicing lead acid batteries. They are a hazard from beginning to end. The sulphuric acid is like an oil (maybe thats why it is often called oil of vitriol). It not only burns terribly, but dropped on the floor can be a neck breaker. The lead and its fumes–wonderful for lead poisoning. When a case is cracked and not noticed, the acid creeps like oil over everything, eating the heck out of it. Charging them is dangerous. The H2 fumes will send you to mars. Everything has to be rubber or lead lined for protection. Like all rechargeables, they have to be constantly changed. A real muscle builder and back breaker (the ones I worked with were liftable–the fork lifts batteries not so). The more you charge them, the more they have to be replaced. In industry, a special room for storage and recharging is required, with all the regulations that go with it. A person(s) must be properly trained to handle the charging and changing (what do you do if he/she is out sick?). The fork lift may be tied up for charging and if some one forgets to do so, the fork lift ends up being stranded somewhere. If you have ever been in business, you will see quickly the overhead for fork lifts. Now, install a fuel cell. No down time for recharging, except for refuling. No maintenance–an outside company can be contracted for that service (that would be a nice business to be in). Now, for boats. After the Navy, I spent a great deal of time servicing private boats. Batteries, batteries, batteries and all the screwball recharging systems that people can come up with. Also, when you want to drop anchor in a nice dark cove somewhere and spend a little time with your date, you have to keep a noisy generator going to make ice, etc. for the drinks. Now, replace the generator with a Fuel Cell. No noise, no fumes and a nice quiet evening. Again, a much safer system that reduces the chances of blowing the boat out of the water with the chrging system igniting the gas fumes. Fuel Cells for fork lifts, and boats a “want”? I think not.

By: John Trocciola

John Trocciola — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 12:47:17 +0000

There is a difference between “need” and “want”
I would say a real need is for power during a large storm; perfect application for fuel cells.
Fuel Cell Fork lift trucks That’s a “want”
Fuel cell powered boats . That’s another “want”
Fuel Cell lawn mowers. That’s a “Give me a break”

By: John Trocciola

John Trocciola — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 12:42:42 +0000

For many, many years we have heard the words :
“donate”
“demonstration”
“fuel cell breakthrough”

How about a few words like:
“large fuel cell order”
” US Goverment issues large fuel cell putchase order”

By: Richard P. Horwitz

Richard P. Horwitz — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 20:19:48 +0000

I would like to see a fuel cell company contact the DR Power Equipment company. They make field equipment for large & small estates, such as lawn & leaf vacuum, chippers, log splitters, tractors, etc. The larger equipment is gasoline powered and usually shows the users wearing ear protection. A nice quiet fuel cell running powerful electric motors would be a step up for that company. They can be contacted thusly: http://www.DRpower.com. They are located in Vermont. I would bet that the folks who buy their equipment are not feeling much pain from the current economic downturn.

By: Richard P. Horwitz

Richard P. Horwitz — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 21:44:02 +0000

I have spoken to people who give me a blank stare when I mention Fuel Cells. I wonder if anyone in the FC industry has ever considered creating an electric locomotive powered by an FC as a demo of the future and donating it to Steamtown Museum in Scranton, Pa.? Steamtown is a creature of the National Park Service and has a good number of visitors every year and would be a source of contact for people who are interested in rail transportation.

By: Philip A. Block

Philip A. Block — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 23:00:34 +0000

All the talk about super batteries and the use of rechargeables is just plain nonscense. The battery companies have been trying for a hundred years to develop a battery that would be practicable for an automobile. The chemistry just isn’t there. Batteries, for all practical purposes has effectly peaked out and not a whole lot can be done to increase the power to weight ratio. Also, every time a rechargeable is charged, the amount of energy that the battery can hold decreases. It is like every time you fill your gas tank, it will hold one gallon less. The Fuel Cell acts like an ICE, as long as fuel is applied to it, it will continue to produce electrical energy and, at the jpresent time, it appears there is no limit to the improvements and increase in efficiency. Top that!

By: Richard P. Horwitz

Richard P. Horwitz — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 21:55:31 +0000

For the last 4 years I have been pushing a lead acid battery powered lawn mower. I would like to see an ethanol fed fuel cell that could be worn on a waist high belt (like an Army canteen) with an umbilical to the power line in the handle of the machine. This should also provide power for my hedge trimmer and chain saw.

I saw something like this years ago when movie photographers went on location, they wore a belt with batteries (D cells?) stashed in the belt. They threw them away on return, adding to pollution. A fuel cell would last far longer and much cleaner.

By: Scott

Scott — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 00:25:56 +0000

IMHO someone needs to do something!We need to get off of oil/gas. And we need to do something that is completely renewable fuel cell or something else. The hybrids still use at least some gasoline. The same with E85 and such.
Personally, I think getting our power from something that we have so much of (sea water)is a lot better than drilling for oil. So it seems to me that until we can develop a solar cell that is powerful enough and batteries that don’t weigh a ton, fuel cells would be the way to go.
Oh and I read somewhere that gasoline does explode sometimes.

By: John Trocciola

John Trocciola — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 20:28:01 +0000

The point is not what you do “… whn you get home at night” but “…what do you do when your battery is dead in a traffic jam on the local highway”
Do you really think that the car companies would not be enthusiastic about a battery system that would stop people from worrying about the cost of gasoline and buy nore cars?