For those of you who haven’t heard about Formula Zero, don’t worry - we have the Insider’s scoop ready for you.
Founded in 2003, Formula Zero is the world’s first zero-emission race car series, exclusively for hydrogen fuel cell single-seater cars. The 2008 Championship kicked things off recently with a competition between teams of students from 6 universities all over the world. Mike Samaroo from Team Element One was kind enough to send us pictures and updates from the race in August, and of course we’ve got them for you.
Element One, made up of over 50 members from Lawrence Technological University in Michigan, placed first in the design competition back in March to win a race package of an 8 kW Hydrogenics fuel cell module and hydrogen storage. The first actual race of the 2008 season was held August 22nd, in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Although Element One wasn’t able to race that day due to issues with ground clearance, they received an award for “Best Vehicle Design” and made it clear they’d be ready for the next round. You can see their beautiful design in the pictures below. EuplatechH2, the team from Spain, came away with the win, beating the 2nd place team by just .172 seconds. We’ll be watching Element One and the rest of the teams at the next race in March 2009 in South Carolina.
Thanks Mike!
For a few movies from the team, check out their YouTube channel.
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September 19, 2008 @ 1:16 pm
Mike says...
Just to clarify things a little a more for readers, the main reason the Element One team did not race was due to issues with ground clearance.
October 26, 2008 @ 6:06 am
Gilberto says...
Where can you buy hydrogen fuel cell systems to convert your gasoline car to hydrogen? I know they are being manufacture and sold around but I don’t know where to get them. Please also make any reccomendation about which manufacturer is providing the more reliable system
October 27, 2008 @ 12:00 pm
Sandra says...
Gilberto - The so-called water “hydrogen fuel cell” systems that are added on to gas engine cars are not reliable and don’t live up to their claims. Be sure to see Bud DeFlaviis’ blog entry (When a Fuel Cell Isn’t a Fuel Cell) before you consider purchasing one: http://www.fuelcellinsider.org/2008/08/when-a-fuel-cell-isn%e2%80%99t-a-fuel-cell/
December 19, 2008 @ 5:03 pm
Richard P. Horwitz says...
What to do about General Motors?
The answer is Fuel Cell production. It would require Government money to get GM started on the way to producing 21’st century products. Choose a Fuel Cell company that has already provided FC’s for the market on a limited but successful basis, such as Pepperidge Farm bakeries and Walmart, plus a variety of military contracts, and backup for Hospitals and large buildings with elevators.
These FC companies are strong on science & engineering but short of financing, so they live from job to job. Let them get together with GM to start mass production of Fuel Cells for home heating and electricity or power to neighborhood sub-stations. FC’s come in all sizes, from mini for personal electronic equipment to larger industrials. In New York, check the Central Park Police station, their fuel cells have been in operation since the beginning of this century for lighting and communication equipment or NASA, the shuttle and space lab electric and water. (Fuel Cell exhaust is H2O) Many new jobs could be created by combining this relatively new product with GM’s mass production techniques. Later, they could make a superior all electric car, without batteries, as the hydrogen infrastructure becomes a reality.
January 10, 2009 @ 12:22 am
Richard P. Horwitz says...
In the Jan.‘09 FC 2K newsletter under the MISCELLANEOUS heading, “Solvay Takes Stake in ACAL Energy” .
“FlowCath® replaces quantities of expensive precious metal catalyst found in the cathode of conventional fuel cells with a proprietary low cost liquid catalyst. This not only reduces the cost of the fuel cell but also provides significant durability and reliability benefits through system simplification and the elimination of the most common failure mechanisms found in standard fuel cells.”
Though this is taking place in Brussels, Belgium, FC companies in the US will probably license this item and mass production can begin here. It had to happen that the guys in the white lab coats have come through again. No Platinum! Electrical production will no longer be dependant on coal & oil.
January 15, 2009 @ 3:51 pm
Philip A. Block says...
Well said Richard (both comments). The day of the concept of the centrl power plant, oil, gas, coal, nuclear, died with the end of the 20th cnetury. Technology and the spread of cities in the U.S. spelled the death of that concept. Now, with the Fuel Cell, electric power and heat can be generated on site. No more inefficient central power plants, no more huge xmissions line and sub-stations occupying thousand of acres of land, no more waste nuclear material to be transported and stored in the 90 billion dollar hole at Yucca Mt. and, much reduced power failures. Now, all that is needed is to educated the 20th century minds of the power industry and bring them into the 21st century and, have the guts to do something different.