Guest blogger
Three lower-carbon technologies are competing to replace internal combustion engine vehicles. Derek Charters, Technical Manager at MIRA, takes a look at their advantanges and disadvantages
There is a growing sense of urgency in the automotive industry that more should be done to reduce dependency on fossil fuels and CO2 emissions. OEMs are continually channelling more resources into developing the next generation of low carbon vehicles, aimed at addressing the issues of CO2 emissions, the soaring cost of fossil fuels and fuel source security.
Currently there are four main approaches to powering vehicles that are leading the change; electric, biofuels (e.g. ethanol), alternative fuels (e.g. hydrogen) and fossil fuels (e.g. diesel), or some combination of these. All of these fuel types are capable of changing our approach to the technological aspects of vehicle powertrain, and there are both positive and negative aspects. The question is… which solution do we think will prevail?
Electrically powered vehicles produce less emissions and environmental pollutants at the point of use, however issues start to arise when we take into account how we go about generating the significant amounts of electricity required to power such vehicles. Part of the solution of course is to make full electric cars smaller and use them within the urban environment, which constitute the majority of journeys. For longer journeys the current approach to address range anxiety issues is hybridisation. Nevertheless, unless sustainable and renewable energy sources are utilised, many feel electric vehicles may struggle to make a real impact on the well-to-wheel CO2 emissions.
Biofuels are another viable fuel source that is becoming more widespread around the world. One example of this is the generation of fuel from crops in an environmentally friendly manner. Biofuel creation is becoming increasingly important for addressing sustainability issues within the automotive industry; however there is also a belief shared by some visionaries that it may be pragmatic to burn biofuels in an efficient way using a gasification unit to power an internal combustion engine.
Utilising hydrogen as a fuel source for vehicles is a solution that has received a lot of investment and media coverage in recent years. As both an additive for co-combustion and an energy source for generating electricity in conjunction with hydrogen fuel cells, which only results in the emission of water and no CO2; at the tailpipe. Big strides have been made with hydrogen fuels cells for automotive applications but more needs to be done regarding the fuel cells and technologies for storing and distributing the hydrogen in ways that can be scaled up across our transport system. MIRA is currently researching the storage of hydrogen through the use of ammonia borane, a compound that enables the generation of hydrogen from a solid precursor that can be easily stored and distributed.
Despite the obvious issues of CO2 emissions and the negative effects this can bring, fossil fuels are of course the most common source of energy used in powering our vehicles. Unfortunately there is only a finite amount of this precious resource available and fuel source security is also a real concern, given the potentially volatile political landscapes of some of the world’s larger oil exporters. Estimates from some organisations suggest that the world’s oil reserves will run dry in the next fifty years, with natural gas supplies only surpassing this by a further twenty years. By hybridising larger vehicles, reducing the size of internal combustion engines and augmenting the power requirement of the vehicles by providing short bursts of electrical energy, engineers are helping to extend the lifespan of fossil fuels. Engineers are also looking at ways of super-boosting the engines of smaller vehicles over short periods of time in order to achieve greater overall efficiency.
With the different fuel technologies presenting clear benefits to their use, it’s becoming clear that not one solution will win in the medium term. This is why engineering and technology organisations such as MIRA are looking into maximising the benefits of a range of solutions.
There is a pressing need for experts in the industry to find new solutions that will enable us to continue our mobility, and now is the time for automotive technology providers to innovate with all the different energy solutions and get the new technologies into production quickly. The consequence of this pressure has meant that a large amount of investment is required in order to enable technology providers to bridge the so called ‘Valley of Death’ – the large gulf that exists between the R&D stage and productionisation. Fortunately companies and Government are working together more than ever in order to address this challenge. For example The Proving Factory – a £21.8m automotive manufacturing initiative recently announced by business secretary Vince Cable – is just one major initiative helping to address this issue.
In the end the technology developers who are able to produce the most cost effective and appealing solutions that meet the needs of the consumer, will prove to be the real winners!
We had the solution in the 1960’s through the Sun City project in the USA which modified combustion engine in cars to run on dual fuel using petrol and hydrogen as fuel. From memory the Hydrogen was stored as a hydride with an equilibrium partial pressure of hydrogen in the tank between the atmosphere above the tank and stored as hydride. As hydrogen was pumped into the tank it is stored as hydride and as it is pumped to the engine hydrogen is liberated from the hydride to maintain an equilibrium pressure.
The Hydrogen tank could be filled in 3 ways:-
1) At home by plugging the car into the mains and electrolysing water in the cars water tank and pumping the hydrogen liberated into the cars hydrogen tank.
2) At road side coffee houses by plugging the car into the mains whilst having a break from driving.
3) Filling stations with gas pumped in.
The cars had a 250 mile radius on hydrogen with a petrol tank as back up if needed. The Sun City project envisaged cars being plugged in and recharged on off peak ‘Economy 7’ style tariffs.
The benefits listed were eliminating lead in petrol, eliminating carcinogens in exhaust emissions and keeping oil as a natural resource.
The Sun City project also used Hydrogen liberated locally by electrolysis as needed to provide Gas heating and cooking.
The Sun City project in the USA during the 1960’s was to evaluate life with Nuclear Fusion – Names the Sun City project as Nuclear Fusion is the reaction powering the sun.
In the 1960’s Acid Rain and Global Warming were not known about BUT the deaths in mining and debilitation lung conditions and white finger conditions were known about and seen as saving miners lives – It would also have saved the planet from global warming and acid rain!!!
I became a ‘Green’ in 3 stages dedicated to my keeping the planet as we find it or better for succeeding generations. A ‘Green’ dedicated to Nuclear Power with Nuclear Fission the stepping stone to Nuclear Fusion – Views formed in 1968 at age of 14 as a result of the ‘Sun City’ project. Views reinforced at University in 1971/72 as an extraction Metallurgy student because I learnt that:-
1) Coal and Oil were too valuable a natural resource to burn as fuel or in the internal combustion engine AND that gas was to valuable and convenient as a home heating and cooking fuel to waste in power generation!
And;
2) That we are stewards of our environment and that in making our lives useful and the lot of human kind better we must not pollute or destroy the environment/planet!
Obviously discovering acid rain and global warming have added to those views and why I am passionately in favour of Nuclear power supported by tidal/wave power driving a hydrogen economy with off peak electricity used to generate hydrogen to use for heating, cooking and powering motor vehicles via either the hydrogen fuelled internal combustion engine or hydrogen fuel cells.
Gasoline will win. Always has before, always will in the future
I think the future lies with trifuel cars that can run on ethanol, methanol as well as gasoline along with cars that can also run on natural gas.
Here is the truth on the “Hydrogen Economy”:
“… hydrogen cars would be available ‘not in our lifetime, and very possibly never.’” Dr. Joseph Romm, former DOE official in charge of fuel cell development.
“Hydrogen is just about the worst possible vehicle fuel.” Economist (magazine), July, 2008
I wouldn’t get over-excited about it.
When the implications of the IPCC AR5 fiasco sink in, much of the urgency to reduce dependence on fossil fuels will vanish like the early morning mist.
This Hyundai looks exactly like the one that was being driven around the Isle of Wight by Dave Green the CEO of Eco-Island , who was yesterday arrested on fraud charges and bailed until December
Fission then fusion energy produced energy producing hydrogen from water then used to power ic/fuel cells for single/hybrid power units.
Hydrogen storage volumw needs to be be the main thrust of research.
TINA
The important takeaway here is that we should have choice. Americans should be able to choose whether they fuel their vehicle with gasoline, ethanol, methanol, natural gas, or whether they want to drive an electric vehicle. Introducing replacement fuels will increase competition and drive down prices overall at the pump!
We could go back to the days of the multi fuel turbine engine. It could use any type of fuel & be very efficient. Combined with an electric motor & generator system; I think this is the best solution at the moment.
I just don’t get that how come people don’t see that electric cars are the future. Look at tesla model s. It’s only second model of tesla motors. Last month it was the best selling car in norway. Maintenance free, no pollution, cheap to run, much faster than many many road cars etc etc. they will develop battery technology and electric technology year by year. I believe they will produce cars for all ranges in 5 years and in 15 years tesla motors will be the biggest carmaker in the world if conventional carmaker keep sleeping about electric cars.
External combustion engines can cleanly burn almost anything that can be delivered to the burner. See the web site http://www.newsteamengine.com for a discussion of an external combustion engine that is very efficient – especially at part load – and compact.
Which fuel will win??? simple, the one with the most profit in it for the suppliers, commerce rules and money always wins.
One technology overlooked is steam and this can be generated easily with water hammer pumps. Tiny units can be made to raise steam on demand and this can be used in many ways.
Pistons and cylinders as old steam trains, high torque and conventional drive systems.
Turbines, particularly multi stage units offer great potential for lower torque and higher power for speed.
Plus any other number of alternatives.
Supporters of electric cars overlook one essential fact – The cost of the batteries means they will be a high value target for thieves with a ready ‘down the pub’ market for cheap ‘knock off’ batteries!!!!!
I mention this because I was a Special Constable in the West Midlands Police force from 1978 to 1987. When I lived in Coventry I whiled away many a dark night on observation for thieves stealing batteries from the new vehicle storage compounds on my sub-division for vehicles made in Coventry as well as coach companies.
Car, Commercial Vehicle and Tractor batteries being stolen with coach and tractor batteries having the highest ‘sale’value and seemingly stolen to order.
Batteries for electric cars will have a limited life compared to vehicle life meaning several replacements are required during a vehicles life. They will also be a much higher value than the battery in a non-electric car an will create a quick turnround, high value market for thieves once electric cars are established because many people struggling financially will be tempted by ‘80%’ off ‘no questions asked’ offers made on ‘nearly new second hand’ car batteries.
Julian:
This is the benefit of steam generated by hydrasonic pumps, you only need a small motor to power the drive pump initially to generate a small quantity of steam. Once this is generated (in about 3 seconds) you have enough to turn the turbine which in turn can drive the pump so continue delivering steam on demand.
Electric generation would mean an electric car driven with a motor in each wheel unit (instant 4 wheel drive) and only a conventional battery as current card have.
Lighter weight as the heavy battery packs are removed, no battery packs to steal, and you still have electric cars with unlimited range. You just generate steam on demand; with a closed loop circuit the only fuel you need are water and an initial charge of battery power.
Your article and comment all assume two things:
1, There will be a winner and we will continue to be able to have as many cars as we desire with them continuing to be the transport of choice.
2, We will continue to travel as much as we currently do in the future.
These two assumptions may well be right but by questioning them we could get some more inventive and interesting solutions which may well involve other aspects of our society in the solution. At what point will it become unussual to commute more than 5 miles to work rather than work from a local office for example?
I hope will prevail all-electric cars.
http://www.alke.com/electric-vehicles/electric-van.html
Why are electric cars not seen as the future for electricity energy storage. The electric car would be operating as a battery when parked and connected. A smart electricity system would take a percentage of power from car battery at peak loads and charge on low demand. Just look along the area where you live most vehicles are parked up for most of the time. Potential mass power storage.
electric will be the norm with support from turbines like the ” bladon ” with multy fuels use especially vegy oils and instantaneous generation/burn of hydrogen and oxygen .
The government, oil, and union cartel, protecting the revenue from millions of employees is the only reason we have not dumped the archaic ICE and switched to electric motors. Should have happened 40 years ago. Electric motors are by far the most efficient and cheapest method to convert energy to directly power the wheels. The big scientific challenge is to find the best electricity source. Elon Musk is way ahead of the curve using the batteries. He has solved all driveline problems. My bet is that there will be a disruptive technological to produce the source electricity. Perhaps small nuclear fission units or a breakthough “battery” such as capacitive storage. Moores Law is working on our side here!
Exiting times we live in.
I cannot see battery driven vehicles becoming the norm. The materials batteries are constructed from are usually highly toxic, and both extracting them from the earth and processing them are particularly dirty.
I do not understand the concept of a steam driven vehicle noted by Mr. Martin, as one is merely exchanging the prime-mover. Where is the energy going to come from to raise the steam in the first place and how is it going to be stored: we’re back to batteries or combustible fuels.
In my opinion I expect a hybrid arrangement to win out eventually. An all electric drive train, powered by an onboard generator with minimal battery buffer. The ultimate fuel source would be a synthetic alcohol, perhaps using CO2 from the atmosphere as one of the source feedstocks. We’d achieve a near carbon neutral system, a step improvement in efficiency and re-use of the existing fuel distribution network.
Super capacitor electric cars will prevail. Very quick/instant charging, high energy density, reliable, safe and can absorb all energy from braking
@ Nath I think S Martin is talking about the ‘Griggs shockwave power generator’ (pat No 5,188,090 ) – claims 70% more energy out than put in !!!
No comment !!!
check out this company: e2Amm in Lubbock, TX. They propose yet another possibility few have considered, and it is highly efficient and workable. Ammonia is offered as a “new” fuel in special high compression linear engines (that generate electricity). The ammonia is made from electrolysis to hydrogen, air separation, and a modified Haber process reactor with energy recovery.
Bottom line is that ammonia can even be used in conventional engines in a blend with gasoline or diesel, as long as metallurgical requirement for fuel pumps, tanks, fuel lines, and carbureator parts are met. Ammonia has a quite high octane rating, but does not burn well when excessively lean combustion is sought. The new linear engine takes care of that.