Beyond Gasoline: Concept Cars

Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV)

EV

Electric Cars have not been successful.Large heavy batteriesShort driving rangeSlow refueling (recharging) process.

GM EV-1

Produced by GM from 1996-199.

Tesla

Tesla Roadster may represent a new direction.Uses new lighter batteries.Expensive.

GM Volt

Li-Ion batteries and a gasoline engine. The gasoline engine will run a

generator to recharge the batteries, but will not directly power the vehicle. (no gasoline motor)

Fuel Cell Vehicles

Internal Combustion Engine

Engine – 20% efficient

Only 20% of gasoline energy is converted to motion.

Fuel Cells and the Hydrogen Economy

Fuels Cells use hydrogen to produce electrical energy. They do not burn hydrogen.

2H2 +O2 2H2O + energy

Fuel cells could be used to power cars with hydrogen as the fuel.

Clean fuel

                                                                                                     

Barriers to Hydrogen Cars

Still in development

Expensive On-vehicle

storage of hydrogen fuel

Availability of hydrogen fuel

Infrastructure

Fuel Cells

In development stage.

Currently very expensive.

Are not a source of energy.

Hydrogen must be supplied.

FuelCell Energy

Based in Danbury Produces Direct

Fuel Cells Stationary not

mobile Distributed

Generation

Eastern is considering a 1 MW unit similar to this.

UTC Power

Based in Hartford Produces Fuel

Cells Both Stationary

and mobile Car engines are

very expensive

Connecticut Global Fuel Cell Center

Engineering research center at UConn

Hydrogen Sources

Steam reforming of natural gas:

CH4 +2H2O CO2 + 4H2

Electrolysis:

2H2O + energy 2H2 + O2

Energy Source for Electrolyzer

Electrolysis requires energy.

Energy could come from Solar, Nuclear, or Wind.

In the short term, it would probably come from coal.

Vehicle Carbon Emission(grams per mile)

Fuel Cell with electricity from coal 440

Conventional with gasoline 370

Conventional with natural gas 310

Hybrid with gasoline 190

Hybrid with natural gas 170

Fuel Cell with hydrogen from reforming 140