Tuesday, November 6, 2007

The Electric Car Vs. Hydrogen Fuel Cells

The Sexy Tesla Roadster - it's electric baby

I'll keep it simple. Here are the basic facts

Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Emissions = water vapor (much cleaner than gasoline, but still a greenhouse gas)

Few moving parts -almost no maintenance

More reliable and efficient than combustion

H produced by steam reforming natural gas
This is cleaner, but more costly than gas
and is not the most environmentally friendly process

300 miles on a single charge

Can fill up at any station, when/if
they build the costly infrastructure

5 min. to refill

Reduces our dependence on foreign oil

I Didn't find data on performance

25% power grid to motor efficiency

Does not operate well in the cold

More expensive than gasoline

Technology is progressing

Current cost of production per vehicle:
$1,000,000
Estimated to be 20 years
until it's a feasible alternative to gasoline


Electric Car


No Emissions

Few moving parts -almost no maintenance
more reliable and efficient than combustion

Power plants (production of electricity is
cheaper and more efficient than gas
and H fuel cells and 100% clean
if electricity is produced by solar,
wind, hydro-electric power, etc...

Modern e-cars go 250 miles on a charge,
New auxiliary motor technology increases range to 600 miles

Can be plugged in at home - no trip to gas
stations station necessary!
Could build less costly refilling stations

5-7 hours to recharge
(5 seconds to plug in, leave overnight)

Reduces our dependence on foreign oil

0-60 mph in 4 seconds (Tesla
Roadster)

86% grid to motor efficiency
for production

Operates in all conditions

cheaper than gas - 2 cents per mile

Technology is progressing rapidly

An economy sedan
Can be built and sold at a profit for
$25,000 right now.



Sources:
Who Killed the Electric Car? - A documentary you must see. (Available at Netflix)
Electric car vs. Hydrogen
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles
Wikipedia - Hydrogen Fuel Cars
Wikipedia - Electric Cars
Plug In America

2 comments:

Stanislav said...

Actually, water vapor produced by using fuel cells does not affect global warming, because steam concentration always directly connected with saturation vapor pressure. Water vapor surplus in the atmosphere is condensed in any case.

New York City said...

Thank you for that information Stanislav.