GM pushing nuclear power to produce hydrogen
GM says nuclear power can generate the electricity needed to produce large amounts of pure hydrogen for fuel cell vehicles.
According to an article titled "Live Green, Go Nuclear" in Wards Auto, GM treated journalists to a tour of nuclear power advancements at the Idaho National Laboratory. For those who can't access the article because a subscription is required, check out the great excerpt posted on the SEMA eNews page.
Basically, nuclear reactor designs have improved over the years and now incorporate more safety features. Best news, a small uranium pellet yields the same energy as 149 gallons of oil and it's emission free. More specific, a pound of nuclear fuel could make enough electricity to produce the hydrogen equivalent of 250,000 gallons of gasoline through hydrolysis.
The public's negative perception of nuclear power, of course, is the drawback. But 20 percent of the electricity produced in America is created with nuclear energy. Hopefully more efforts like those from GM and INL will help change attitudes here and the hydrogen economy can grow.
[Source: SEMA eNews]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Howard Lee Harkness 4:29PM (8/31/2006)
Almost any source of power used to manufacture hydrogen would be much better utilized to directly power whatever it is that you would want to run off of hydrogen.
It would be FAR better simply to supply that electricity directly to customers to recharge batteries or supercaps to run the cars. Similar or better range at a fraction of the cost. Safer, too.
Use of hydrogen to power automobiles is insanely stupid.
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loikll 5:58PM (8/31/2006)
Howard, show me a useable electric car that can be completely recharged in 5 minutes at the next service station you come across, and someone might care. Until then, they won't. Seriously, you solve that problem and we're talking business.
Anyway, news like this makes me ask, what exactly is GM getting out of promoting this nuclear tour? GM isn't interested in saving the world; GM is interested in saving itself, and someday making money again.
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Rick 10:47PM (8/31/2006)
I think it's a great idea, but location of the plants would be critical. Some stable unpopulated area, like... Texas
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