Popular Mechanics drives the Ford HySeries plug-in Edge - with Video
Popular Mechanics finds a new use for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles: Facials. Yes, the steamy exhaust makes for a pore-opening experience like none other. Besides that, they also find that the vehicle works like most any other, when driving at least. However, the mechanicals of the vehicle are rather special, as our very own Sam reported on himself when he got an early look at the vehicle. The on-board hydrogen tank holds ten pounds of the compressed gas, according to the video, and the fuel cell is capable of charging the lithium ion batteries. Alternatively, the vehicle's 336-volt battery pack can be recharged by plugging into a standard outlet. Click here for the complete article from Popular Mechanics. Thanks for the tip, Matt!
Related:
- USA Today test drives the Ford HySeries Edge
- AutoblogGreen Drives the HySeries Ford Edge and fuel cell Explorer
[Source: Popular Mechanics]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Damian 10:20AM (4/04/2007)
I want one! Anyways, I never drive over 85mph
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Schmeltz 1:43PM (4/04/2007)
I like the look of it too. It seems like a good start. Now Ford, GM, Honda, and others seriously working on FCV's should also look into finding inexpensive and easy ways to make Hydrogen. Honda has a good idea with the Home Energy Station. Do it green, though, i.e. Solar or Wind. This will probably wind up the Hydrogen Haters out there, but I think the more people there are thinking about this and working on it, the more of a chance we'll have a breakthrough.
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Peter 2:52PM (4/04/2007)
Here's the problem:
You need electricity to produce the hydrogen. You need high powered batteries to get plug in capability and regenerative braking.
So I've got to ask: why don't you just use the electricity to charge the batteries?
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Paul Scott 11:04PM (4/04/2007)
This concept is a sad joke. Two million dollars when all that's needed is a small flex-fuel engine to generate power to charge the batts and drive the motor, much like GM's Chevy Volt. Battery EVs have been working without the need for expensive and energy wasting H2 for years. The "serial" plug-in hybrid concept is the most intelligent approach to long distance needs. Anything less than 200 miles per day will be done with a pure battery EV. It's time for Ford, et al, to stop wasting time with these fuel cells and get battery cars and trucks on the road now.
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Murc 11:56PM (4/04/2007)
not bad...but out of curiousity.....What would happen to that compressed hydrogen it the tank got punctured in a crash??? I'm sure its strong, and it is in the middle of the vehicles...all good things...but IF it is punctured...would it take off like a torpedo?
I'm iffy on hydrogen. I relize flex fuel (E-85) and whatnot, is a interum tech, used to fill the gap between the ol' combustion engine, and some future tech...but I'm just not sold on H2...being it.
Dont get me wrong...its better then oil (cause we make it ourselfs...not give our money to enemy countries to obtain it)...so that is good and all, but it almost seems like this is another interum step until we go to fully electric...and if thats the case...why not just stop all the R&D going on with this, and focus all your R&D on the ONLY thing holding EV's back.......Battery tech.
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Chris M 12:23AM (4/05/2007)
Good point, Peter, but the Ford HySeries Edge does plug into an electric outlet to charge its batteries. The design is meant to do most of the general everyday driving on far cheaper electric power only, the H2 fuel cell is only used as a "range extender" on those rare long trips.
Of course, the H2 tank and fuel cell is a rather bulky and expensive way to make a range extender.
Interesting thought - If most of the driving will be done on much cheaper electricity, then H2 sales may not be enough to keep H2 filling stations open. What then? Will the government try to prop up the H2 hype by subsidizing it? They are certainly subsidizing it now.
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Chris M 12:30AM (4/05/2007)
Murc - The proposed H2 pressure tanks would be either 5,000 psi or 10,000 psi, and yes, any rupture would be highly damaging and dangerous.
"Torpedo" isn't quite the right word, a ruptured tank would move much faster!
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Tim 10:00AM (4/05/2007)
Chris M- "the government" doesn't subsidize anything! We are FORCED to “donate” OUR tax money (labor) at gunpoint. This is the correct paradigm.
You are correct in that there will be much more H2 pork in the future. Trillions more will be wasted building another unneeded H2 infrastructure when we ALREADY have inexpensive electrons delivered right to our homes.
Just how much debt can the US taxpayer pay interest on? Interest payments to the privately owned (un)Federal (no)Reserve Bank are already sucking up all of the income tax. H2 is a Red Herring! Follow the money!
“Why Americans are so Angry” speech on the floor of the US House by Rep. and 2008 presidential candidate Dr. Ron Paul. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2075686410728803039&q=ron+paul+duration%3Along WOW!!!!
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Marco Ramos 8:15PM (4/30/2007)
I agree that this is a bit of a sad joke. With so much science and economics backing the logic of plug-in hybrids (at least as a bridge technology), why the love for H2? It makes me wonder if if it's a green herring of sorts. Aside from selling a car, how else is Ford economically tied to the success of H2 and its infrastructure? Facial, indeed!
Marco
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