Re:Toyota believes hydrogen fuel cells are the future
by _ph_ on Saturday December 14, 2019 @06:53PM
(#21793281)
If you look at the range of Teslas, it is close to the one of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. The problem is, that hydrogen pressure tanks are large. Compare a Mirai to a Tesla Model 3. Even the recharging of the Tesla is close to the speed of hydrogen stations. (The refueling with hydrogen is faster, but then there are about 15 minutes in which the fuel pump has to repressure itself)
Re:Toyota believes hydrogen fuel cells are the future
by hutzlibu on Saturday December 14, 2019 @06:58PM
(#21793302)
I am not saying the concept is superior right now. I am saying it is worth thinking about. And when you have the fuel cell only as addition, maybe you don't need the big pressurised tanks.
Maybe a small methan tank.
Maybe even then it is still not worth it regarding the extra weight and cost. I don't know. But I do know that the involved technologies are advancing and combining things makes sometimes sense.
edit: and the market is big. there are also people living in remote areas who sometimes want and need range extension in which case they could pack in some extra tanks.
Because I think that concept already exists as prototypes.
A small fuel cell for example can serve as a range extender.
So for short drives you charge and use the batterie (cheap energywise). For long ranges the fuel cell adds power to charge the batterie. Methan or hydrogen is fast refueld and has a much bigger energy storage capacity compared to batteries.