Other Green Hybrid EV Configurations Using Existing and Developing Technologies
A hybrid electric vehicle, using its technical definition, is a vehicle that uses a traditional internal combustion engine in tandem with an electric propulsion system. The configuration of such EV’s are widely considered a “technological bridge” that attempts to shorten the economic gap between the two technologies.
But a hybrid vehicle, by its broader definition, is simply a vehicle that uses two or more sources of power. Rather than relying on one mainstream and one alternative source, wouldn’t such vehicles be greener if we use two alternative sources instead? Let’s take a peek at some of the possible hybrid electric vehicle configurations using this principle.
Biofuel / Hydrogen Fuel Cell Hybrid
Combustive chemical reactions dominate the entire work cycle of almost all kinds of car engines. For a majority of biofuels, the chemical reactions often involve the breakdown and reformation of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen molecules. What if we could efficiently extract hydrogen from the by-products of these reactions? We could then theoretically use it to charge up a fuel cell for additional power.
While this may not be what InnovaTek had in mind, the minute possibility for such greener hybrid electric vehicle is presented in their micro-channel reactor. It was originally designed to extract hydrogen from the biofuels themselves, but it might just be possible to tweak the technology a bit to make it more efficient. The two carbon dioxide and three water molecule by-product of ethanol combustion for example, could probably be used to extract the needed hydrogen for the fuel cell.
Hydrogen Fuel cell / Rechargeable Battery Hybrid
Hydrogen fuel cells and batteries share one common characteristic: both energy sources produce electric energy. A battery uses stored chemical energy, while a fuel cell uses the energy producing properties of an oxidizing agent.
Either way, due to their similar “electrochemical” nature, utilizing both of these technologies in a single vehicle would be relatively and conceptually easy. The principle is rather simple, as the energy sources would simply complement each other using both of their specialties. A good example of an existing fuel cell / battery hybrid electric vehicle is the experimental prototype Honda FCX (see featured image).
But a hybrid vehicle, by its broader definition, is simply a vehicle that uses two or more sources of power. Rather than relying on one mainstream and one alternative source, wouldn’t such vehicles be greener if we use two alternative sources instead? Let’s take a peek at some of the possible hybrid electric vehicle configurations using this principle.
Biofuel / Hydrogen Fuel Cell Hybrid
Combustive chemical reactions dominate the entire work cycle of almost all kinds of car engines. For a majority of biofuels, the chemical reactions often involve the breakdown and reformation of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen molecules. What if we could efficiently extract hydrogen from the by-products of these reactions? We could then theoretically use it to charge up a fuel cell for additional power.
While this may not be what InnovaTek had in mind, the minute possibility for such greener hybrid electric vehicle is presented in their micro-channel reactor. It was originally designed to extract hydrogen from the biofuels themselves, but it might just be possible to tweak the technology a bit to make it more efficient. The two carbon dioxide and three water molecule by-product of ethanol combustion for example, could probably be used to extract the needed hydrogen for the fuel cell.
Hydrogen Fuel cell / Rechargeable Battery Hybrid
Hydrogen fuel cells and batteries share one common characteristic: both energy sources produce electric energy. A battery uses stored chemical energy, while a fuel cell uses the energy producing properties of an oxidizing agent.
Either way, due to their similar “electrochemical” nature, utilizing both of these technologies in a single vehicle would be relatively and conceptually easy. The principle is rather simple, as the energy sources would simply complement each other using both of their specialties. A good example of an existing fuel cell / battery hybrid electric vehicle is the experimental prototype Honda FCX (see featured image).
Supercapacitor / Lithium-ion Battery Hybrid
Lithium-ion batteries have high energy densities, but have limited charge cycles and suffer from efficiency degradation over time. Current supercapacitors can charge very, very quickly and can last for millions of charge cycles, but can only last for a shorter amount of time per charge. If we combine these two technologies, would we be able to somehow negate their respective weaknesses?
It is possible at a certain degree, at least in concept. We could combine the near-infinite usage potential of supercapacitors to the longevity-per-charge efficiency of lithium-ion batteries. And since both technologies can be used to power vehicles, the eventual development of a lithium ion/supercapacitor hybrid electric vehicle should also be conceivable. Instead of providing an added push for existing battery technologies though, this configuration would probably be considered a stepping stone for the development of future ultracapacitor vehicles.
Cost is another very important issue to be discussed in any developing technology. A developing technology would always have to battle against the default economic advantage of other existing technologies. So aside from efficiency rates, these hybrid electric vehicle configurations should also have the economic feasibility before they could be developed further.
It is possible at a certain degree, at least in concept. We could combine the near-infinite usage potential of supercapacitors to the longevity-per-charge efficiency of lithium-ion batteries. And since both technologies can be used to power vehicles, the eventual development of a lithium ion/supercapacitor hybrid electric vehicle should also be conceivable. Instead of providing an added push for existing battery technologies though, this configuration would probably be considered a stepping stone for the development of future ultracapacitor vehicles.
Cost is another very important issue to be discussed in any developing technology. A developing technology would always have to battle against the default economic advantage of other existing technologies. So aside from efficiency rates, these hybrid electric vehicle configurations should also have the economic feasibility before they could be developed further.
Source : theenvironmentalblog
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