Yamaha’s latest hydrogen engine paves the way for new breed of bikes

[MCN]

Yamaha have unveiled a V8 hydrogen powered car engine that sets the stage for a two-wheeled version. The prototype is based on the 5-litre engine from the Lexus RC F with Yamaha modifying the...

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[RhinoOK]

I don't understand the pursuit of hydrogen power. There is no hydrogen on earth. It first has to be extracted from other compounds, mostly from water. That process takes more power then you get out of it.

 

[idk]

Yes, but you don't have to pollute the world with battery production and electricity production, and electricity transport, etc

 

[RhinoOK]

Yes, but you don't have to pollute the world with battery production and electricity production, and electricity transport, etc

That is exactly my point. To get hydrogen you have to produce a LOT of electricity. More than the energy you get from the hydrogen.

 

[atomsplitter]

Actually hydrogen can be a byproduct of different processes that produce industrial chemicals. For example if you want to make chlorine gas for treating water you start with a brine solution (NaCl + H2O) and then dissociate it with an electric current. The result is chlorine gas (Cl), sodium hydroxide (NaOH), and hydrogen gas (H). You have three useful chemicals that can be sold at profit with one process. Hydrogen is a plentiful gas that is far easier to obtain than a gas like helium.

 

[Kojack1970]

I don't understand the pursuit of hydrogen power. There is no hydrogen on earth. It first has to be extracted from other compounds, mostly from water. That process takes more power then you get out of it.

Well, electric is not the long-term answer. Electric cars actually have an equal or greater environmental impact than internal combustion. The rare metals for batteries a hard to obtain and require invasive mining which is always destructive and toxic to the local environment. We don't have a efficient way currently to recover/recycle those metals from existing batteries, even if those metals can be reused is up for debate.

 

[RhinoOK]

Actually hydrogen can be a byproduct of different processes that produce industrial chemicals. For example if you want to make chlorine gas for treating water you start with a brine solution (NaCl + H2O) and then dissociate it with an electric current. The result is chlorine gas (Cl), sodium hydroxide (NaOH), and hydrogen gas (H). You have three useful chemicals that can be sold at profit with one process. Hydrogen is a plentiful gas that is far easier to obtain than a gas like helium.

True there are lots of ways to extract hydrogen from other compounds such as the process you describe. The energy required to "dissociate it with an electric current" is just like water electrolysis and requires more energy then you get out. There are other processes such as using a catalyst with methane but require production of methane and the catalyst. The problem is that "hydrogen gas" in NOT abundant. It is VERY rare because of the fact that hydrogen and oxygen combine so easily and form an extremely tight bond. Hydrogen can certainly be a conveyance of energy but not a source.

 

[RevRoss]

Pointing out the obvious here PPL - energy "production" will always be less than 100% efficiency - it's no surprise you can't get out what you put in...
Seriously - I'm waiting for a fusion powered bike engine - now that would be COOL.

 

[atomsplitter]

There's a government study available that looks at the cost of commercial production of hydrogen from renewable and feedstock sources: https://www.hydrogen.energy.gov/pdfs/20004-cost-electrolytic-hydrogen-production.pdf

The upshot is about $4 to $6 per kg to produce hydrogen. If it was capable of getting a vehicle 50 miles per kg that could be cost competitive with fossil fuel and less damage to the environment.