Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Like the old PNGV program, Freedom CAR will be a public-
private partnership, combining DOE's National Labs with industry and
innovations at the nation's universities.
The transition to hydrogen-powered vehicles is an important step
the nation can take towards preserving American transportation freedoms
and strengthening U.S. energy security.
The U.S. Council for Automotive Research recognizes that altering
the overall U.S. petroleum consumption pattern will require a multi-tiered
approach, including policy and research programs. The transportation
sector has a significant role to play in addressing the challenge and success
from FreedomCAR research initiatives will contribute to broader national
goals and objectives.
DaimlerChrysler, Ford, and General Motors are the primary
members along with the DOE. FreedomCAR focuses on jointly developing
technologies important to the automotive industry such as fuel cells and
hydrogen from domestic renewable sources. The transition of vehicles
from gasoline to hydrogen is viewed as critical both to reducing carbon
dioxide emissions and to reducing the U.S. reliance on foreign oil. It
will strive to develop technologies that allow the mass production of
affordable hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles and the hydrogen-supply
infrastructure to support them. Freedom CAR also supports petroleum-
dependent technologies that have the potential to reduce oil consumption
and environmental impacts.
In a hydrogen internal combustion engine, you can decrease the
timing to near top dead center since hydrogen burns quicker. Adjusting
the intake pressure and the fuel/air ratio can provide an engine with
15% more HP and 30% more fuel efficiency since hydrogen has triple the
energy by weight of that of gasoline and twice that of propane. Engine
life may be extended 3-4 times that of a gasoline engine since there are no
carbon deposits.
AUTO INDUSTRY PROGRESS
GM has been using its electric vehicle (EV1) as the base for its next
generation of hybrid and fuel cell cars, while Ford has been working on
the P2000 lightweight sedan as a development vehicle. It uses Ford's
aluminum 1.2 liter direct-injection DIATA engine and achieves 63 miles
per gallon. The hybrid model has an even higher mileage.
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