May 6, 2009 -- In what may be the ultimate bid for clean energy, a NASA-backed group is designing a wind- and sun-powered fueling system for city buses -- and possibly other machines -- that run on hydrogen. The demonstration is intended to not only showcase a fuel with zero carbon emissions, but to produce the hydrogen in similar fashion. The project, spearheaded by NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, would use power produced by a windmill and solar energy cells to run a machine called an electrolyzer that splits water molecules into its base elements of hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen, in turn, would be used as fuel for specially-equipped buses. "What we're proposing is to give a full-scale demonstration of taking renewable energy off of a wind machine or photovoltaic grid, using that energy to power a water electrolyzer to break down water into hydrogen and oxygen and then use that hydrogen as a fuel in a fuel cell-powered vehicle," Paul Prokopius, an energy consultant and retired NASA fuel cell researcher, told Discovery News. Related Content:
Prokopius is working with 13 agencies and businesses to parlay $310,000 in seed money into state and federal economic stimulus grants to cover the project's $6 million to $10 million cost. The group hopes to have the system in place by next May when a prototype hydrogen fuel cell bus, built by United Technologies, is scheduled to become available for demonstration projects. "We promised them we would have a hydrogen station for them to use to run that bus," Prokopius said. "It's going to be a full-size transit bus that will operate just like the rest of the regional transit agency's buses in the city." The only visible difference between the hydrogen-powered bus and those running on gasoline is a little bit of water coming out of the tailpipe. Get More NewsSpiders, Scorpions Among World's Oldest CreaturesMany creepy crawlies have been on Earth much longer than previously believed.Blood-Sucking Vampire Bats Sing DuetsWhite-winged vampire bats "harmonize" with separated roost mates.Oldest Hebrew Writing Possibly FoundAncient inscriptions on a 3,000-year-old pottery shard could make history.Rare, Prehistoric-Age Reptile Found in N.Z.A tuatara has been spotted on the New Zealand mainland for the first time in 200 years.Iceman Has No Living RelativesOetzi, the 5,300 year-old frozen mummy, left no living genetic legacy.SLIDE SHOW: Landscapes of TerrorWhat makes a place feel scary? There are scientific explanations.It's Official: People Are Warming the PolesHumans are conclusively to blame for polar warming, say scientists.Eight-Armed Animal Preceded DinosaursWhat may be one of Earth's first animals was no bigger than a coaster and had eight arms.Phoenicians Live on in People's GenesOne in 17 Mediterranean men may be descended from ancient Phoenicians.Pesticides, Fertilizers Linked to Frog DeclineA pesticide is found to promote parasites among amphibians.Hubble Telescope Taking Photos AgainThe Hubble Space Telescope is once again snapping stunning photos of the universe.Andean Mummy Hairs Show Hallucinogen UseScientists find direct evidence of hallucinogenic drug use among ancient Andeans.Opals on Mars Reveal Planet's Long Wet PastOpals found on Mars suggest the planet has been wet for much longer. |
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