5 ms·
High temperature isn't a problem for cars. It's simple enough to have a small fuel cell which can be heated up quickly, which in turn can provide the energy r
by londons_explore 3y ago
High temperature isn't a problem for cars. It's simple enough to have a small fuel cell which can be heated up quickly, which in turn can provide the energy required to heat up a larger cell if needed. A small battery can drive you a few miles while that process is happening. The small fuel cell could then recharge the battery while parked if most journeys are only a couple of miles, avoiding the energy cost of heating the large cell except for extended journeys.
- panick21_ 3y agoThis is massively more complex then you make it sound. And if it doesnt work at least as well as current ICE its not going be used. There is a reason this simply isnt done. If you want to use that fuel, just burn it.
- galangalalgol 3y agoNot sure why no one has done it? Not carbon neutral I guess, but paired with this and solar power it would be. Batteries are already so good is probably part of it too. But adding about 25% travel time on long drives is annoying.
- infinityio 3y agoUp until this point I'd imagine there was no significant advantage to creating propane vehicles unless they could be made significantly more efficient than petrol or diesel (which I'm guessing is not known to be the case) by comparison, this discovery could make it a green-vs-brown fuel debate, at which point it would be much more valuable to invest in for vehicles
- galangalalgol 3y agoPropane combustion vehicles are common, and I'd guess a fuel cell would extract roughly 30% extra energy from the same fuel. They typically have battery efficiencies.