Hydrogen Cars (Re: Remember "Bit-Slice" Chips ?)

On 2024-12-08, rbowman <bowman@montana.com> wrote:

Toyota never bought into BEVs and favored hybrids. The Mirai is impressive
but it points out the problem at this time.
>
https://www.hydrogeninsight.com/transport/toyota-sued-over-lack-of-
hydrogen-availability-for-fuel-cell-cars-in-california/2-1-1676965
>
"A class action lawsuit alleges false advertising and misrepresentation
over promises that H2 refuelling stations would be widely available"
>
Hydrogen will need a real PR campaign. A company I worked for had a
contract to produce the glass tubes for strobe lights. It was a glass
blowing operation to form the corkscrew shape. Soda glass can be worked
with oxy-acetylene but quartz glass needs a oxy-hydrogen flame. We had to
get a permit to have a hydrogen tube trailer spotted on the premises
despite hydrogen being safer than acetylene. I could see the fire marshall
thinking 'bomb' when we said 'hydrogen'.
>
The tanks have improved. In the '70s the weight of hydrogen in a tube
trailer was ridiculously small compared to the wieght of the trailer. New
materials reduce the tank weights and the DOT has increased the allowable
pressure but it's still a transportation problem.
>
Then there is the problem that most hydrogen comes from processing natural
gas rather than green alternative energy sources.

I don't have the references handy, but IIRC, Toyota accepted a
significant US (or CA?) government subsidy for the development of the
Mirai with the proviso that a certain number of Hydrogen cars had to be
sold by a certain date (10,000 by the end of 2023?) with a proportional
penalty for any shortfall.

As the deadline approached, they were far behind (8000 or so?) and
offered a promotional deal where they essentially gave the cars away
(pay $45,000 but get a lifetime free fuel card).

I looked at it, but although there is a hydrogen fueling station
within a mile of my house, Yelp reviews said it was frequently out of
fuel for days at a time, and the second nearest is 60 miles away.
Not really an option for a daily driver "round town".
--
Lars Poulsen