- #1
Angry Citizen
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I'm afraid this is bare of proper engineering, but I have a question as a temporary layman (I'm in engineering school now, but still pretty much a freshman). In the Chevy Volt, the powertrain is electric, with a gasoline motor that charges the battery in order to provide an order of magnitude greater range. My question is, why can't this be extended to hydrogen?
I'm thinking about an on-board electrolysis unit that could convert water (with added electrolytes) into hydrogen and oxygen while the battery was being charged, and storing the constituents as a backup fuel similar to the Volt. What are the disadvantages of a hydrogen-augmented electric powertrain? I don't think the electrolysis unit itself would be very heavy or costly. Could it be the necessary current? Water with an electrolytic substance (such as an acid or the addition of a salt) can be electrolyzed fairly easily, but I'm not sure at what rate it can be electrolyzed by a typical household current. Is it the storage of gaseous hydrogen? I'm curious about any research on this subject.
I'm thinking about an on-board electrolysis unit that could convert water (with added electrolytes) into hydrogen and oxygen while the battery was being charged, and storing the constituents as a backup fuel similar to the Volt. What are the disadvantages of a hydrogen-augmented electric powertrain? I don't think the electrolysis unit itself would be very heavy or costly. Could it be the necessary current? Water with an electrolytic substance (such as an acid or the addition of a salt) can be electrolyzed fairly easily, but I'm not sure at what rate it can be electrolyzed by a typical household current. Is it the storage of gaseous hydrogen? I'm curious about any research on this subject.