| From: | AirWisp <AirWisp@***.COM> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | New Fuel Technology (Modern Day) |
| Date: | Tue, 21 Oct 1997 14:14:48 EDT |
WASHINGTON (Oct. 21) - Researchers have developed a chemical process using
gasoline that could lead to fuel-efficient and virtually pollution-free
electric cars that don't need bulky batteries and can refuel at conventional
gas stations.
The technology was announced today by the Energy Department and Arthur D.
Little Co., a Boston-based energy consulting firm whose team of researchers
achieved the breakthrough over five years of fuel-cell research in conjunction
with a government weapons lab.
''The economic and market impact around this new capability is without
precedent,'' said Charles LaMantia, chairman of Arthur D. Little. He said the
next step is to attract investors ''to bring this new technology to market.''
The method used by the researchers is significant because it uses a fuel cell
that gets hydrogen from gasoline, said Jeffrey Bentley, leader of the research
team. This would allow such vehicles to refuel at existing service stations.
Energy Secretary Federico Pena called the development ''an example of cutting-
edge technology that will be commonplace in the future'' to deal with such
environmental problems as global warming. He predicted a vehicle using the
process could be on the road within just over a decade.
The development, first reported today by The New York Times, is one of many
initiatives under way to develop fuel cells that would replace the combustion
engine in automobiles and to power other motors.
The fuel cell technology uses an electro-chemical process that converts
hydrogen and oxygen into energy. It has never been difficult to get the
oxygen, which comes from the air. But the search for hydrogen molecules has
been more difficult. Other fuel cell research has focused on using natural
gas, ethanol, or methanol as a source of hydrogen.
Bentley said the major breakthrough in his team's research was developing a
way to separate hydrogen from carbon in gasoline, a fuel in which the two
molecules are tightly bound. The use of gasoline would allow an electric car
to use a fuel cell that could use the existing network of gasoline stations
and not be encumbered by heavy batteries that limit automobile range, he said.
Bentley said Arthur D. Little will work with Plug Power, a developer of fuel
cells, and several automakers - including Chrysler and General Motors Corp. -
to pursue commercial development of the technology.
He estimated that a prototype vehicle could be available within five years and
commercial production as early as 2005. ''This has the simplicity of the
burner in your furnace at home. There are not a lot of moving parts, there
aren't any complex controls,'' said Bentley in an interview.
After hydrogen is separated from the gasoline, the fuel is left with carbon
dioxide, which is released into the air. But because of the increased
efficiency, researchers have told the Energy Department a car using the
technology could get twice the fuel efficiency of an internal combustion
engine with as little as 30 percent of the carbon releases - and only 5
percent of the overall pollution from combustion engines.
A number of companies, including the Big Three automakers and major oil
companies such as Exxon Corp., have been involved in fuel cell research,
believing the technology is key to developing the next generation of highly
efficient motors without heavy reliance on fossil fuels.
Various types of fuel cells have been developed, including ones that derive
hydrogen from such fuels as methanol, ethanol or natural gas. Only last week,
Toyota Co., announced it soon will sell a hybrid electric car that would use a
small gasoline engine to recharge the battery. Toyota claims that technology
also doubles gasoline mileage.
AP-NY-10-21-97 1127EDT
Copyright 1997 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news
report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed
without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
