Automotive

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Car Kits

The idea of using inexhaustible energy sources for your automobile such as a hydrogen fuel cell car kit, is old indeed and while major established headway is yet to be done, there are various ways available in the market that guide you into running a automobile with optimum efficiency on Hydrogen gas fuel cells. Surprisingly, running a automobile on H2O would involve breaking water into its essential molecules, but Hydrogen system works on a complete different engineering science, which is used not successfully by many prototype machines as well as cars across the globe.

It’s true that petroleum and diesel have changed the way the world lies and commutes but the sharp increase in the prices of fuel makes it imperative that we look at alternatives to gasoline. Likewise, established fuel is also a major polluting agent and with the current stock of gasoline good enough to last only the next 50 odd years, the time is ripe to send it to its retirement home.

Presently the way things are shaping, it seems that switching to Hydrogen gas fuel cells is perhaps the only smart and intelligent thing to do. Fuel cells do not run on the principle of combustion and given Hydrogen’s calorific value, they yield far greater productivity with the same amount of fuel with less chance of polluting the environment. Hydrogen has been the source of energy in the universe since time memorial and hold tremendous potential for future development.

The technology behind using Hydrogen gas fuel cells in the production of traditional fuel is simple, since it just breaks and transforms membranes for generating electricity, which is then used as fuel, but then what is the most favorable way to produce the required Hydrogen? Hydrogen gas is generated by a elementary chemical decomposition reaction of water particles by electricity before letting it react with fuel cells that produce electricity that in turn keeps the automobile running. Production costs are negligible and it does not interfere with the efficient running of the automobile.

It does not call for rocket science to make a Hydrogen gas car that runs on water fuel cells and any technically adept person or even a mechanic can build on, using very average daily use tools. There is absolutely no need to mess with the basic running of the vehicle and only a elementary tweaking is needed to get your car running. You do not have to make alternations to your automobile’s or engine’s PC and it works brilliantly with just a few alterations here and there. With the addition of a fuel line heater and a small device, the mileage can be hiked up by a whopping 70-80%. The entirely re-done Hydrogen automobile is not only inexpensive but can be considered to be similar to an operational electric car without any objectionable emissions.

Although the conventional fuel automobile chucks out poisonous gases and Carbon Dioxide as by products, this alternative to gasoline car give water as an end product and gives fantastic miles to the gallon. Some insignificant sites would act as guides and try to fleece you but as some reputed internet sites have shown, the engineering science is extremely simple with only some minor modifications needed.

By: Nick Earl

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Sunday, November 22nd, 2009 Automotive No Comments

Fuel Cell Vehicles

Fuel cell vehicles run on electric motors powered by fuel cells that combine oxygen and hydrogen to produce electricity, which fuels the car. These fuel cells give off water and heat as exhaust, rather than CO2 and other pollutants.

They are similar to battery-electric vehicles in that both fuel cell and battery-electric cars run by an electric motor, rather than an internal combustion engine. But while electric cars use electricity from an external source and store it in a battery, fuel cell cars generate their own electricity.

Fuel cell vehicles are two to three times more efficient that cars that only burn gas, diesel, or other fuels that require the combustion engine. They are also clean, quiet, and get better gas mileage, making them a perfect environmentally friendly choice.

Unfortunately, fuel cell cars are not yet widely available today, although all the major car manufacturers are working on them and some, such as BMW, and Ford, Honda, Toyota have begun leasing them. In addition, many cars in the works are fuel cell/battery hybrids.

The biggest problem is that hydrogen isn’t actually a fuel. The energy stored in hydrogen has to be extracted to provide power, and the problem is to get that energy released without using fossil fuels.

Fuel cell cars can also run with hydrogen-rich fuels like methanol or natural gas…or even gasoline. However, those fuels must themselves be converted into hydrogen gas. Also, while giving off much less pollution than internal combustion engines, these hydrogen-rich fuels do give off some emissions.

Another major problem is storing the hydrogen in a fuel cell car since it must be kept at -455 degrees Fahrenheit to keep it in liquid form. Any warmer than that and it turns back into a gas. Current methods involve super-insulated, high- pressure tanks that can only keep the hydrogen cold enough for a matter of days. Couple this with the fact that fuel cells don’t work as well in cold weather, and you can see the problem.

But many car manufacturers are working on the problem, and fuel cell cars are already in use in Japan and California, so expect to see improvements in the near future.

Take Care,

Steve Longoria

By: Steven H. Longoria

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Saturday, November 14th, 2009 Automotive No Comments

Used Auto Parts

Used auto parts not only include car parts but also trucks and other vehicles. There are many websites that sell and buy used auto parts. These business firms salvage what they can from junkyards and improve on the quality of that part before selling it. If a person is interested in selling used auto parts then it is advisable to start the business on-line so that the seed money required for the business is less compared to any business that is initiated in the normal market.

The United States of America produces so many cars in a year that it is difficult to recycle every part that is produced and the junkyards have started to pile up. The used car parts market is very big in the US and is cluttered with useless parts that people try to sell. Recognizing and differentiating between useful parts and the useless ones is a skill that is required in this business.

Numerous salvage yards buy used automotive parts and usually purchase the sheet metal of the body and late model trucks or cars with usable parts. This means that almost all salvage yards owners are interested in buying automotive parts that are in working condition.

Used auto parts come in many varieties and the quality of a used auto part can be judged according to its age, the make, whether it was still in use, and according to the wear and tear that it has withstood. Many gas stations sell used auto parts but the quality of these parts may not be very good. If a person is interested in buying and selling used auto parts then a salvage yard can provide the seller or the buyer with myriad choices.

There are retail outlets, online stores, mechanics and salvage yard owners who readily agree to buy or sell used automotive parts to anyone who is interested. A simple garage sale can also be a solution for selling or buying used auto parts.

By: Thomas Morva

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Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 Automotive No Comments