We all know that water is essential for humans, but now cars can also benefit from a sip. Norwegian producers have created a car that only emits pure water.
07/02/2006 :: The new car Think Hydrogen will make its debut on Norwegian roads in February 2006. The company behind the innovation is Think Nordic AS, and they are implementing a new technique called battery electrical fuel cell hybrid, which combines the original el-motor engine with a hydrogen fuel cell that can load the battery. The final result of this new technology: pure water.
What is hydrogen?
Hydrogen exists everywhere in the environment and represents the most abundant element in the universe. However, since hydrogen easily reacts chemically with other elements, it is rare to find it in a pure form on earth. This means that one must separate the hydrogen from other sources, like water and natural gas. This process requires energy, making hydrogen an energy carrier, not an energy source. Hydrogen is a carbon free energy carrier, and when used in fuel cells it does not produce any harmful emissions.
Hydrogen as a fuel
Hydrogen can be used as a fuel source in vehicles with a traditional combustion engine or a fuel cell engine. In a fuel cell engine it is an electronic reaction that creates the energy, while in a combustion engine it is the process of burning the hydrogen together with air that produces the energy. With only small adjustments, main stream cars with a combustion engine can function using hydrogen as fuel, and those engines are as energy effective, if not slightly more, than gasoline.
Thinking about it in long terms, fuel cell motors will become increasingly attractive because they can be twice as effective as a combustion engine and only give off water vapour to its surroundings.
Federation of Norwegian Industries/ Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs