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| Portable Hydrogen Cartridge (Prototype). Image © Toyota. Source: Toyota UK Media Site. |
Toyota
have shown off their new hydrogen cartridges at the Japan Mobility Show
2024, according to HydrogenFuelNews.com. The cartridges are an
alternative to filling a fuel tank with hydrogen. While hydrogen can
power an internal combustion engine directly, a more efficient option is
to convert hydrogen into electricity using a device called a fuel cell.
The current produced by the cell can then power electric traction
motors in an FCEV (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle). Capacity wasn't
specified for the cartridges, but another source suggests it's 4.7 l of
liquid hydrogen at 525 bar. That would equate to 329 g (liquid H₂ has a
density of 70 g/l compared to 1 kg/l for water). According to a
resource provided by the Center for Sustainable Resources at the
University of Michigan, hydrogen has a low volumetric energy storage
density of 8 MJ/l for liquid hydrogen (mega joules per litre), compared
to 32 MJ/l for petrol. Hydrogen does have the highest energy density by
mass however of any fuel. That 329 g estimate of liquid hydrogen at an
energy density of 120 MJ/kg (versus 44 MJ/kg for petrol) equates to
approximately 11 kWh. What range would that give for an FCEV with a
typical efficiency of 60% fuel to wheels? Toyota UK didn't have any
further detail or a press release on the technology when I asked them,
however here's an interesting article on The Conversation about hydrogen
cars.
References:
Toyota showcases technology developments towards a sustainable future. Toyota Media Site. (2024, October 8 ) https://media.toyota.co.uk/toyota-showcases-technology.../
Toyota and woven planet develop new portable hydrogen cartridge prototype to power everyday applications. Toyota Media Site. (2022, June 2). https://media.toyota.co.uk/toyota-and-woven-planet.../
Hydrogen factsheet. Center for Sustainable Systems. (n.d.). https://css.umich.edu/.../facts.../energy/hydrogen-factsheet
Tsakiris, A. (n.d.). Analysis of hydrogen fuel cell and battery efficiency. https://c2e2.unepccc.org/.../analysis-of-hydrogen-fuel...
Hydrogen storage | Department of Energy. (n.d.). https://www.energy.gov/eere/fuelcells/hydrogen-storage