2008 Woodie Awards
Hydrogen car awes students
Zach Pardes
Issue date: 2/6/08 Section: News
Students crowded around with their camera phones ready as they watched pure water drip from the exhaust of a Ford Focus on Thursday.
"It's absolutely amazing," said 20-year-old psychology major Richard Henriquez. "You could literally put a glass under the tailpipe and be left with nothing but a pure glass of water. The car made me realize just how ridiculous and wasteful a typical gasoline engine really is."
The hydrogen fuel-cell car provided by Progress Energy, Ford Motor Co., the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Department of Energy was part of an alternative fuel and car exhibit at Focus the Nation, a UCF-hosted and sponsored national teach-in on global warming solutions. The exhibit also featured two conventional hybrid cars and one plug-in hybrid Toyota Prius, capable of charging its batteries using a household electrical outlet.
James Pooler, energy services adviser for Progress Energy, said hydrogen cars are going to be the future of transportation.
"They have so many advantages over hybrid vehicles," Pooler said. "Hybrids reduce the amount of emissions, but they are still internal-combustion engines. Hydrogen cars don't pollute at all because they produce nothing but water vapor. The worst you may have to deal with is the occasional puddle in your driveway."
The display car, a 2002 Ford Focus sedan, is one of only 30 Ford fuel-cell vehicles in the world and features a 4-liter, Kevlar-reinforced hydrogen tank designed to withstand the impact of a seven-story drop. Each tank of hydrogen gas, costing about $60, gives the 88-horsepower car a 200- to 230-mile range.
"The cars don't make a lot of economical sense right now because of the cost of hydrogen," Pooler said. "But when Detroit decides to build [hydrogen cars], energy providers will take care of the rest. They will produce cheap, affordable hydrogen because financially it is in the companies' best interest."
Freshman Kristin Lewis said she is excited about the technology, regardless of its high cost.
"It's absolutely amazing," said 20-year-old psychology major Richard Henriquez. "You could literally put a glass under the tailpipe and be left with nothing but a pure glass of water. The car made me realize just how ridiculous and wasteful a typical gasoline engine really is."
The hydrogen fuel-cell car provided by Progress Energy, Ford Motor Co., the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Department of Energy was part of an alternative fuel and car exhibit at Focus the Nation, a UCF-hosted and sponsored national teach-in on global warming solutions. The exhibit also featured two conventional hybrid cars and one plug-in hybrid Toyota Prius, capable of charging its batteries using a household electrical outlet.
James Pooler, energy services adviser for Progress Energy, said hydrogen cars are going to be the future of transportation.
"They have so many advantages over hybrid vehicles," Pooler said. "Hybrids reduce the amount of emissions, but they are still internal-combustion engines. Hydrogen cars don't pollute at all because they produce nothing but water vapor. The worst you may have to deal with is the occasional puddle in your driveway."
The display car, a 2002 Ford Focus sedan, is one of only 30 Ford fuel-cell vehicles in the world and features a 4-liter, Kevlar-reinforced hydrogen tank designed to withstand the impact of a seven-story drop. Each tank of hydrogen gas, costing about $60, gives the 88-horsepower car a 200- to 230-mile range.
"The cars don't make a lot of economical sense right now because of the cost of hydrogen," Pooler said. "But when Detroit decides to build [hydrogen cars], energy providers will take care of the rest. They will produce cheap, affordable hydrogen because financially it is in the companies' best interest."
Freshman Kristin Lewis said she is excited about the technology, regardless of its high cost.