Key insights

• ⚙️ Yamaha and Toyota have developed a hydrogen-powered V8 engine based on the 5-liter V8 engine from Lexus RCF but modified to run on hydrogen, with no carbon emissions. The Toyota Mirai, however, uses a fuel cell for power with different characteristics in power, torque, fuel storage, and range.
• 🚗 Converting a Lexus RCF to run on hydrogen instead of gasoline yields a limited range of 50 miles at EPA ratings due to the lower energy content of hydrogen, which could be further reduced to 25 miles under heavier driving conditions.
• 🔋 Challenges in visually demonstrating the spatial requirements for storing enough hydrogen for a 300-mile range, and the limitations in fitting storage tanks for hydrogen in sports cars due to space and safety considerations, as high-pressure hydrogen requires bulkier storage vessels.
• 🌡️ Hydrogen storage for vehicles presents challenges in space availability, pressure, and temperature requirements, with liquid hydrogen offering more storage but still posing space and temperature challenges.
• ❄️ Storing hydrogen as a liquid presents challenges due to the need for extreme cold temperatures and the risk of fuel loss, evident in BMW's hydrogen 7 car which faced fuel venting issues despite well-insulated storage tanks, and parking restrictions in enclosed spaces.
• 🔬 Using hydrogen as a solid requires energy to separate it from other elements. Fuel cells are the preferred method for using hydrogen as a fuel source, but come with challenges such as safety and cost.
• ⛽ Challenges in using hydrogen in combustion engines arising from storage issues, safety concerns, and cost inefficiencies, further highlighting the suitability of fuel cells as the best method for utilizing hydrogen as a fuel source.

Q&A

• Why is combusting hydrogen for engines difficult?

  Combusting hydrogen for engines is difficult due to storage challenges, inefficiency, safety concerns, and cost. Fuel cells are considered the best method for using hydrogen as a fuel source but also come with their own set of challenges.

• What challenges are associated with storing hydrogen as a liquid or compressed gas?

  Storing hydrogen as a liquid presents challenges due to the need for extreme cold temperatures and the risk of fuel loss. Even with well-insulated storage tanks, there are still issues with fuel venting. Storing hydrogen as a liquid or compressed gas remains a challenge.

• Why is hydrogen storage for vehicles challenging?

  Hydrogen storage for vehicles is challenging due to space, pressure, and temperature requirements. Liquid hydrogen can store more but still presents space and temperature challenges. Storing hydrogen as a liquid requires extremely low temperatures at around minus 253 degrees Celsius.

• What challenges are associated with storing enough hydrogen for a car to travel 300 miles?

  Storing enough hydrogen for a 300-mile range presents significant spatial and safety challenges, visually demonstrated using buckets, as the space required for storage is much larger than the available trunk space in a sports car. High pressure also requires bulkier storage vessels, posing spatial challenges for vehicle storage.

• What is the range of a Lexus RCF converted to run on hydrogen?

  Converting a Lexus RCF to run on hydrogen with a 17.4-gallon tank at 10,000 PSI and 66 liters of hydrogen storage available in the tank, the vehicle would have a range of 50 miles at EPA ratings, which could be reduced to 25 miles under heavier driving conditions.

• What type of engine did Yamaha and Toyota develop?

  Yamaha and Toyota developed a hydrogen-powered V8 engine based on the 5-liter V8 engine from Lexus RCF but modified to run on hydrogen, emitting no carbon emissions. The Toyota Mirai, on the other hand, uses a fuel cell for power with different characteristics in power, torque, fuel storage, and range.

• 00:00 Yamaha and Toyota have developed a hydrogen-powered V8 engine with no carbon emissions. The engine is based on the 5-liter V8 engine from Lexus RCF but modified to run on hydrogen. The Toyota Mirai, on the other hand, uses a fuel cell for power. Both have different power and torque characteristics, fuel storage, and range.
• 02:22 Converting a Lexus RCF to run on hydrogen instead of gasoline leads to limited range due to the lower energy content of hydrogen. The vehicle would have a range of only 50 miles at EPA ratings, which could be reduced to 25 miles under heavier driving conditions.
• 04:52 The challenge of storing enough hydrogen for a car to travel 300 miles is visually demonstrated using buckets, and the space required for storage is much larger than the available trunk space in a sports car. Storing enough hydrogen for a 300-mile range presents significant spatial and safety challenges.
• 07:21 Hydrogen storage for vehicles is challenging due to space, pressure, and temperature requirements. Liquid hydrogen can store more but still presents space and temperature challenges.
• 09:43 Storing hydrogen as a liquid presents challenges due to the need for extreme cold temperatures and the risk of fuel loss. BMW's hydrogen 7 car had a well-insulated storage tank but still faced issues with fuel venting. Storing hydrogen as a liquid or compressed gas remains a challenge.
• 11:59 Storing hydrogen as a solid requires energy to split it from other elements. Fuel cells are the best method for using hydrogen as a fuel source, but come with challenges such as safety and cost. Combusting hydrogen for engines is difficult due to storage challenges and inefficiency.