>YES THERE IS. and it just happens to be the most plentiful atom in
the universe. hydrogen.
Sorry, that's misinformation. Hydrogen, whether in the gaseous form or
in a
fuel cell, is not a source of energy, but a storage mechanism. The hydrogen
is produced in the first instance by the input of energy (into the fuel
cell, or as an electric charge that separates the H from the O in water).
So, hydrogen can replace the battery in an electric car, but it cannot
replace whatever you used to charge up the battery in the first place.

>poo poohers claim you need huge amounts of electricity. incorrect. it
takes 1.23 volts [less than a AA battery] to seperate hydrogen and
oxygen atoms from water via electrolysis. although 1.7 volts must be
supplied. the lost 0.47 volts expended in the process.
Again, you need to understand the concepts. Voltage is not a measure of
the amount of power used. It can best be explained by analogy to flowing
water. Voltage is like the slope of the river: how fast it flows. Amperage
is the amount of power, equivalent to the number of litres of water flowing
past a point. Wattage is the product of volts and amps, or power. With
water, that is the total volume (number of litres flowing past at any one
time, multiplied by the rate of flow). So, volts are not 'expended'. The
process occurs irrespective of the voltage used. How much hydrogen you
generate is the function of the number of watts you put in. If you want the
amount of power output a car engine generates, then you need to have that
much power available from your hydrogen. To generate that will need the same
amount of electricity, plus the inevitable inefficiency of the conversion
process.

>with such low voltage requirements, wind turbines or photovoltaic
panels are quite adequate.
As I said, voltage is irrelevant. Anyway, you can set up wind and
photovoltaic to generate whatever voltage you want. It's a question of how
many watts you need, and that is incredibly large. It is of a different
scale. You need to revise some basic high school physics and calculate
actual amounts.

>my own intended project is to cut 44 gallon/200 litre drums in half
lengthways, and reweld on a shaft in an 'S' shape, so wind direction
doesn't matter. then mount vertically and use a push bike hub as a
ratchet so it only spins in one direction. rather than pulleys and
belts to drive a generator, i'll use geared up sprokets with bike
chains for cost effectiveness and durability.
This is called a Savonius rotor, and there are readily available plans
for it. Its problem for electricity is an inherently low rotational speed.
It is not a good device for driving an alternator or generator. Something
large enough to push a bike hub around will generate enough electrity charge
up a battery that will keep a couple of small lights burning overnight. It
might work a model car, but not even a real electrically assisted moped.
Sorry, you need to do your sums.

Later of your paragraphs imply the use of gaseous hydrogen. This is NOT
a good idea. Hydrogen has such a small molecular size that it is almost
impossible to contain. It escapes through almost any join, any flexible
pipe, etc. The fuel cell has been developed to get around this problem.
Also, what happens to a hydrogen-containing tank in a collision or fire?
And I agree with you that fuel cells are too heavy and bulky at this
stage.

Finally, thank you for reproducing that interesting German report. It
bears out everything I have said above. Read it again.

I am sorry to puncture your balloon, but hydrogen cannot replace petroleum.

All the best,
Bob
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