Technological Advances The Real Benefit Of Hybrids

Researchers at the University of Crete say a "graphene sponge" could enable practical hydrogen storage for hydrogen-powered and hydrogen-hybrid vehicles. Hydrogen is notoriously difficult to store in vehicles, virtually eliminating its widespread use as an alternative fuel.

Scientists are working on a number of different approaches to the "hydrogen problem" including building more capable storage tanks, and catalytic production of hydrogen from solid fuels and liquids like water. The University of Crete approach uses graphene, a one-atom-thick sheet of charged carbon that attracts and holds hydrogen while allowing it to move freely around the graphene sheet. The sheet would act like a sponge and could easily absorb and discharge hydrogen as needed.

The scientists have modeled the graphene sponge approach to hydrogen storage. The simulations show that graphene would absorb 6.1% of its weight in hydrogen at room temperature and pressure. This tops the current capacity of formic acid as a hydrogen storage material. Formic acid can store 4.4% of its weight as hydrogen. Like graphene, formic acid is attractive because it is portable, small and readily available. Formic acid production occurs at temperatures around 100°C, which would make it less desirable than a technology that operated at room temperature.

While hybrid and alternative fuel technologies may have a shorter active lifespan than gasoline, the real value in the move toward hybrid vehicles is the new research, technologies and materials that are being developed as a result of the move away from petroleum. The cost of gasoline, and the predicted exhaustion of the world's readily-accessible oil are driving the search for alternative fuels, and hybrid vehicles are the idea testbed for the technologies that will eventually replace gasoline altogether.

Questions have arisen about the propriety of governmental subsidies for private companies, but the research and development that they need to complete to make the switch possible can only happen with government support, especially during tough economic times. If anything, the government should insist that the resulting products be brought to market a lower cost to consumers. This kind of subsidy would enable more "average" consumers to adopt alternative fuel vehicles and alternative propulsion systems more readily, and effectively replace the world's gasoline- and "dirty" diesel engines.

Photo Credit: Yarik Mission