MIT Breakthrough Could Provide Near Limitless Renewable Power for Electric Vehicles
Professor Daniel Nocera and other researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have worked out a process which simulates photosynthesis in its ability to store energy collected from the sun. Using a catalyst consisting of cobalt metal, phosphate, and an electrode placed in water, the MIT team is able to produce oxygen and hydrogen gas under normal temperatures and conditions. The catalyst works with any source of electricity, including that made from abundant solar energy, and could create hydrogen and oxygen to be stored in a fuel cell and used when needed for power.
This rather revolutionary process could potentially turn any home into a sort of mini power station, providing carbon-free energy for, among other things, electric vehicles. Watch the video above to hear Nocera explain the process and then be sure to give us your take, in comments.
Comments
dieselhead
A key point he makes is that this process efficiently makes hydrogen. That would be used in fuel cells. He envisions the fuel cell being in your house and being a source of electricity for your battery-powered electric car. But I don't see why the same process couldn't supply hydrogen to be put into a fuel cell based vehicle (with the advantage that it could be refueled elsewhere).
Anonymous
That is great! I can't wait to hear further developments on this subject. I wonder what the time table for this system is going to be? All those people who just invested in batteries better get their money in fuel cells!
-Kelly
Seyth Miersma
Kelly,
It sounds as if development of these new findings could happen pretty fast. Here's a section from the source article at MIT's site.
Nocera hopes that within 10 years, homeowners will be able to power
their homes in daylight through photovoltaic cells, while using excess
solar energy to produce hydrogen and oxygen to power their own
household fuel cell. Electricity-by-wire from a central source could be
a thing of the past.
Seyth Miersma
News Writer
Winding Road // NextAutos
doublebullout
This sounds promising, but we will still need more efficient solar panels to really take advantage of the possibilities. Could take more like 15-20 years for this to be both practical enough and affordable enough for the average American homeowner.
dieselhead
IBM is testing lenses to increase solar panel output 5X:
http://www.goodcleantech.com/2008/05/ibm_uses_magnifying_lens_to_bo.php
Of course, there is a lot of other work being done on thin film technology (more watts per $), but the IBM idea deals with the limited surface area of houses.
Trinks
Now THIS is newsworthy. Thanks for bringing this to our attention, Seyth!
Seyth Miersma
Glad to have been of some service. Go Earth.
Seyth Miersma
News Writer
Winding Road // NextAutos
Mark in Maine
Innovative idea - Imagine a small home - based plant that would produce energy enough for both home and the things in the garage with a wheel at each corner. I remember being excited about the news of cold fusion in the late 80's/early 90's, and then nothing came of it. Let's hope that this is as big as it sounds
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