Hydrogen Cell Addition to Cars

[Michele Ananda Marcell]

I think it would be fun to get a group together and put some simple hydrogen cells in our cars and see how they work. It is supposed to increase mileage and make your engine run cleaner. There are some online kits or instructions to buy.

[Heather Bernikoff]

Hi Michelle -
Hydrogen is all smoke and mirrors. If you would send me the link to the on line do it yourself kits, I would be happy to evaluate it. Hydrogen, while the most plentiful element, is tightly connected with other elements, such as in water. As such, the energy required to liberate hydrogen exceeds any efficiencies or cleanliness- by a lot (4x) - one would hope to gain. In fact, most of the hydrogen for the few test cars there are on the road actually come from fossil fuels, not water. I have always advocated for electric fuel, as it is the only fuel source that keeps getting cleaner. While it is work for a knowledgeable mechanic, the conversion of a gas car to electric or plug in electric hybrid is more efficient, cleaner and more ubiquitous as a fuel source than hydrogen. If you are interested, check out the "Plug-in America" site. I have included a link to their frequently asked questions (FAQ) page. From there, you can learn more about what you can do today to drive cleaner. Good luck! http://www.pluginamerica.org/learn-about-plug-ins/frequently-asked-...

[Sarah Blair Seaman]

I have read that some people are suffering negative effects from being exposed to the strong EMF's that electric vehicles produce. Have you heard anything about that, Heather? Just curious.

[Michele Ananda Marcell]

Hi Heather, Thanks for info. I observed the same thing about hyrdrogen power years ago. It seems to be another way to continue a lessened and perhaps hidden, dependence on fossil fuel. The kit that I am talking about is not a real conversion kit, it simply adds a simple hydrogen making device to your fuel which increases your gas mileage by 20 to 50 per cent. It is run from your car's battery so true energy loss is negligible. My neighbor made one, just for sport. Kits to convert can be several thousand dollars. I am talking about the fifty dollar kit, created from simple hardware store items. Online reviews and video abound.
As to electric, plugging cars into our system as it exists is no solution. P G & E is far from a clean source. Now, if it is electricity created from solar or wind power, then it might work. I have considered buying a solar electric cart for a town visit vehicle. Just don't know if I could drive it on Highway 140 legally!

Heather Bernikoff said:

Hi Michelle -
Hydrogen is all smoke and mirrors. If you would send me the link to the on line do it yourself kits, I would be happy to evaluate it. Hydrogen, while the most plentiful element, is tightly connected with other elements, such as in water. As such, the energy required to liberate hydrogen exceeds any efficiencies or cleanliness- by a lot (4x) - one would hope to gain. In fact, most of the hydrogen for the few test cars there are on the road actually come from fossil fuels, not water. I have always advocated for electric fuel, as it is the only fuel source that keeps getting cleaner. While it is work for a knowledgeable mechanic, the conversion of a gas car to electric or plug in electric hybrid is more efficient, cleaner and more ubiquitous as a fuel source than hydrogen. If you are interested, check out the "Plug-in America" site. I have included a link to their frequently asked questions (FAQ) page. From there, you can learn more about what you can do today to drive cleaner. Good luck! http://www.pluginamerica.org/learn-about-plug-ins/frequently-asked-...

[Heather Bernikoff]

Please send me the link to where you are getting the kit information. I want to ensure I am looking at the same thing. I would like to understand this.

Electric is the absolute best choice for most of our transportation fuel, precisely because it is the only fuel source that keeps getting cleaner as renewables are added to the grid (which is happening more and more). Actually, even at the current national fuel mix, including coal, fueling our vehicles from electricity is 30% more efficient and cleaner than using petroleum. Our nation can do better than this, and with public pressure, will. The new energy bill is far better than under the Bush regime, but still a far cry from where Obama had indicated we needed to be during his campaign.

You are right. Carts are not highway legal. They have not met crash test standards or have adequate speed. There will be several options for plug in vehicles in the coming years, several at lower cost than their other electric vehicle predecessors. Send me that link please.

Heather Bernikoff said:

Hi Michelle -
Hydrogen is all smoke and mirrors. If you would send me the link to the on line do it yourself kits, I would be happy to evaluate it. Hydrogen, while the most plentiful element, is tightly connected with other elements, such as in water. As such, the energy required to liberate hydrogen exceeds any efficiencies or cleanliness- by a lot (4x) - one would hope to gain. In fact, most of the hydrogen for the few test cars there are on the road actually come from fossil fuels, not water. I have always advocated for electric fuel, as it is the only fuel source that keeps getting cleaner. While it is work for a knowledgeable mechanic, the conversion of a gas car to electric or plug in electric hybrid is more efficient, cleaner and more ubiquitous as a fuel source than hydrogen. If you are interested, check out the "Plug-in America" site. I have included a link to their frequently asked questions (FAQ) page. From there, you can learn more about what you can do today to drive cleaner. Good luck! http://www.pluginamerica.org/learn-about-plug-ins/frequently-asked-...

[Michele Ananda Marcell]

Heather, I looked at dozen of sites this winter but did not save. Do not have addresses nor the time to duplicate my research in the summer (am building a house and garden). If you google hydrogen car kits you will find tons. There is also a lot on Utube. Michele

[Bernie Laursen]

There is a fellow in Greeley hill Just out of Coulterville that builds Hydrogen generators for sale. you have to whatch out what you get on the net. a lot of those products do nothing but take your money and time. Charlie has built and installd many of his in the local area. I have almost completed my first one with his help. you can contact me at [e-mail] for more info if you like.

[Heather Bernikoff]

Hi Sarah. Sorry for the delay in responding. I wanted to double check with one of our engineers on a response to this. I think there are two things:

1. EVs put out a minimum of any electric fields, and the body of the vehicle acts as a wall, just as in a gas car, to any emissions. If you examine electrical fields emitted by products found in everyday life, microwaves, transmission towers and cell phones, for example, they emit documented, potentially harmful, electro-magnetic radiation.

2. It is important to evaluate the source of your information. It has been documented that oil and auto companies have tried to crush innovation by putting out misleading, wrong or "purchased" studies. I would ask, "Who are these people that have been getting sick?". I would want to know what type of EVs they are driving - is it one of the ones manufactured by a reputable company or someone's hand-built conversion. More likely than not, if this is a legitimate article that you refer to, anyone who is sensitive is getting sick from another source of pollution/toxicity.

Bottom-line: Me and many others like me have been driving EVs for 10 years healthfully. While not a panacea, the benefits of EVs, in terms of decreasing environmental contaminants, has been established through "well-to-wheels" studies by several governmental and independent, reputable organizations. You can always visit www.pluginamerica.org for more information and the CARB slide presentation that discusses these studies I reference.

Hope to see you soon Sarah. Regards, Heather

[Sarah Blair Seaman]

Thank you, Heather. I have been reading a good deal of the "back and forth" between different groups on this particular issue. I know that you stay current on these types of issues so I wanted to ask.

[Heather Bernikoff]

It is my pleasure. I would be interested to know which groups are saying EVs are making people sick. Would you send me the link to the group? Thanks!

[Sarah Blair Seaman]

One of them is: http://www.hybridcars.com/safety/electromagnetic-fields-in-hybrids....
including reading the comments from people.
And this one: http://www.greenhybrid.com/discuss/f13/emf-hybrids-546/