“Hydrogen on demand” refers to any system that has incorporated a process to break down water molecules into combustible hydrogen gas and then direct that gas to an internal combustion engine. Hydrogen-release technology itself has been around for 75 years, but early versions required a massive structure to get the job done.
Over time, as the knowledge base has grown and new technologies have emerged, entrepreneurs have found increasingly efficient ways to produce this hydrogen from water. Today, there are dozens of products that use this technology, including high-temperature welding machines.
Hydrogen gas is highly flammable and produces more heat and less pollution than comparable amounts of gasoline. It burns cleanly in virtually any type of internal combustion engine and produces almost zero pollution. We don’t see as much in the US, but in Europe (where gasoline is much more expensive) hydrogen has been used as a fuel for cars for decades.
The main barrier to hydrogen being used more widely as an automotive fuel in this country is distribution. The US Department of Energy has a website that lists all hydrogen filling stations in the US Only one state, California, has more than 20 hydrogen locations, thirteen others have ten or fewer stations and the other 39 states have no distribution.
The point is that hydrogen as a motor fuel is already widely accepted around the world and increasingly in the US It is much more efficient than carbon-based fuels and is POLLUTION FREE. It’s cheaper to make than oil, but then you have to worry about how to store it and how to transport it.
That’s why “hydrogen on demand” (also called “water fuel”) is gaining exposure so quickly. The most popular and easiest to implement version doesn’t try to fuel your car entirely with hydrogen. It relies on a “boost” that produces a small amount of hydrogen to boost the gas mix your car is already using. When it works right, it allows individual drivers to continuously produce their own supply of hydrogen under their own hood, using (get this!) distilled water and baking soda! The result of that hydrogen infusion is improved fuel efficiency, sometimes as much as double the MPG, but more routinely something in the range of 30 – 50% greater efficiency.
How does a hydrogen “booster” work?
The electrolysis that takes place inside the booster produces hydrogen gas (HHO). HHO gas is supplied to the engine through the air intake manifold and vacuum lines that provide air to the combustion chamber. This hydrogen-enhanced air helps gasoline burn more efficiently, while producing its own combustion. That extra hydrogen combustion gives you more power and ultimately requires less gas to run your engine, resulting in better gas mileage.
It seems as if this process violates the laws of physics, but it does not. The simple design of the propellant makes some people question its ability to produce enough hydrogen. But we’ve known for years (75 of them!) that splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen by electrolysis is entirely feasible. The combination of the electrolyte added to the water, the electricity supplied by the battery, and the vacuum created within the impeller gets the job done efficiently at a level that works well for a single engine.
Hasn’t hydrogen on demand been disproved in the past?
This technology has been around for a long time. A certain version has been circulating for more than 75 years. And while there have been issues with various products and publications, the technology itself is solid.
Two things illustrate how reliable this technology is. One, the International Space Station has been using hydrogen on demand to power the space station since launch. Second, major automakers such as Honda and BMW have already developed their own versions of HOD vehicles. Unfortunately for us consumers, these cars aren’t being developed in quantity yet, and when they are, it’ll cost around $45,000 to buy one. Oh! So the problem is not with the technology itself, but with the programs and products used to deliver this technology to consumers.
In the end, the real question is, “Does it work to improve fuel efficiency?” And there are very good reasons for asking that question.
1. The cost of gasoline has been rising steadily (we are now close to $4/gal). Recently, Matt Simmons, an international authority on the global energy situation, said in an interview with CNBC that $6 a gallon gasoline was inevitable, it was just a matter of how many months away we are from that. At that price, it will cost almost $100 to fill up a minivan.
2. Right now, the US accounts for 25% of the world’s oil consumption, 70% of which is imported. There’s no way we can continue to consume that much of the supply. Major oil-producing countries like Saudi Arabia and Mexico are already starting to divide up which country gets which part of their production. Unfortunately for the US, in countries like China and India, the demand for oil is expanding at a meteoric rate and they are willing to pay more for it.
3. The recent hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico have shown us how easily our refining capacity can be derailed. Hurricane damage to refineries resulted in extreme gasoline shortages for 23 states, lasting up to three weeks. No new refineries have been built in the US since 1979, and during that same time, the number of refineries in operation has been cut in half. Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, visiting the president at his Texas ranch on April 25, chided him with the message that his country could send more oil, but the United States would not have the capacity to refine it.
A perfect storm is brewing with respect to gas prices and availability. Improving fuel efficiency is not just a good idea, it will soon be a financial and practical necessity. Automakers are years away from bringing models to market that dramatically improve efficiency, and even when they do, that doesn’t do anything for all of us who can’t afford to pay $35,000 for a new car.
Hydrogen On Demand is a readily available, highly cost-effective technology that delivers those efficiencies and savings now, not 10 years from now. That’s a very good reason to give it a serious look. All reputable companies that carry HOD information and products offer a 100% guarantee, so there is no reason not to try.