Fuel Cell Trek Part IV: The Beast is Coming (Jan 2003)

Fuel Cell Trek Part IV:   
The Beast is Coming!  January 24, 2003

Dear Friends,

In the past 8 months, two hydrogen fueling stations have opened on the west coast, with 5 more going up around Tokyo this year, and about 9 more in Europe over the next two years.  Toyota and Honda have put fuel cell vehicles into the hands of customers for real-world testing, and some people in California are now riding fuel cell buses to work.  10 major cities in Europe and Australia will be launching fuel cell buses into their fleets by 2004.  Last Fall, the Department of Energy released a formal report laying out a pathway to “The Hydrogen Economy”, which is also the title of a new fast-selling book by Wharton School of Business scholar, Jeremy Rifkin.  

Clearly, the idea of a Hydrogen Economy has captured the imagination of scientists, businessmen, and the public in general.  The question remains however, can hydrogen really change the motor of the world?  Does it have a chance competing against oil, the most powerful industry in the modern world?  Can fuel cells replace the engines that we've grown to love and depend on?  Is there real substance behind the hydrogen hype, or is this just another energy fad like solar power and natural gas vehicles?

Table of Contents

2.  The Greatest Events in the Fuel Cell World  (go)

4.  Willy Wonka, Ballard, and the Everlasting Gobstopper   (go)



6. Kids Like Fuel Cells: Adventures in Teaching   (go)

8. Fuel Cells in the Redwoods (go)

10. The Whale Slayer   (go)


THANK YOU- Most of my experiences thus far have been made possible by Ford, the California Fuel Cell Partnership, and UC-Davis.  In the past year, they have sent me all over California and the country, so to them I am grateful.

 

Situated 15 minutes west of the California Fuel Cell Partnership, 1 hour east of two major national laboratories; flanked on the North by Vancouver, a hotbed of hydrogen technology development, and on the South by Los Angeles, a pioneer in clean-air technologies and policies; surrounded by small fuel cell technology companies in San Francisco and Sacramento, UC-Davis finds itself conveniently located right in the center of the hydrogen universe.  As you'll see below, we are wasting no time in taking advantage of this unique opportunity.

We Got Cars! – In December, we became one of the first three organizations in the country to lease fuel cell vehicles.  This is a major milestone for Toyota, which is leasing 6 between us and UC-Irvine, because it's the first step in bringing FCV's to the public.  Honda has also begun leasing their FCVs to the City of L.A.  The cost of the lease is steep at $10,000/month, but we will be getting loads of research value out of them, and Toyota is being very generous in their contributions to our research effort.

We Got Hydrogen! - UC-Davis will soon have its very own hydrogen fueling station on campus.  Air Products has already begun construction, and will be finished within the next few months.  The purpose of this station is to deliver fuel to two experimental campus buses that will run off a mixture of natural gas and hydrogen, aptly called “Hythane”.  I will be involved in evaluating the hydrogen station and the bus technology during its operation.  Most of the university buses already run off natural gas; so it is fitting that we become the test-ground for the new hythane buses.  The station will also fuel fuel cell vehicles as demand grows.

This Davis station is a bigger infrastructure bonus than one may think if you consider the new Richmond station and the CaFCPs West Sacramento stations.  Since they all exist along the I-80 highway, it creates the possibility of a “Hydrogen Corridor”, where FCVs will be able to travel back and forth from San Francisco to Sacramento to test and develop the technology in a real-world environment.  There are tentative plans for stations in Palo Alto and Auburn, which could create the most extensive hydrogen corridor in the world.

We Got Fuel Cells! - Last summer, Neil Otto generously donated three Ballard 1.2 kW fuel cell stacks for research in our fuel cell lab.  Some researchers and students here will be putting one of these units on a semi-truck to provide auxiliary power when not moving.  This application is an attractive niche market for fuel cells because it provides an alternative to truck idling.  When truck-drivers need to rest, and it is either too hot or cold outside, they leave their engines on to heat and cool their cabs.  This can cost them ~$10-15/day in fuel costs; but more importantly, the loud, vibrating engines can adversely affect the quality of their sleep.  An alternative is to use a fuel cell stack to quietly power electric heaters, air conditioners, and auxiliaries.  If solid-oxide fuel cells are used, it may even be able to run off diesel fuel instead of hydrogen.  Fuel cells could become an economic, energy-efficient solution to the million trucks all over the country running their massive diesel engines to keep their drivers comfortable.

The Yellow Brick Road:  The biggest news of all is the new study we are undertaking, entitled "Transportation and the Hydrogen Economy: Pathways and Strategies".  It is unclear to both the government, the auto industry, and the oil industry how to transition to a hydrogen-fueled transportation system.  Simply put, if the hydrogen economy is the Emerald City, we are all pretty confused about how to get there.  We at ITS-Davis (Dorothy), alongside the government (Scarecrow), the oil industry (Tinman), and the auto industry (the Lion), aim to blaze down the yellow brick road together.   Traveling down the same path and communicating along the way will greatly increase our chance for success (though we're bound to run into some flying monkeys along the way).

Specifically, this will be a four-year, multi-million dollar international research effort at ITS-Davis aimed at examining the manufacture, storage and distribution of hydrogen for use in fuel cell-powered vehicles, as well as other applications.  This study endeavors to answer the toughest questions about how to develop a hydrogen infrastructure at this critical infant stage of its development.  As our ITS director (my advisor) Dan Sperling states "We're setting our sights on the near and medium term, because overcoming these more immediate challenges will be critical to laying the foundation for a successful hydrogen-based economy of the future." BP, Shell, ExxonMobil, and Toyota have already signed on as partial sponsors.  More information on this project can be found at ITS-Hydrogen.

Here’s one of first meetings with the key management from Exxon Mobil, BP, Toyota, Honda, Sandia National Lab, DOE, DOT, California Air Resources Board, California Energy Commission, South Coast Air Quality Management District.

pics:This is the other side of the table, the ITS Davis people. 

For those of you who have not heard from me since the last letter, I have chosen to go to graduate school at UC-Davis.  I will be pursuing a joint Master’s-PhD degree in Transportation Technology and Policy, which is a combination of engineering and public policy as they relate to the transportation industry, which can cover anything from roads, to land-use, to public transit, to engine technology, to alternative fuels.  The students in this program come from all over the world, with a wide range of skills and experience; all in all, they're an impressive bunch, and we've become pretty tight in a short amount of time.  I'm still working at Ford, though on a more part-time basis.

2. Key Events in the Fuel Cell World

Road Rally 2002: California Coast

For the first time ever, six of the world's major auto manufacturers drove their fuel cell vehicles down 300 miles of California's golden coast as part of the California Fuel Cell Partnership's Road Rally 2002.  On Sept 6, we completed this historic accomplishment of the world's largest and longest caravan of Fuel Cell Vehicles.  Ford, Daimler-Chrysler, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, and Toyota, drove together down California's breath-taking Pacific Coast Highway from Monterey to Santa Barbara from Sept 4-6 to educate the public about the technology, and show that it works.  The energy companies, including BP, Shell, Chevron-Texaco, and ExxonMobil, provided the hydrogen for the cars.  Take note, fuel cell vehicles come in all shapes and sizes: small, regular, and SUV.  

Click on picture for our Theme Song heading through the Big Sur mountains

This was my favorite event so far, because I saw the true cooperative spirit of the Partnership.  Engineers and management from the automakers, energy companies, and government banded together in an uncharacteristic fellowship to complete the voyage and build a team.  On the rocky shoreline of Big Sur, the Ford guys introduced two Toyota engineers from Japan to football, and though they could barely speak English, they were tossing wicked spirals by the end of the trip.  The other fun part of it was interacting with the public throughout all the small coastal towns and farmers markets we stopped at down the coast.  Hundreds of people came out to see the cars, ask questions, and take test rides and drives. 

One early morning, we stopped at an old Spanish mission in Carmel and invited the students from its elementary school outside to come see the cars.  As the sun rose over the coastal mountains, the children gathered together in the chilly dawn while we showed them the various cars.  I think their favorite part though was when they discovered the warm water vapor coming out the tailpipe, and put their faces and hands right in it.  

pic:The mighty Ford team at the beginning of the new Ford FCV's maiden voyage in California

World Hydrogen Energy Conference (WHEC):

This conference, held in Montreal this year, is the biggest and most important conference for hydrogen energy, and attracts a very international audience.  I was there with the Ford crew to show our car and give rides to the government, media, and VIPs.  As I walked into the hotel the day before the conference, I strolled past an older gentleman whose face seemed very familiar.  Moments later, it hit me, so I ran back and introduced myself to the man commonly known as the father of the modern fuel cell, Geoffrey Ballard.  His name is printed on the engines of fuel cell cars throughout the world.  The conference proceedings can be found at http://www.hydrogen2002.com/


Outside the conference hall, the media and Canadian government greeted Ford's car with much enthusiasm.


I was pretty excited to finally meet one of the people who really inspired me to get into fuel cells, Geoff Ballard

Fuel Cell Seminar

The 2002 Fuel Cell Seminar, held in lovely Palm Springs, CA, is the biggest fuel cell conference of the year (kind of like the sister to WHEC).  People in all aspects of the FCH2 industry come to learn about advances in the technology, see new prototypes being developed, and hear from the great minds in the field.  I was there working the CaFCP booth and giving rides and drives to the attendees.  Some of these people have worked on fuel cells and hydrogen technology for years, but have never driven in a fuel cell car, so they were "so stoked" to finally get behind the wheel.

 
The grand opening of the Seminar


In between rides, we refueled from a “mobile-refueler”, which is just a trailer carrying long tubes of high-pressure  H2 gas. 

The most interesting part of the conference were the people I met working on a range of intriguing projects.  A few folks from the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute are working on transforming the islands into a miniature hydrogen economy.  The Icelandic New Energy Company is trying to do the same thing to Iceland, and will have the world's first commercial H2 fueling station (where John Q Public can buy H2 fuel).  As I walked through the exhibit hall, I was overwhelmed by the amount of actual products companies have made, when just a few years ago, there were few exhibitions at all.  I took a bunch of pictures, so see the slide show at the end.

The World Fuel Cell Summit

This event, held in Sacramento last October at the California Air Resources Board, marked the first time all the major fuel cell organizations and partnerships around the world came together to share their ideas and progress.  During this meeting, I saw designs for the new hydrogen stations going up in Japan; the plans for the buses and stations in Europe and Australia; the hydrogen developments in Iceland, and more.  Afterwards, they came back to the CaFCP to ride in the FCVs and get to know each other.

 

 

 

3. Hydrogen Safety:  The Tiger vs. The Giant Squid

    or                                         

If someone asked you, "what's more dangerous: The tiger, or the giant squid"?, how would you answer.  It's tricky.  Since they're each dangerous in completely different ways, it would depend on your environment, and your defenses.  If you were thrown into the Roman Colliseum about 2000 years ago with a wiffle bat (without Russel Crowe as your wingman), I'd recommend the squid.  But if you were plunged into an Olympic size pool with a canoe paddle as your only defense, bring on the tiger!

 

Likewise, one of the most common questions I encounter from people is, "What's more dangerous: hydrogen or gasoline?"

Since they are both fuels, they are both dangerous and they're both potentially lethal.  They both ignite when exposed to a flame, and if you put them in a vessel with the right amount of oxygen and at sufficient pressure, you've created a bomb.  However, like the differences between squids and tigers, they are dangerous in different ways.

Here's a pretty positive, concise viewpoint about hydrogen being a safe fuel.  Though it omits several important facts, I think it's good message for the general public.  If you want to know my personal view, keep reading:

"For many people, the idea of using hydrogen to run a bus or car is frightening.   They picture  hydrogen bombs, and perhaps remember film of the famous Hindenburg Zeppelin disaster.  In fact, hydrogen gas has nothing to do with the hydrogen bomb.  Moreover, current research suggests that the Hindenburg caught fire when static electricity ignited the highly volitile chemical coating of the airship's cotton balloon-like shell.  The hydrogen fuel was not a major factor.

Nonetheless, like other common fuels- the gasoline in our cars and the natural gas or propane piped into our homes- hydrogen is extremely flammable.  That's why it's a good fuel.  In fact, it's three times more efficient than diesel fuel and, like diesel and other fuel, must be handled properly.

Should we be more concerned about hydrogen than the fuels we're already using?   Probably not.  In fact, tests performed by Ford Motor Company for the Department of Energy found that the hydrogen storage methods under consideration for fuel cell vehicles are actually safer than those for gasoline.  Hydrogen has its own special properties that call for different kinds of equipment, but industry has been using it safely for years.

NASA uses hydrogen for rocket fuel and to provide water for astronauts.   Semi-conductor companies use it in manufacturing.  In fact, it is commonly shipped by pipeline and truck in compressed and liquid form.  Moreover, the hydrogen-powered vehicles now being built are equipped with reinforced tanks that meet rigorous safety standards.

To prove the safety of its tanks, one manufacturer simulated a 52 mph rear-end collision by dropping a car from 90 feet in the air.  Standard testing only requires tanks to sustain three and a half times normal pressure without bursting.  Since hydrogen is one-sixteenth the weight of air, a leak would rapidly disperse into the open air, making it significantly less flammable than gasoline or other fuels."

            - written by William Hoagland

My View:
In terms of its potential to ignite, I'd be more concerned with hydrogen.  As seen from the graph, hydrogen is flammable at a very wide range (4% to 70% hydrogen mixed with air), whereas gasoline and natural gas have much narrower ranges.  Also, the amount of energy required to ignite the mixture of gas with air is lower for hydrogen than gasoline.  This means that with the right mixture of hydrogen with air, a small static spark could ignite the hydrogen, whereas it would take a higher-energy spark (like from a sparkplug) to ignite gasoline.  This figure compares the flammability of various fuels with the ignition energy required to make them go kaboom. 

However, in terms of gas diffusion (the ability of the gas to spread out into the air), I'd be more concerned with  gasoline.  Hydrogen is the lightest element in the universe, and therefore, disperses quickly up into the air when it escapes its container.  Gasoline vapors, on the other hand, do not rise. Rather, they linger around the source of the gasoline (and often need to be forced away with a fan).  So, if a leak occurs in either type of fuel tank outdoors, the danger for an explosion will be present for only a short amount of time with hydrogen, whereas the danger will linger with gasoline.

The other key difference between the two fuels, is that with hydrogen in most vehicle applications to date (exculding GM's HydroGEN3 and some of Daimler Chysler's NeCars, which use liquid hydrogen), hydrogen gas is stored at extremely high pressures, whereas gasoline is always stored at room pressure and temperature.  To accommodate these pressures, the tanks holding hydrogen are much stronger and resistant to punctures in the case of an accident, but if does occur, the gas will escape in a violent jet stream of hydrogen gas that can ignite.  Since hydrogen is also one of the smallest molecules, and therefore escapes containers more easily.  These tanks are tested extensively to avoid any of these situations, but the risk still remains. 

With hydrogen, if there is a fire near the tank and the pressure starts to rise inside the tank (since gas expands when heated), there is a special safety device on all fuel cell cars called a Pressure Relief Device (or Temperature Relief Device) which will open and let the gas escape from the tank.  This ensures that the pressure doesn't explode due to pressure build up.  When the PRD opens, a jet stream of hydrogen gas is released from the back, side, or top of the car.  This can be quite dangerous if it ignites, because you may not be able to see the flame, which leads us to the next paragraph.

What happens when hydrogen ignites?  Hydrogen is a colorless, odorless gas, and burns with a nearly invisible flame in daylight (you can kind of see a blue flame if it's dark).  If hydrogen ignites it is very hard to detect because, first, the flame is nearly invisible, and second, it's heat is nearly undetectable until you are practically in the flame.  This is because there is no carbon in hydrogen gas, thus there is nothing to radiate heat (when you have a campfire, you see and feel the flame because the carbon atoms in wood get hot and emit radiant heat and light).  This can be both an advantage and disadvantage.  If you're trapped in a car, and there is a fire under the car, the PRD will open, releasing the hydrogen gas to the atmosphere.  Even if this stream catches on fire, you will not be harmed by the flame because it's pointed away from the car and emits little heat.  However, if you're trying to rescue someone from the car and you don't know about the hydrogen jet stream, you could walk right into the flame without feeling its warmth until you're right in it (at which point you could be seriously burned). .

Also, hydrogen is non-toxic if inhaled, but is dangerous only in that it displaces oxygen.  So if you breathe a lot of it, the hydrogen won't kill you, but the lack of oxygen might.

For the complete facts about Hydrogen, go to Air Products (the definitive expert in hydrogen handling and safety) site on hydrogen.

THE BOTTOM LINE:  I've fueled and defueled hydrogen tanks at 3600 and 5000 psi, and driven in several hydrogen fuel cell cars. I do not feel threatened by the fuel.  In fact, I'd drive in a fuel cell car with compressed hydrogen gas any day of the week (and twice on Sundays). 

Like the squid, most of us just know many myths and few facts about hydrogen.  Hopefully, you've come away with a better understanding of its dangers as a fuel.  Maybe now you think hydrogen's just another fish in the sea...

 
(he's kind of cute, actually)

 

Or maybe you're terrified...     

 
(Oh, the humanity!)

 

Either way...

                                  

 

 

4. Ballard, Willy Wonka, and the Everlasting Gobstopper

In late October, Geoff Ballard came to UC-Davis to share his time with the ITS students and engage us in a captivating brain-storm session.  He answered questions, and challenged us to think about what transportation will look like in 10-15 years.  One point he highlighted is that of the 3.8 billion people in China, India, and Indonesia, only 12% of the people have cars.  Clearly, if you want to make money selling cars in the next 20 years, set your sights on Asia.  The Big 3 have caught on to this, some quicker than others.  Honda, VW, and GM  have established close ties with China's auto companies, and achieved significant market share.

 
Here we are with Geoff.

Dr Ballard is kind of like the Willy Wonka of the fuel cell world.  Though he didn’t invent fuel cells, he brought the technology “down to earth” (considering it was previously only used in space shuttles) and into popular culture during his reign at Ballard Power Systems.  Also like Wonka, he's involved in a mysterious new venture up in Vancouver at his new company, General Hydrogen, which he is very secretive about (despite my probing questions during the session) .  Though I have not had to the good fortune to get the "golden ticket" tour, I believe they are trying to develop their own "everlasting gobstopper", a new hydrogen product that will revolutionize the energy and transportation industry and bring his concept of “hydricity” to fruition.  To achieve this, they have partnered with the world's largest auto company, the largest hydrogen supplier, the largest supplier of Uranium, and the largest natural resources company. (I wouldn't be surprised is they starting acquiring small countries) 

 
(click on me, I dare you)

As explained on their website, "General Hydrogen foresees the convergence of hydrogen and electricity as the dominant modes of energy service delivery. We believe this process will create a new composite energy currency - Hydricity™.  General Hydrogen’s business is to provide energy delivery technologies, systems and infrastructure for fuel cell vehicles and devices based upon our proprietary Hydricity™ Energy Delivery Standard." For more information, visit "www.generalhydrogen.com".

Geoff Ballard is a visionary and a dreamer, much like Wonka, but he is getting older.  One day, I hope to be like Augustus Gloop and fall in a big vat of hydrogen... Just kidding, I want to be like Charlie and carry on his torch.  My first move would be to reinstate Oompa-loompa affirmative action (Man, they've really gotten shafted over the years!)

(click on this picture for a surprise)

 
 

5. The Mind Monsoon Sessions

After Geoff’s brainstorm session with us, we students were inspired to form a group of our own to brainstorm on topics related to hydrogen and transportation.  Thus we have formed the Hydrogen Mind-Monsoon Sessions.   Using Geoff Ballard’s business strategy approach, we discuss interesting questions related to creating a hydrogen economy such as:
    1. What will vehicles and fueling stations look like in 15 yrs, or in 10 yrs and how will "fueling" take place?
    2. What are some “killer” applications for fuel cells, or "killer" demonstration projects for hydrogen infrastructure?
    3. What unique policies could be implemented by government to promote hydrogen as a fuel?

I have also shared with them my idea of circumnavigating the world in a fuel cell car, and have received positive feedback.   My intent is to collectively evaluate this idea and other ideas from the team to create a realistic, worthwhile project to undertake over the next four years (though of course, we each have commitments to our classes and research first).

Thus, after an incredible Phase 1,2, and 3 of Fuel Cell Trek, Phase 4 , "Assembling the Team" has begun, and we are about 9-10 strong.  We will be brewing ideas and plans over the next several months, and taking field trips to various companies and labs throughout California.  Where we go together from here is still yet unknown, though after two sessions with these people, the path looks promising.

 
       Phase I                  Phase II                Phase III                                 Phase IV

(click on picture for details of each phase)

 

6. Kids Like Fuel Cells: Adventures in Teaching

Teaching about fuel cells has become a big part of my life over the past year, and has been undoubtedly the most fun part of my job.  I have been fortunate to have a few teaching experiences with both kids and adults.  In a tiny coastal town in Southern California, I brought Ford’s P2000 to the Martin Luther King middle school to talk to the students about fuel cells and then give them rides in the car.

 

I also gave a presentation to about one hundred 6-12th grade science teachers at Sacramento State University about fuel cells, hydrogen, and how to incorporate it into their curriculum.  To download the presentation I used (most of which comes Heliocentris and the CaFCP, click Fuel Cell Presentation.

My favorite experience, shown in the pictures below, was teaching fuel cells and hydrogen to a group of students (grades 6-12) interested in engineering and science.  The audio-visual technology failed, so we had to go the old-school route, but ended up having a rousing, Plato-esque discussion using simple questions and the chalkboard.  This was the best discussion I’ve ever had about fuel cells.  They asked so many good questions, and each question led me through all the material I had originally prepared to present, so they stayed engaged, and I covered everything I intended to.  Here are some pictures:



This is me with my dank "Hydrogen" t-shirt.  Click here to order one.



 

 7. "What Will Move You?"



ITS-Davis will be hosting a student conference June 26 &27, entitled “What Will Move You”, exploring the topics of advanced propulsion technologies, new mobility, alternative fuels, innovative public transit, and relevant transportation policy.  We will be sending out a massive call for abstracts within the next few weeks, and all graduate students with research in the following areas are encouraged to submit.  Generous travel stipends are available for student presenters.  If you know of anyone who would be interested, have them visit www.its.ucdavis.edu/IGERT.

 

8. Fuel Cells in the Redwoods: The Schatz Energy Research Center

 
Here are two friends, Joshua Cuningham from UC-Davis who now works for UTC Fuel Cells, and Antonio from the Schatz Energy Research Center (SERC) at Humboldt State University in California.  Sorry, but I can't show you any pictures of the inside lab.

The SERC has been making their own fuel cells for years, and were among the first to put them in cars.   Joshua and I took a trip there last summer to check out their lab.  Very impressive! Led by Peter Lehman and Charles Chamberlin, they've designed and built electrolyzers for H2 production, and are also building fuel cell test benches, one of which was recently delivered to the University of Michigan for their fuel cell modeling program.

 

9. OIL: How Wonderful Life is, While You're in the World
Click for a musical tribute to Oil

"It's a little bit funny..." how people tend to give oil and oil companies a bad rap without realizing how much it has shaped the 20th century, how much we depend on it for happiness, and how much it has greatly improved the world's standard of living.  I'm in the process of reading The Prize, by Daniel Yergin, which discusses the complete history of oil since the late 1800s, all the way from Rockefellar to Desert Storm.

To understand the future of our energy system, it's important to understand the past, which since the early 1900's, has been dominated by an explosion in oil use.  The consequences of this boom have had long-lasting, far-reaching impacts.  For example, Winston Churchill's decision to switch his Navy's fleet from coal power to oil powered engines was a critical factor in deciding the outcome of World War I.  Furthermore, the seeds of the Russian revolution of 1917 were planted in the oil boom-town, Baku, during the early 1900s, where the underground rebel paper "Iskra" was printed and covertly distributed using the far-reaching oil transport lines.  The environmentalists back then probably jumped for joy when oil was discovered because it took the burden off the decimated whale population, whose blubber was previously the best source for lamp oil, which was still so expensive only the elite could "burn the midnight oil". 

While our dependence on this substance is a major problem, oil itself is awesome.  I don't know about you, but I like not having chapped lips (oh, fast cars and plastic are pretty good too.)

                        
Two books any energy enthusiast should read to understand how it was in the beginning, is now, and shall one day be...

 

10. The Whale Slayer

Speaking of whales, I received an interesting email from the following Swedish ship captain (since Fuel Cell Trek is now on Google, I'm reaching a more "diverse" audience, as you'll see):

"Mr. Weinert,
I am curious about fuel cells to power my new whaling boat. I am planning an expedition to the Alaskan waters. I am researching methods to reduce noise and detection by authorities.  My boat is named the Whale Slayer, and is registered under the Russian flag, though operated by a Swedish crew. It is 59 feet. The beam is 20 feet. It is currently powered by two Detroit Diesel 892's.  My problem is that the diesels often alert local authorities to our presence and foil our expeditions.  The United States government is not friendly to whalers. We are interested in fuel cells as an alternative power source to reduce noise, but are curious of their output. Basically, can they power our vessel and the large freezers required to freeze the fresh whales?

Please contact via this email. Thank you"

It's definitely an "interesting" niche market, though I guess it never occurred to me that fuel cells could be used to do bad stuff just as well as good stuff. 

 

11. SlideShow Bob presents:

Not to be confused with Sideshow Bob (left) or Sponge Bob (middle), though equally as strange, Slideshow Bob (on right) will guide you through the following Ofoto Slideshows.

               
                                       

- Friends I've made (or managed to keep) along the way (click here first for the slide-show music)**

- Slide Show from Journal IV

***These links will direct you to Ofoto, where you will first need to register (a simple process), then you'll get to see the pictures.  The nice thing about this is you can print any of the pictures you see.
 

(By the way, Bob is actually my cousin)

12. Quotes 

"Be impatient, Challenge the normal.  Question conventional wisdom.  Trust yourself and speak out what you believe.  If what you believe is different, dare to be different.  Dare to be in a hurry to change things for the better" 
                                - Geoffrey Ballard (advice to University of Victoria graduating class)

"The solution to the chicken-and-egg dilemma is a no-brainer.  We're going to do an apples-to-apples comparison of paradigm-shifting devices, which we expect to be commercial in 5-10 years.  Then, we'll utilize public-private partnerships to "leap-frog" these technologies into the market.  This robust approach should create a win-win situation for all stakeholders." 
                                - Speaker at any fuel cell conference in the 21st century. 

"It is clear our nation is reliant upon big foreign oil.  More and more of our imports come from overseas"
                                - George Bush (if you don't find this funny, re-read)

"Don't dream it...Be it"    
                                - Rocky Horror Picture Show (sung by my favorite transsexual ;-))

"There is no future, there is no past,
thank God this moment's not the last.
There's only us, there's only this,
forget regret, or life is yours to miss.
No other road, no other way,
no day but today."
                                - Rent

"The road goes ever on and on,
Down from the door where it began,
And I will follow if I can
Pursuing it with eager feet
Until it meets some larger way,
And whither then, I cannot say."

                                   -J.R.R. Tolkein

13. The End
No matter what conclusion you've come to about hydrogen and fuel cells during this journal, I've come to a conclusion of my own.  Even if fuel cells and hydrogen take my whole lifetime to achieve commercialization (and they just might) and even if they fade out (not likely), the past year and a half have been the most exciting times of my life;  I love my work, my research, my environment, and most of all, the people I'm surrounded by.  The possibilities I see over these next few years alongside these people seem endless.  I will continue down this path with eager feet.

Love, (closing sound-byte from me)

Jonathan                

P.S. if you're still unclear what the "beast" is, click here