Renewable transportation alternatives: Bio-methanol, electric and hydrogen fueled vehicles

Journal Article · · Solar Today; (USA)

OSTI ID:6115330

Neill, D; Yano, S; Li, Y; Lu, J ^[1]; Bac, J ^[2]

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1. Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, Honolulu (USA)
2. Dept. of Business and Economic Development, Honolulu, HI (USA)

Hawaii Natural Energy Institute (HNEI) has been part of the USDOE Electric and Hybrid Vehicle (E/HV) program for eight years. A program has also been initiated in methanol fuel demonstration. Additionally, HNEI is currently seeking to build a scale-up plant to produce medium Btu gas from biomass. This gas, in turn, can be easily shifted into methanol, hence their term, bio-methanol. Finally, HNEI has federal and state support for a multifaceted renewable hydrogen program. HNEI is currently operating a fleet of seven methanol fueled vehicles and ten electric vehicles. The environmental benefits of these programs are impressive. The use of renewable energy, such as solar power, to grow biomass that can be converted to methanol or other fuels has the additional benefit of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, thus helping to alleviate the greenhouse effect. Only 3% of Hawaii's land area is needed to produce sufficient biomass feedstock and to replace gasoline in the state. Wind and solar power's non-polluting energy potential in Hawaii is many times greater than the electrical energy requirements of the state and can be used to charge EVs at night (wind) or during daytime charging periods (wind and/or solar). Finally, hydrogen is the ideal fuel for future aviation needs since it primarily creates water as it burns. It can also be used for ground transportation fuel, as was recently demonstrated successfully in Germany by Mercedes Benz and BMW. Results from these programs are described.

• OSTI ID: 6115330
• Journal Information: Solar Today; (USA), Journal Name: Solar Today; (USA) Vol. 4:4; ISSN SOTOE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

08 HYDROGEN
083000 -- Hydrogen-- Combustion-- (1990-)
09 BIOMASS FUELS
092000 -- Biomass Fuels-- Combustion-- (1990-)
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290500 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Research
Development
Demonstration
& Commercialization
295000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Hydrogen & Synthetic Fuels
299000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Unconventional Sources & Power Generation
33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
330300* -- Advanced Propulsion Systems-- Electric-Powered Systems
330800 -- Emission Control-- Alternative Fuels
ALCOHOL FUELS
AUTOMOBILES
BATTERY CHARGING
BIOMASS
BIOMASS CONVERSION PLANTS
DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS
ELECTRIC BATTERIES
ELECTRIC-POWERED VEHICLES
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ENERGY SOURCE DEVELOPMENT
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
EQUIPMENT
FEDERAL REGION IX
FIELD TESTS
FLUIDS
FUEL GAS
FUEL SUBSTITUTION
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
GASIFICATION
HAWAII
HYDROGEN FUELS
INTERMEDIATE BTU GAS
METHANOL FUELS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NORTH AMERICA
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SUPPLIES
POWER
POWER SUPPLIES
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SYNTHETIC FUELS
TESTING
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
US DOE
US ORGANIZATIONS
USA
VEHICLES
WIND POWER