Caravan 2019

••• 7 ••• Innovationen A s the world looks towards a gradual move away from fos- sil fuel powered cars and trucks, greener alternative technologies are being explored, such as elec- tric battery powered vehicles. Scientists have discovered a new material that could hold the key to unlocking the potential of hy- drogen powered vehicles. An international team of research- ers, led by Professor David An- tonelli of Lancaster University, has discovered a new material made from manganese hydride that offers a solution. The new material would be used to make molecular sieves within fuel tanks – which store the hydrogen and work alongside fuel cells in a hy- drogen powered ‘system’. The material, called KMH-1 (Kubas Manganese Hydride-1), would en- able the design of tanks that are far smaller, cheaper, more con- venient and energy dense than existing hydrogen fuel technolo- gies, and significantly out-per- form battery-powered vehicles. Professor Antonelli, Chair in Physi- cal Chemistry at Lancaster Univer- sity, said: “The cost of manufac- turing our material is so low, and the energy density it can store is so much higher than a lithium ion battery, that we could see hydro- gen fuel cell systems that cost five times less than lithium ion batter- ies as well as providing a much longer range – potentially enabling journeys up to around four or five times longer between fill-ups.” The material takes advantage of a chemical process called Kubas binding. This process enables the storage of hydrogen by distanc- ing the hydrogen atoms within a H2 molecule and works at room temperature. This eliminates the need to split, and bind, the bonds between atoms, processes that require high energies and ex- tremes of temperature and need complex equipment to deliver. The KMH-1 material also absorbs and stores any excess energy so external heat and cooling is not needed. This is crucial because it means cooling and heating equip- ment does not need to be used in vehicles, resulting in systems with the potential to be far more effi- cient than existing designs. The sieve works by absorbing hy- drogen under around 120 atmos- pheres of pressure, which is less than a typical scuba tank. It then releases hydrogen from the tank into the fuel cell when the pres- sure is released. The researchers show that the material could en- able the storage of four times as much hydrogen in the same vol- ume as existing hydrogen fuel technologies. This is great for ve- hicle manufactures as it provides them with flexibility to design ve- hicles with increased range of up to four times, or allowing them to reducing the size of the tanks by up to a factor of four. Although vehicles, including cars and heavy goods vehicles, are the most obvious application, the researchers believe there are many other applications for KMH-1. “This material can also be used in portable devices such as drones or within mobile chargers so people could go on week-long camping trips without having to recharge their devices,” said Professor Antonelli. “The real advantage this brings is in situa- tions where you anticipate being off grid for long periods of time, such as long haul truck journeys, drones, and robotics. It could also be used to run a house or a remote neighbourhood off a fuel cell.” The technology has been licenced by the University of South Wales to a spin-out company part owned by Professor Antonelli. Future cars and trucks driven by fuel cells Scientists discover new material that could unlock potential for hydrogen powered vehicle revolution A hydrogen fuel cell concept vehicle: could hydrogen powered vehicles be the future of mobility? Photo: Darren Halstead on Unsplash Anzeige Der Deichsel-Fahrradträger von LAS ist für eine stabile und haltba- re Befestigung auf der Deichsel eines Wohnwagens konzipiert. Das Sys- tem bietet eine Nutzlast von ma- ximal 60 kg und ist somit ebenfalls ideal für die Beförderungen von modernen E-Bikes. Zur Fixierung der Fahrräder stehen abnehm- und abschließbare Rahmenhalter sowie Spanngurte mit Ratschen zur Verfü- gung. Der Träger kann bis zu zwei Fahrräder transportieren und ist kompatibel mit fast allen Wohnwagendeichseln. Damit ist Mobilität auf dem Camping- platz jederzeit gegeben. Durch das neuartige Schiebesystem bleibt der Staukasten des Wohnwagens - auch im beladenen Zustand - bequem er- reichbar. Das Manövrieren desWohn- wagens ist ohne die Demontage des Fahrradträgers möglich. Die Installa- tion des Trägers ist selbst für Unge- übte schnell und einfach erledigt. Ein Bohren in die Deichsel ist dabei nicht erforderlich. Bei starkemAnfahren und Abbremsen sorgen Befestigungsklam- mern für sicheren und zuverlässigen Halt. Der Deichsel-Fahrradträger von LAS überzeugt durch sehr geringes Gewicht von nur 12,5 kg und erfüllt durch seine robuste Bauweise alle si- cherheitsrelevanten Kriterien. Der Fahrradträger für die Deichsel von LAS ist erhältlich im Online-Shop unter www.eal-vertrieb.com sowie im gut sortierten Fachhandel. EAL GmbH Otto-Hausmann-Ring 107 D-42115Wuppertal Tel.+49 (0)202-429283-0 Fax+49 (0)202-429283-160 info@eal-vertrieb.com Fahrradträger für die Deichsel von LAS 30.8 - 8.9.2019 Besuchen Sie uns in Halle 13, Stand E11