October 2004

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So there is room apparently for hydrogen internal combustion engines for some years. BMW believes it (See record story, p. 1) but so does Ford Motor Co. In addition to its recent announcements of hydrogen-i.c.-engined Focus cars, (H&FCL July 03, April, Aug. 04), Ford is now looking at pickup trucks: according to the Sept. 7 “Detroit News” online, the company is experimenting with a F-350 truck powered by a supercharged V-10 6.8 liter engine running on hydrogen. Dubbed “Tiny,” the truck has been running on the streets of Dearborn, MI, Ford’s hometown, for months now, the paper says. It’s fuel economy is said to be 25% better than the comparable gasoline version, but power so far is only 225 HP compared to 355 HP for the standard gasoline burner. Hydrogen is stored under pressure in 5,000 psi tanks (the story didn’t say how much H2). Not unexpectedly, range is only about 100 miles so far, too little to be commercially viable. The paper says Ford plans to have a whole fleet of V-10 trucks running on hydrogen within 12 months.