A team of UMass Lowell researchers has pioneered a new, more efficient way to power electric vehicles.
A team of UMass Lowell researchers has pioneered a new, more efficient way to power electric vehicles.
The innovation, developed by Chemistry Department Chairman Prof. David Ryan and a group of UMass Lowell students, will enable electric vehicles of all sizes to run longer while maintaining zero emissions. The new technology uses water, carbon dioxide and the metal cobalt to produce hydrogen gas on demand at a relatively low temperature and pressure.
Most electric vehicles on the road today rely on batteries that must be charged, but come with limitations such as storage capacity, time needed to recharge and cost, according to Ryan. As a result, current technology is practical only for small cars and not for larger vehicles, including trucks and buses. In contrast, the UMass Lowell team’s invention could be used to power vehicles of all sizes.
In an electric vehicle, the hydrogen created by the team’s method would go directly to a fuel cell, where it would mix with oxygen from the atmosphere to generate electricity and water. The electricity would then power the system that operates the vehicle’s motor, rechargeable battery and headlights.
Read more at University of Massachusetts Lowell
Photo Credit: tookapic via Pixabay
