Comments by "John Burns" (@johnburns4017) on "BMW's Hydrogen V12 Engine Is A Hilarious Engineering Stunt" video.

  1. The Japanese have started up a helium gas cooled nuclear reactor - the first commercially. The helium reaches 1,000 C, which is ideal for cracking water into hydrogen economically. They will make hydrogen economically at the nuclear plants. The hydrogen will be used mainly for heavy industry, but vehicles can use it, probably in hydrogen fuel cells. In March Mazda are launching the MX-30 hybrid with a Wankel engined generator. I believe the Wankel is adaptable for hydrogen. Wankels are about 25% more efficient burning hydrogen. As the Wankel will be running at a constant speed then higher efficiencies again. The Japanese market may get the hydrogen versions first.
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  2.  @screwaccountnames  The Japanese aim to use the hydrogen primarily for heavy industry, rather than oil. In natural gas networks 10% of the gas can be hydrogen without any adverse affects and using existing gas appliances. That is 10% less emissions from natural gas, which tends to burn in urban areas with lots of lungs breathing in air. I do believe a town in North-east England was tested with 10% hydrogen in the gas network. Whole city gas networks can be moved over to hydrogen, but then the appliances will need modification. Either way less gas imported from Russia who can ramp up prices at will - as we have seen. So if hydrogen is economically made for gas networks and industry it will roll over to heavy vehicles like trains, buses and trucks. Lines can be de-electrified, removing the expensive to install and maintain overhead wires. Dirty diesel trains can be replaced with cleaner hydrogen.
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