Hydrogen Boosted Gas Engines - Wave of the Future?

With the ever increasing cost of gasoline prices, auto makers are having to work overtime to cost-effectively improve fuel economy, while still meeting the strict emission requirements of today with gasoline engines.

Image via WikipediaOne promising way to boost the fuel economy of gas engines is to add hydrogen to the fuel/air mixture in the engine.  Since hydrogen isn't available at the local gas station, selling a hydrogen-boosted gas engine wasn't on the list of engines - until now.

Lack of Emissions
A major cost and environmental advantage to hydrogen boosted gas engines are low amounts of NOx emission gas, which will completely eliminate the need for external NOx emissions control.  Currently, NOx emissions control is a major cost problem for diesel engines which use expensive traps to meet the emission standards.  Diesel engines particulate emissions that must be collected by a filter that should be changed periodically.

Hydrogen boosted engines on the other hand require neither NOx or particulate control and require only a low cost oxidation catalyst to control very small amounts of exhaust which is formed mostly during the engine starting up and warming up.  Additional cuts in emissions control requirements stem from the engine's ability to use only the clean hydrogen enriched charge during the cold start phase when 90% of emissions are generated in the emission test.

Image via WikipediaCost
The hydrogen boost system is effectively a bolt-on technology that can be added to an existing vehicle's engine compartment.  According to those developing the system, the cost of the system is less than half of the added cost for a diesel vehicle. 

The Future
Prototype hydrogen boosted engines are now be installed in test SUV vehicles that have sufficient space for the reformer and its related system.  The start of long-term road testing for performance, reliability, and durability information is planned for later next year before the system goes further into development.

Four cylinder gasoline engines will likely be the prime candidates for the technology as high gas prices continue to generate competition among the higher fuel economy models that seek MPG leadership. 

With gas prices getting higher and higher, hydrogen boosted gas engines offer you the chance to get more miles per gallon and not have to worry about burning up all of your fuel.  Instead of having to go out and buy a diesel or hybrid to conserve fuel, hydrogen boosted units will help you preserve gas.

Even though they aren't available to buy right now, they will be very soon.  Many manufacturers are looking into them, as they offer gasoline engines something like never before.  If you own a gas powered vehicle and have thought of giving it up to go diesel, you might want to think again - as hydrogen boost units may change the world of gas engines forever.