Dutch Ingenuity at Work: First fuel cell boat cruises Amsterdam's canals

Started by FayeforCure, December 10, 2009, 10:37:48 AM

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FayeforCure

December 10, 2009, 10:37:48 AM
QuoteFirst fuel cell boat cruises Amsterdam's canals

AMSTERDAM, Dec. 9, 2009 (Reuters) â€" Emitting only water vapour and gliding silently through Amsterdam's centuries-old canals, a canal boat -- a popular tourist attraction -- powered by fuel cells made its debut cruise on Wednesday.


Nemo, the world's first canal boat powered by hydrogen fuel cell, arrives in Amsterdam December 9, 2009. REUTERS/Paul Vreeker/United Photos

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The "Nemo H2," which can carry about 87 people, is the first of its kind designed specifically to run on a fuel cell engine, in which hydrogen and oxygen are mixed to create electricity and water, without producing air-polluting gases.

"That's important in a city like Amsterdam with over 125 canal trips per day," said project manager Alexander Overdiep.

A boat trip around Amsterdam's concentric semi-circles of canals is a popular tourist pastime in the Dutch capital.

From spring, visitors will have the option of a 'CO2 Zero Canal Cruise', for an extra 50 (euro) cents, which will go toward further research into carbon-reducing technology, said Freek Vermeulen, managing director of Lovers boat company.

The new boat cost more than double to build than a canal boat running on a diesel engine, and needs to visit a hydrogen dispensing station for a refill once a day, while normal boats only need a fuel top-up once a week.

But developers of the 3 million euro project, which was partly government funded, said costs would decline as more boats followed this test phase, and if more advanced hydrogen distribution infrastructure emerged.

(Reporting by Catherine Hornby; editing by Ralph Boulton)




http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/tre5b83hd-us-dutch-fuelcell/#
In a society governed passively by free markets and free elections, organized greed always defeats disorganized democracy.
Basic American bi-partisan tradition: Dwight Eisenhower and Harry Truman were honorary chairmen of Planned Parenthood

buckethead

#1
December 10, 2009, 11:25:26 AM Last Edit: December 10, 2009, 11:34:31 AM by buckethead
Why does that boat remind me of a wooden shoe?  ;)

Sounds like a good idea. I don't see electricity (other than hydrogen, nuclear or deisel generated) being a viable energy source for marine interests.

Hydrogen seems like a good fit for boating/shipping.

FayeforCure

#2
December 11, 2009, 02:27:23 PM
Quote from: buckethead on December 10, 2009, 11:25:26 AM
Why does that boat remind me of a wooden shoe?  ;)

Sounds like a good idea. I don't see electricity (other than hydrogen, nuclear or deisel generated) being a viable energy source for marine interests.

Hydrogen seems like a good fit for boating/shipping.

buckethead, yeah you are right, the boat still looks the same as when I left Amsterdam in 1980. But why change a good design when all you need to change is its energy consumption?  ;)

Too bad that's too much of an investment to make in the US, because horrors, we may need to charge people 50 more cents per ride!!! :o

In a society governed passively by free markets and free elections, organized greed always defeats disorganized democracy.
Basic American bi-partisan tradition: Dwight Eisenhower and Harry Truman were honorary chairmen of Planned Parenthood

Dan B

#3
December 11, 2009, 03:03:58 PM
Faye, you put a lot of good info out there, but there is this common "them good, us bad" theme to all of your posts. If I read just the headlines of your posts, I would think that we hate and/or mistreat our veterans, old people, women, minorities, and children, and that America, generally speaking, sucks. Meanwhile the while the rest of the world is a glorious place to live, and they get everything right.... Are you and Bostech dating?

mtraininjax

#4
December 11, 2009, 03:38:48 PM
QuoteI would think that we hate and/or mistreat our veterans, old people, women, minorities, and children, and that America, generally speaking, sucks.

Dan B - It takes all kinds of people to make the world go 'round. Many people think of my comments "as gum under their shoe", which is fine by me, this "ain't no popularity contest", but we all love our way of life and want to see everyone's get better every day. Without getting all mushy, its good to get other viewpoints on ideas around town.
And, that $115 will save Jacksonville from financial ruin. - Mayor John Peyton

"This is a game-changer. This is what I mean when I say taking Jacksonville to the next level."
-Mayor Alvin Brown on new video boards at Everbank Field

Dan B

#5
December 11, 2009, 04:06:13 PM
No doubt. I just wish, occasionally, we would hear something we are doing right as a nation/city/neighborhood. Certainly life here doesn't suck as bad as some of our posters would have us believe. Right?

mtraininjax

#6
December 11, 2009, 04:07:39 PM
QuoteNo doubt. I just wish, occasionally, we would hear something we are doing right as a nation/city/neighborhood. Certainly life here doesn't suck as bad as some of our posters would have us believe. Right?

To me, the United States of America is the greatest nation on the planet, and as bad as it seems, I'd live no where else.
And, that $115 will save Jacksonville from financial ruin. - Mayor John Peyton

"This is a game-changer. This is what I mean when I say taking Jacksonville to the next level."
-Mayor Alvin Brown on new video boards at Everbank Field

Overstreet

#7
December 11, 2009, 04:56:30 PM




That is fine. Given their street size I'm sure the canals through the city are not large and need long skinny boats that don't make smoke in the city.  I wonder how those things are in a seaway. You think that thing would roll? I'll bet too it doesn't take much horsepower to push a skinny hull like that.

Hydrogeon fuel cells have been experimented with in this country. 

I'm sure that here in Jacksonville the water taxi would like a hydrogeon fuel cell engine until they learned that it would cost them twice as much and they would have to build their own fueling station.

Overstreet

#8
December 11, 2009, 04:57:43 PM
Propane burns real clean too. But there is a fuel capacity and cost problem with that too.

mtraininjax

#9
December 11, 2009, 05:11:05 PM
QuoteI'm sure that here in Jacksonville the water taxi would like a hydrogeon fuel cell engine until they learned that it would cost them twice as much and they would have to build their own fueling station.

Running on a 4-stroke engine instead of 2-stroke (mix gas and oil) was a big step in the marine world. Let's hope the manufacturers will go further and cleaner.
And, that $115 will save Jacksonville from financial ruin. - Mayor John Peyton

"This is a game-changer. This is what I mean when I say taking Jacksonville to the next level."
-Mayor Alvin Brown on new video boards at Everbank Field

Dog Walker

#10
December 11, 2009, 05:13:53 PM
Over,  not much propane (LPG) used in the EU.  It is a product of refining crude oil.  There is a lot more use of CNG (compressed natural gas).  Lots of buses and city delivery vehicles are used and get their pressure tanks pumped up overnight in their garages.
When all else fails hug the dog.

Dog Walker

#11
December 11, 2009, 05:15:31 PM
Four stroke, CNG fueled engines are about as clean as you can get with internal combustion.
When all else fails hug the dog.

mtraininjax

#12
December 11, 2009, 05:17:34 PM
QuoteFour stroke, CNG fueled engines are about as clean as you can get with internal combustion.

I never said they would save the planet, but they are cleaner than two stroke.
And, that $115 will save Jacksonville from financial ruin. - Mayor John Peyton

"This is a game-changer. This is what I mean when I say taking Jacksonville to the next level."
-Mayor Alvin Brown on new video boards at Everbank Field

Overstreet

#13
December 11, 2009, 05:20:12 PM
Then again there are the solar boats in Eu. One of these is a 120 passenger.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/02/solar-boats-ships-pontoons-ferries-solar-panels.php

None of them are speed demons. Five MPH is common cruise. It is about hull speed for a 25 to 30 ft sail boat. The boat that did the transatlantic crossing looks like a wind storm would be a bad thing. I suspect they normally operate in calm waters on good days.

It would be interesting to see a 5mph boat work against our 5mph current. I would hope they have higher speed capability but reduce for extended range.

Overstreet

#14
December 11, 2009, 05:30:54 PM
Quote from: mtraininjax on December 11, 2009, 05:11:05 PM......Running on a 4-stroke engine instead of 2-stroke (mix gas and oil) was a big step in the marine world. Let's hope the manufacturers will go further and cleaner......

Some of the newer 2 stroke outboards are quite effecient. However you won't get an argument from me that a 4 stroke outboard is better than a 2 stroke. Quieter, smokless it only has penalty for extra weight and oil changes.  Some would say the 2 stroke does a better hole shot but hull design seems to make more difference in my experience.

Satisfied F-90 owner.

I wonder how a two or three of Yamaha 350s on the transom would power that dutch boat.
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