A very special car test drive is held today.
[Interview : ] "This car has no engine. It only has a device in which hydrogen creates a chemical reaction."
It's a hydrogen-powered car known as eco-friendly, next-generation car.
We compared a ride in a hydrogen-powered car with that in a standard car.
The hydrogen-powered car can run 300 kilometers, and its maximum speed is 160 kilometers per hour.
Though it's slower than a standard car, it produces zero noise.
[Interview : Leem Ha-na, Test drive participant] "This car is amazing. I'd like to buy one when they become available on the market."
[Interview : Ra Jung-duck, Hyundai Motor employee] "Cars powered by hydrogen fuel cells are eco-friendly, energy-efficient and comfortable to ride because they produce no noise. They emit zero harmful substances because they're fueled by hydrogen. They only produce water as a result of a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen."
Then, how does hydrogen produce electricity When electricity is applied to water, it becomes separated into hydrogen and oxygen.
When converged using a fuel cell, hydrogen and oxygen turn into water again.
Electricity and heat produced in this process is hydrogen energy.
[Interview : Hong Sung-an, Ph.D.
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Team, KIST] "Our ideal system would produce electricity from natural energy sources such as wind power or solar power. That electricity would be applied to separate water into hydrogen and oxygen. Extracted hydrogen would be used for diverse purposes through hydrogen fuel cells, including with hybrid cars and hydrogen fuel cell power generators that can be used for houses or buildings. This is the flow of energy."
The Seoul metropolitan government installs a hydrogen fuel cell power generator in downtown Seoul.
Because the device occupies less space, it can be installed even in a big city like Seoul.
Counter to its small size, it's the world's largest hydrogen fuel cell power generator.
It can produce enough energy for about 8,500 households in Seoul, given that the average per-household energy use is 400 kilowatts.
[Interview : Kim Dong-jin, Section Chief
PoscoPower] "We will do our best to develop hydrogen fuel cells for diverse areas including shipbuilding and portable devices, as well as nurture Korea's fuel cell technologies into an export item."
The era of hydrogen energy, when people will be able to heat their homes and ride cars using hydrogen fuel cells is just around the corner.
JUN 15, 2009
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in IT/Science News |
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Arirang Town
Wednesday, FEB 10, 2010, (KST) 
