Regardless of what happens when the engines are tested, the hands-on
experience of building the engines from the ground up prepares students to
build or service them when hydrogen-powered engines are brought to market.
"Most people think the research is being done exclusively by the
automakers. But it's also being done right here in this classroom," said
Winston Lane, an automotive machinist consultant who is overseeing the
project. "That's what makes this project so exciting. Research and
development must be done before hydrogen-powered vehicles will be a
cost-effective alternative to gasoline powered vehicles, and we're a part
of it."
The program provides those who might move on to four-year engineering
programs with a practical understanding of the technologies that underlie
the use of hydrogen as an automotive fuel.
"This is a real development project," said Howard Dillman, chair of the
technical careers division in the school's transportation technologies
department. "We are building what is essentially a race engine that can
reach maximum RPMs with no problem while running on hydrogen. There aren't
many universities working on this; we're trying to take it the next step."
Lansing Community College's hydrogen project is part of its Alternative
Energy Initiative. Located in Michigan's auto-manufacturing region, the
college was tapped by the U.S. Department of Energy to develop an
alternative energy curriculum, train the workforce in alternative energy
and educate the general public on alternative energy.
"We know the hydrogen economy is coming and we want to be ready," said
Lane, who says his students will be well prepared to take jobs as
automotive technicians specializing in alternative fueled vehicles or
transfer to an engineering program with an alternative energy specialty.
Building a hydrogen engine can cost $5,000 more than traditional
gasoline-powered engines because of the expensive parts and materials
needed. Researchers hope that they can come up with solutions to make the
engine cost less. To fund its hydrogen engine experiment, the college is
using funds it received from the Department of Energy and parts donated
from General Motors.
Fueling and distribution are two hurdles to be jumped before hydrogen
vehicles are ready for the mass market. Right now it takes all night to
fuel a hydrogen vehicle, according to Lane. Plus, since a tank of hydrogen
can be used up in a short time, researchers are finding ways to compress
the gas. Before hydrogen can become an alternative to gasoline, a network
of hydrogen fueling stations must be built.
With all the technological hurdles, Lane admits mass marketing of hydrogen
vehicles is a decade or more away. "Hydrogen is the wave of the future,"
he says. "The only byproduct is water, and converting to hydrogen vehicles
will reduce our dependence on foreign oil."