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Go-karts go green

A Dutch company hopes that taking its fuel-cell-powered gokart (Mark 2) on the road will stimulate interest in zero-emission vehicles. The Mark 2 gokart hits 60 mph in under 8 sec. The H2 is a plug-and-play storage concept for medium-size mobile fuel-cell applications. It consists of a sophisticated reducer and module mounted on a composite pressure cylinder. Click and Go, a quick-disconnect system, from Bradford Instruments BV, Heerle, The Netherlands, simplifies cartridge removal and refilling. Besides the automotive sector, home generators and small transportation systems are promising markets for fuel-cell applications. Mobile power generators and short-range vehicles such as gokarts, scooters, and forklift trucks may apply the new technology. How would you like to race a go-kart without polluting? A Dutch company is moving in that direction by building and racing hydrogen-fuel-cell go-karts. Amsterdam, plans to establish the "ultimate zero-emission race" class to develop the technology and demonstrate it to the public. With numerous partners and suppliers, the company has developed the Formula Zero fuel-cell kart. The Mark 2 is designed for powerful acceleration with unprecedented power density for a hydrogen-fuel-cell vehicle. Maximum boosting power of 700 kW (for 8 sec) comes courtesy of the 8-kW Hydrogenics HyPM7 fuel cell and Boostcap modules. A 5-liter cryogenic tank of liquid hydrogen provides 8 min of clean, powerful racing. The Mark 2 can hit 100 km/hr (over 60 mph) in under 8 sec, making it the world's fastestaccelerating fuel-cell vehicle, the company claims. Demonstrations in which a driver races against the clock give the public a firsthand experience of fuel-cell racing and hydrogen refueling. There are even plans for a Formula Zero World Championship. Interested parties can order a factory-built kart or build their own, in compliance with FIA (Formula One) regulations. These regulations stipulate that karts must be single-seated and hydrogen-fuel-cell powered.
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Fuel Cells
Fuel cells produce electricity and heat electrochemically by combining oxygen from the air with a fuel, preferably hydrogen, from methanol, natural gas, or petroleum.  Reformers are often used in conjunction with fuel cells.
Cogeneration Equipment
Cogeneration equipment produces power and thermal energy from a common fuel source, generally one that is considered to be a waste product from another process.
Electrical Power Generators
Electrical power generators, also known as alternators, transform mechanical energy into electrical energy.  They can be used for backup or emergency power or as an alternator on board a vehicle. Generators can produce either AC or DC power and are typically powered by a fuel engine.
Fuel Cell Stacks
Fuel cell stacks and assemblies consist of individual fuel cells that are combined either in series to provide a higher usable voltage, or in parallel to provide a higher usable current
Alternative Power Generators
Alternative power generators produce electricity from renewable energy sources, such as wind, flowing water, solar energy and biomass, which create less environmental damage and pollution than fossil fuels.
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