History of the "Hydrogen Beast"

WARNING! USED ELECTOLYTE CONTAINS HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM. Protect yourself! Go to the OSHA website below and read. http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/hexavalentchromium/index.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4F3D6A0W3k

It's only 1 minute 27 seconds long but good for a chuckle.
This is where it all started. I felt that Detroit was doing it backwards. They make these huge HP engines then make them struggle with a load through their most inefficient rpm range to reach cruise speed. I thought why not spool a smaller motor up to it's most efficient rpm then slowly feed the load to it. A motor that produced enough power at cruise then just gear it down for the initial off the line push. Hence, I threw some stuff I had in the garage together and the darn thing worked.

I originally built the 6 HP Escort as a test for an electric car conversion. I figured if a 6 HP gas engine could move a 2300# car, then an 8 HP electric motor would do very well for around Westerville. (Electric motors are rated differently than gas motors and can produce 3 or 4 times their rated power for short durations - such as for off the line acceleration).
It was to be an in town car - just to get the kids to school, run to the store, nothing over 35 mph. The motor would spool up before the load just like the gas version. It was to be a 48 volt system and the batteries would charge up over night at a cost of about 80 cents a night.
I got interested in Hydrogen as a cost effective way to power a small engine instead of converting the car to electric for two reasons. Hydrogen cells would cost less to build initially and there would be less performance degradation as the batteries ran down (most small engines don't have alternators and it would still need batteries to power the cell. And, they would still have to charge over night).
I am certain that a small solar battery array could recharge the batteries at no cost. Once I get the car mobile - that will be my next endeavor.
Currently I have the Hydrogen Beauty (renamed from the Beast) that is a hybrid.
It has the original 4 cylinder engine. It will be retrofitted with the new Beast Cell as soon as ordered parts and electrolyte arrive. I expect with 1 Beast cell my wife will see 25% improvement. So I'll put 4 on it. We are going for double the mileage.
Stay tuned for pictures of the "New" Hydrogen Beast project (before, during, and after). Starting Saturday 6-14-08. Shots of the original vehicle and the new engine it will receive.