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For reference, a KW is equal to approximately 1.3 HP. So, to equal a 222 HP NA engine and assuming a 90% motor efficiency, you will need to produce 167 KW from you fuel cell. How much do-do do you need for than, and would I want to carry this much s*** around in my car. In truth, you are probably using methane derived from the biological decomposition of do-do, and not the do-do itself. What do you do with the (mostly solid) residue of this decomposition. I presume in a car, this would be expected to come out of the tail pipe (I am sure the guy behind me will be really pleased with this). To go from do-do to electricity you must follow the following steps. 1) produce methane or some other hydrogen containing gas. This is normally done via biological decomposition, but it can be done thermally as well. Both smell bad and both produce hydrocarbons, chiefly methane. 2) Remove the hydrogen from the hydrocarbon. This is done by reforming. I know that that research is indeed being done to combine the reforming/fuel cell function in a single module, with the idea of being able to fuel fuel cells with, guess what, gasoline, but it is still reforming even if it is done in your car. 3) Combine the hydrogen with oxygen across the appropriate catalytic membrane. Most fuel cells use platinum, but I would imagine other metals could be made to work. In truth, you can produce hydrogen, and power a fuel cell based on any source of hydrocarbon. Whey not use cow farts. This is a know source of methane, and is in fact the source of most of the methane (a greenhouse gas) found in our atmosphere. Of course, I don't know how many cows will be needed to insure a constant supply of methane sufficient to produce 167 KW, so this may not be practical.
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