Ener1 developing fuel cell range extender:

Link (http://www.thegreencarwebsite.co.uk/blog/index.php/2009/05/14/ener1-developing-fuel-cell-range-extender/)

I especially like how "range extender" is a common term in the automotive lexicon ...

I hate to say this but I think they could be using their resources more effectively. They are one of the hot companies working on production quality battery packs. Perhaps they should devote all of their thoughts and energies to this task and let the scientiests at MIT work on fuel cells. It's all about the costs. They say they can extend the range by 50%. Is that really going to be cost effective? Anyway, it's their money I guess.

Probably one of the owners or investors put their neck out about fuel cells and due to an enormous ego just can't let it go. I hope I'm wrong because that could be a critical distraction. Don't they think battery packs are a big enough global market?

Designing a fuel cell for a range extending application should be a much simpler, faster, cheaper endevour. It needs only to be 70 hp and deliver a constant load, so it can be small and cheap using the latest membranes and low or no platinum catalysts.

Jason, a fuel cell is more complex than a battery as a result of the need to handle fuel and air gas distribution and exhaust gas recycling, not to mention water and heat management (5X more heat from a 50% efficient fuel cell than from a 90% efficient battery) in addition to the electrical current distribution and the fuel storage system.

I notice the fuel cells you linked to were <15kW. Not big enough for a range extender (70 hp).

Are you heavily invested in fuel cell and related stocks?

Jason, a fuel cell is more complex than a battery as a result of the need to handle fuel and air gas distribution and exhaust gas recycling, not to mention water and heat management (5X more heat from a 50% efficient fuel cell than from a 90% efficient battery) in addition to the electrical current distribution and the fuel storage system.

I notice the fuel cells you linked to were <15kW. Not big enough for a range extender (70 hp).

Are you heavily invested in fuel cell and related stocks?

No, I just believe consumers should always have a choice. I don't want an EV only marketplace in 50 years.

I think a smaller fuel cell would also work as a range extender, in the 20kw range.. the trick is that you would start it at the beginning of your trip and it would run all the time.

I think a smaller fuel cell would also work as a range extender, in the 20kw range.. the trick is that you would start it at the beginning of your trip and it would run all the time.
As long as the fuel cell operation can be turned off for pure battery operation at the user's discretion, I don't have a problem with this. Obviously, it must be cost-competitive with other range-extending technologies.