Diesel: The Fuel of the Future?
THE GIST OF THE STORY ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A new kind of fuel cell runs on diesel instead of hydrogen. A fist-sized fuel cell produces 250 watts of electricity, enough to power yachts and mobile homes. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Diesel, a fuel once derided as being too loud and too dirty, could be the key to clean, quiet and more environmentally friendly energy. A Norwegian company, Nordic Power Systems, in conjunction with Cal Tech spin-off SAFCell Inc., recently released a new fist-sized, diesel-powered fuel cell that produces 250 watts of electricity, enough to power yachts or mobile homes. Scaled up, the researchers could use the fuel cells to power even more energy-hungry machines. "Diesel is available most places, is not seen as a hazardous fuel in any way, has high power density, and (our