Three physics majors at Davidson College in North Carolina set out to create an electric go-kart powered by a hydrogen fuel cell.
Unfortunately, the fuel cell they got only provided a tiny current, so they had to build a miniature version and a full-sized one with a safe charging system, Phys.org reports.
Still, they managed to win first place in their category at the Verna Miller Case Symposium, proving that "even at a liberal arts college, engineering projects can thrive and inspire," says Intelligent Living, which profiles other hydrogen-powered go-kart projects.
Among them is Pedro Picazo, a high school junior in Centralia, Wash., who built a hydrogen-powered go-kart after seeing his cousin's hydrogen fuel cell-powered Toyota Mira.
His teacher inspired him, and he's now working with local authorities to set up a hydrogen fueling station.
The X-Engine by LiquidPiston, meanwhile, is a heavy-duty, rotary engine that ignites hydrogen at a single point.
The X-Engine also features regenerative braking, which recharges the battery each time the driver decelerates.
The team that built the go-karts, however, found that initial tests revealed slower-than-expected speeds, and the technology could
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