The automotive industry is no stranger to innovation, but the University of Washington (UW) is taking it to a whole new level. Retired professor Abe Hertzberg and his team have developed a groundbreaking liquid nitrogen vehicle, the LN2000, which could potentially overshadow electric and hydrogen-powered cars. Hertzberg, a retired professor of aeronautics and astronautics, aims to address the safety and environmental issues plaguing current electric vehicles with this innovative alternative.
The LN2000 operates on a principle akin to a steam engine, but instead of boiling water, it uses liquid nitrogen. When vaporized, this extremely cold liquid turns an air motor, propelling the vehicle. The result? Zero harmful emissions. The nitrogen released is a benign 78% of the atmosphere, making the environmental impact negligible.
“If you’re going to talk about a truly non-polluting car, you have to do something different than gas or electric,” explains Hertzberg. “We believe a liquid nitrogen vehicle can match the performance and range of an electric car, while still being affordable and easy to maintain and operate. And ecologically, it’s a dream come true.”
Hertzberg and his colleagues, including Professors Adam Bruckner and Tom Mattick, research scientist Carl Knowlen, and graduate students Peter Vitt and Helene DeParis, have built a prototype from an old Grumman Kubvan mail truck. The vehicle features insulated tanks, piping, and a 15 horsepower air motor. Despite its humble appearance, the LN2000 could be a game-changer in the automotive industry.
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One of the most exciting aspects of the LN2000 is its potential to reduce air pollution during the production of liquid nitrogen. The process involves running air through a large refrigeration system, which removes pollutants like carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide. These pollutants can then be disposed of safely, potentially in depleted oil wells or the deep ocean, ensuring they don’t return to the atmosphere.
Currently, the LN2000 prototype consumes about five gallons of nitrogen fuel per mile and achieves a top speed of only 22 mph. However, Hertzberg and his team are seeking further funding to develop a more efficient motor that could reach speeds of 60 mph and achieve two to three miles per gallon. This would bring the vehicle’s range in line with conventional gasoline-powered cars, with the added benefit of being more economical to operate.
“This motor operates at less than 20 percent of the efficiency we think is possible, which reduces power, performance and fuel economy,” explains John Williams, a former graduate student who worked on the LN2000 project for his master’s thesis. “We know we can do better.”
While electric cars have been touted as the future of green transportation, they come with their own set of problems. Lead-acid batteries, for instance, offer limited range and perform poorly in cold weather. They also pose significant environmental risks due to the heavy metals they contain. Newer battery technologies, such as nickel-metal hydride and lithium-ion, are expensive and potentially dangerous.
Hydrogen fuel cells, another promising technology, generate electricity with virtually zero emissions. However, the infrastructure for hydrogen refuelling is still underdeveloped, and the cost of fuel cells remains prohibitively high.
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Liquid nitrogen vehicles like the LN2000 offer several advantages over these alternatives. Liquid nitrogen is nonflammable, nontoxic, and can be produced using less energy than hydrogen. Refuelling stations for liquid nitrogen could be easily adapted from existing gas stations, making the transition smoother and less costly.
Despite its potential, the liquid nitrogen vehicle faces significant challenges in gaining acceptance from both the automotive industry and the public. Hertzberg acknowledges this but remains optimistic. “This has become a bit of a Holy Grail for me because it’s the right thing to do,”. “This is a car that will work with the environment instead of against it. I didn’t expect any trouble in proving that a liquid nitrogen vehicle could work. I do expect trouble in selling the idea.”
The LN2000 has already caught the attention of the South Coast Air Quality Management District and the U.S. Council for Automotive Research. While the former sees fuel cells as the long-term solution for zero-emission vehicles, the latter is exploring various alternative technologies to meet the demand for more efficient and environmentally friendly cars.
