Cars that run on electricity, as a replacement for traditional fuel, have become mainstream thanks to the popular hybrid models of the Toyota Prius and the Tesla Model S.We are very close to seeing even more advanced technology in cars - the hydrogen fuel cell. The FAST team is working hard on the next step in sustainable fuel - formic acid.
The FAST (Formic Acid Sustainable Transportation) team is a multidisciplinary research team. It is made up of selected students from the Technical University of Eindhoven in the Netherlands. The goal of this team is to develop formic acid as the future of sustainable fuel. It would be a gasoline alternative that could replace fossil fuels, not only for cars but for all means of transportation.
This January, the FAST team successfully demonstrated a 30-watt (W) mock-up. This mockup was made in record time thanks to the Ultimaker 3D printer they used for prototyping. Their success guaranteed them great international recognition, as well as 50,000 euros from the Major Technology Foundation.
So why does the FAST team want to develop formic acid as a sustainable fuel of the future?
Battery and fuel cell problems
The problems with the current version of the electric car are that it runs on batteries, the production of which is harmful to the environment. Also, the energy is not enough for long trips. That's why hydrogen fuel cell technology is considered the next technological advance for electric cars.
Hydrogen gas, which is stored in tanks, is combined with oxygen in a chemical reaction that generates electricity and produces water as the only byproduct. The car still runs on electricity, but stores energy in an environmentally friendly way.
However, hydrogen has its drawbacks - it is expensive to transport and sell.
The power of formic acid
Team Fast believes that formic acid, produced by ants (formic acid in Latin), is the solution to these problems.
Formic acid is a liquid that can be converted into hydrogen and carbon dioxide thanks to a newly discovered catalyst. The FAST team wants to develop cars of the future that will have normal fuel tanks filled with liquid formic acid. The acid can be converted into hydrogen, which is used to generate electricity.
Liquid formic acid is far more energetic than a battery or hydrogen gas, and the range and performance of this formic acid car would be far superior. In addition, current batteries and hydrogen fuel cells are not compatible with the existing global transport infrastructure for liquid fuels, they require the construction of special electric charging stations.
On the other hand, we could use formic acid more simply, and that is from already existing gas stations. The same amount of water and carbon dioxide that is discharged while driving will be used to create equivalent amounts of new formic acid, keeping the fuel totally carbon neutral. Add to that the production of formic acid can be powered by renewable energy sources such as wind and solar energy.
Model Formauto Junior
The FAST team started in 2015 and aims to complete a working model by the end of 2016. Such an ambitious deadline can only be achieved with the best agile prototyping techniques.
Thanks to their Ultimaker 3D printer, the team is able to design and print custom fixtures and fittings for this model as soon as a specific part for their prototype arrives. The traditional way of making parts with CNC takes several weeks.
In January 2016, they successfully demonstrated their Formauto Junior model that runs on formic acid. The next hurdle is to build a prototype 1000 times stronger than their current prototype before the end of 2016. This 30 kW version will use formic acid to power public transport to prove that this technology is actually capable of powering large transport vehicles such as buses.
In 2017, the FAST team is traveling the world with the first car that runs on formic acid.
We're sure their Ultimaker 2+ will continue to blaze new trails in the quest to make formic acid the leading sustainable fuel of the future!
This January, the FAST team successfully demonstrated a 30-watt (W) mock-up. This mockup was made in record time thanks to the Ultimaker 3D printer they used for prototyping. Their success guaranteed them great international recognition, as well as 50,000 euros from the Major Technology Foundation.
So why does the FAST team want to develop formic acid as a sustainable fuel of the future?
In 2017, the FAST team is traveling the world with the first car that runs on formic acid.
We're sure their Ultimaker 2+ will continue to blaze new trails in the quest to make formic acid the leading sustainable fuel of the future!