Hydrogen fuel-cell automobiles seem like a great idea because we can obtain it from renewable sources and because it does not have harmful emissions. Hydrogen safely stored in the vehicle combines with oxygen to produce the electricity that powers the car and has water as its byproduct. What's taking us so long?"While fuel cells themselves are potentially highly energy efficient, and working prototypes were made by Roger E. Billings in the 1960s, at least four technical obstacles and other political considerations exist regarding the development and use of a fuel cell-powered hydrogen car.Apparently there has been some progress made to overcome these difficulties. Like many people, I've been waiting for years to hear something like the following:
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Currently, hydrogen fuel cells are costly to produce and fragile. ...
Freezing conditions are a major consideration because fuel cells produce water and utilize moist air with varying water content. ...
Although service life is coupled to cost, fuel cells have to be compared to existing machines with a service life in excess of 5000 hours for stationary and light-duty. ...
Because of the energy required to compress or liquefy the hydrogen gas, the supply chain for hydrogen has lower well-to-tank efficiency compared to gasoline. ..."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_vehicle <June 16, 2008>
"Japanese car manufacturer Honda has begun the first commercial production of a zero-emission, hydrogen fuel-cell powered vehicle.The four-seater, called FCX Clarity, runs on hydrogen and electricity, emitting only water vapour. Honda claims the vehicle offers three times better fuel efficiency than a traditional, gasoline-powered car. Honda plans to produce 200 of the cars, which are initially only available to lease, over the next three years.
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The first five customers are all based in southern California because of the proximity of hydrogen fuelling stations, Honda said.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7456141.stm
US actress Jamie Lee Curtis will be among the first to take delivery of the vehicle, the firm added.
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Honda says it expects to lease a few dozen units in the US and Japan in 2008, and about 200 units within three years.
It said the cost of the car, on a three-year lease, would be $600 (£300) a month."
Hopefully common sense will lead us more quickly to this cleaner, brighter future. I won't miss supporting OPEC; our relationship with them has been a like a bad marriage. Apparently we won't need to drill oil wells in our national parks. 200 automobiles seems more like a spark than a wildfire. The prospect of greater self-sufficiency for our nation seems quite attractive, but why aren't we working harder to make this a reality? The future has made itself known, but when will this future really come to fruition?
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U wishing you laughter
Hydrogen's versatility as an energy carrier, not an energy source, makes it accessible for use in different applications. Separate from the frequent emphasis on hydrogen cars, the reality is hydrogen can be used to power many applications. The next cell phone call you make could be powered by hydrogen since fuel cell power supplies support cell phone towers. The next time you shop at Wal-Mart the box of Oreo cookies and the new Blue Ray movie you purchase could be transported with a fuel cell forklift, or may have been driven across the country on a semi-truck using a hydrogen injection system.
Regarding the comments about the hydrogen infrastructure, an initial $10 to $15 billion investment, equivalent to about one month of military spending in Iraq, would establish an initial refueling infrastructure within 2 miles anywhere within the top 100 metro areas and along all US highways. Thus far, 75 hydrogen fueling stations throughout the U.S are currently in operation or development.
To learn more about the benefits of hydrogen, we invite everyone to please visit www.h2andyou.org.