Hydrogen is a clean fuel but it's not an alternate energy source, so it's not going to save the planet, improve our health or protect us from foreignersany time soon.
I'm not sure how this one got started but it probably has its roots in the environmental movement. The belief seems to be that running our vehicles with hydrogen will stop air pollution, reduce global warming and remove our dependenceon foreign nations for fossil fuels.
Not exactly.
President Bush introduced his vision for a hydrogen economy in his 2003 State of the Union message, and the press jumped on it. That initiative didn't get too far, though. It wasn't mentioned in this year's State of the Union (apparently steroid use is more important) and is currently sitting in the Senate Finance Committee with few signs of life.
A couple of weeks ago, State Governors Jeb Bush and Arnold Schwarzenegger got into the act, (as did several of the Democratic presidential contenders). Schwarzenegger is the worst, as he says we can have "Hydrogen Highways" in California by 2010.
Proving, once again, that many politicians don't know squat. Theproblem is that while GM's claim may be true
"We expect to have a commercially viable fuel cell by 2010, a vehicle that can be bought by consumers. It won't cost more than the other vehicles in that category on that day," said GM spokesman Scott Fosgard. [Schwarzenegger Is Driving Force 1/21/2004]
if it comes to pass, it will increase pollution, increase the risk of global warming and increase our foreign energy dependence.
Here's the speed reader version of why:
1. Hydrogen is not an alternate energy source - it's a mechanism for storing and transferring energy from a source to where it's needed. While hydrogen is the most plentiful element in the universe, it's not just hanging around - it's all tied up in other matter.
Article comments
1 - Jeff
Not to mention that hydrogen fuel cells will still require you to fill up about the same amount of the time. Moving towards gas-electric hybrids (or pure electric) will actually change the way we drive (i.e. not having to go to the pump every week). Oh and by the way, the best way to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and reduce polution is to NOT DRIVE AS MUCH!
2 - Dirtgrain
A practical, efficient means of hydrogen production may have been developed. The article, Scientists Advance Hydrogen Tech, reports the following:
Researchers say they have produced hydrogen from ethanol in a prototype reactor small enough and efficient enough to heat small homes and power cars. . . .
The reactor is a relatively tiny 2-foot-high apparatus of tubes and wires that creates hydrogen from corn-based ethanol. A fuel cell, which acts like a battery, then generates power. . . .
The researchers say their reactor will produce hydrogen exclusively from ethanol and do it cheaply enough so people can buy hydrogen fuel cells for personal use.
There may be hope yet. If the automotive industry would put more money into research, they may find a viable way to produce hydrogen for use as fuel.3 - Jonathan
Some scary stuff regarding oil alternative energy and all that crap.. Just think some of you might find this interesting
http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net/
I think the guy is a bit paranoid, but it's still interesting reading.
4 - Dirtgrain
Connect that article with Dave Pollard's posts at How To Save the World: Population: A Systems Approach, and also More Unpalatable Thoughts on Overpopulation, and also The Ten Most Under-Reported Humanitarian Events of 2003. The end is near.
5 - CJ
In response to comment 2:
The hydrogen is being derived from methanol. Methanol is derived either from fossil fuels or biofuels. In either case far more energy is used to generate the hydrogen than the hydrogen returns when used. In short, a net energy loss. Unsustainable, and, ultimately, impractical.