Hydrogen Fuel Could, Maybe, Possibly, be in Your Future

[greencat]

Cars that emit mainly water vapor from their tailpipes, instead of NOx, SOx, CO2, CO and who knows what else… Not only does it sound too good to be true, it recalls science fiction scenarios from Heinlein, Asimov, Dick, and others. Hydrogen fuel is a reality of course, although I personally haven’t seen proof in a large demonstrative way. There was once an alternative energy vehicle rally I attended with a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle or two, but they were nothing more at the time than emblematic of a future that was too remote to live within.

In about five years Toyota says it will be selling a $50,000 hydrogen fuel cell powered sedan and that they’ve brought the price of hydrogen technology down 95% since the early 90’s. Sounds fantastic, will there be accessible hydrogen delivery in five years? Where will that hydrogen come from? The majority of hydrogen gas is currently made from natural gas… that doesn’t seem to fit in well with fossil fuel-less driving. Also, who will be able to afford 50K for a car? And, by 2015, the new crop of electric cars will have a significant head start on any hydrogen tech.

Hydrogen Fuel Could, Maybe, Possibly, be in Your Future

[Nicolas_Thomas]

Tomorrow's fuel-cell vehicles may be powered by enzymes that consume cellulose from woodchips or grass and exhale hydrogen. Researchers have produced hydrogen gas pure enough to power a fuel cell by mixing 14 enzymes, one coenzyme, cellulosic materials...