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07-07-2009, 08:05 PM
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In the future, all of our cars will emit nothing but clean water vapor. Using technology first successfully used by NASA as it sent astronauts into space, they will make almost no noise - in fact, they may have artificial "noise generators" so that people can hear them coming. The vehicles themselves will get their power from a clean, green fuel that is so abundant we're never likely to run out of it.
Is this Utopian dream too good to be true? Perhaps. Hydrogen opponents often refer to the technology as "fool cells." Sure, it's abundant, but hydrogen still needs to be captured, stored and transported. Fuel cells are expensive little pieces and often use precious metals in their construction. Unlike batteries, fuel cells require a reactant such as hydrogen to operate, and that reactant is used up as the cell generates electricity. Is it better just to store all of this power in batteries, completely eschewing the need for storage tanks and fuel cells? That's an excellent question, and it'll all be worked out in time.
Even if the so-called Hydrogen Economy does mature, you and I may not be around to see fuel cells become a dominant player for our transportation needs. After all, the technology is still rather expensive, and capturing, distributing and storing enough hydrogen, which really only acts as an energy carrier, is turning out to be a tough nut to crack. Despite these seemingly major drawbacks, the largest, most innovative auto manufacturers on Earth are moving forward at an amazing pace to get their first space-age commercialized hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in the hands of consumers just like you and me. Next question: will it work? Let's take a closer look, shall we?
More: 2009 Honda FCX Clarity Review (http://www.autoguide.com/manufacturer/honda/2009-honda-fcx-clarity-review-969.html) on AutoGuide.com
In the future, all of our cars will emit nothing but clean water vapor. Using technology first successfully used by NASA as it sent astronauts into space, they will make almost no noise - in fact, they may have artificial "noise generators" so that people can hear them coming. The vehicles themselves will get their power from a clean, green fuel that is so abundant we're never likely to run out of it.
Is this Utopian dream too good to be true? Perhaps. Hydrogen opponents often refer to the technology as "fool cells." Sure, it's abundant, but hydrogen still needs to be captured, stored and transported. Fuel cells are expensive little pieces and often use precious metals in their construction. Unlike batteries, fuel cells require a reactant such as hydrogen to operate, and that reactant is used up as the cell generates electricity. Is it better just to store all of this power in batteries, completely eschewing the need for storage tanks and fuel cells? That's an excellent question, and it'll all be worked out in time.
Even if the so-called Hydrogen Economy does mature, you and I may not be around to see fuel cells become a dominant player for our transportation needs. After all, the technology is still rather expensive, and capturing, distributing and storing enough hydrogen, which really only acts as an energy carrier, is turning out to be a tough nut to crack. Despite these seemingly major drawbacks, the largest, most innovative auto manufacturers on Earth are moving forward at an amazing pace to get their first space-age commercialized hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in the hands of consumers just like you and me. Next question: will it work? Let's take a closer look, shall we?
More: 2009 Honda FCX Clarity Review (http://www.autoguide.com/manufacturer/honda/2009-honda-fcx-clarity-review-969.html) on AutoGuide.com