Hydrogen Car Goes Down Like the Hindenburg

Hydrogen Car Goes Down Like the Hindenburg: DoE Kills the Program
The dream of hydrogen fuel cell cars has just been put back in the garage. U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced yesterday that his department is cutting all funding for hydrogen car research, saying that it won’t be a feasible technology anytime soon. “We asked ourselves, ‘Is it likely in the next 10 or 15, 20 years that we will covert to a hydrogen car economy?’ The answer, we felt, was ‘no,’” Chu said [CNET]. While innovative new cars are a high priority, Chu declared that his department will focus on efforts that may pay off sooner, like plug-in electric cars.

Cars powered by hydrogen fuel cells have been a staple of clean energy dreams, as they’d produce only a trickle of water as a waste product, instead of sooty exhaust and carbon dioxide gas. The retreat from cars powered by fuel cells counters Mr. Bush’s prediction in 2003 that “the first car driven by a child born today could be powered by hydrogen, and pollution-free.” The Energy Department will continue to pay for research into stationary fuel cells, which Dr. Chu said could be used like batteries on the power grid and do not require compact storage of hydrogen [The New York Times].

Buck

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Permalink Reply by The_Baron on May 12, 2009 at 4:11
I agree, the problem with so called clean fuels is where do you get the fuel. From an environmental standpoint, is an electric car a benifit if you produce the electricity from Coal? Sure it gets us away from foreign fuels, but is it worth the envirnmental cost? Also, in a time where our electrical capaciaty is strained do we have the capacity to handle electric cars? (brownouts anyone?)
Permalink Reply by sesport on May 12, 2009 at 16:23
Not to mention electricity costs will be going up soon with CO2 recovery costs (At least this is how I understand it. Someone may be along to correct me.) I haven't dug up what it costs, in terms of $ and environment, to produce those type of batteries.

I went without electricity for 4 days not too long ago. Don't think most people, except those affected by storms, realize how much "stuff" uses electricity. Now, try adding many HEPVs pulling on the juice ... I don't think we're ready yet.

Besides, the article from NGVA says that the NGV's run cleaner than the HEPVs.
Permalink Reply by P.G. on May 12, 2009 at 4:00
I wonder if it would be more cost effective to run a NG home generator to charge up an electric car?
Permalink Reply by sesport on May 12, 2009 at 16:27
That's a thought, but the NGVA info states that NGVs still run cleaner than HEPVs. Besides, I don't have anywhere to put a generator, and even if I did I'd need about 100 ft. extension cord. And I don't think I want to listen to a generator running every time I recharge. BTW, you know how frequently HEPVs need recharging? Just asking, just thought of that, haven't seen that info anywhere.
Permalink Reply by P.G. on May 12, 2009 at 17:55
I wonder if folks would freak if they saw how fast their meters spun when they plug one of those in? I wonder how many Kw it would take to charge one those cars, not to mention probably needing more than one?
Of course throw in a little cap and trade into the equation....
Permalink Reply by sesport on May 13, 2009 at 13:32
Cap & Trade ... Put on Mr. Haney hat (from tv show "Greenacres") and trade that HEPV! LOL
Permalink Reply by Mac Davis on June 3, 2009 at 18:00
They always talk about "pollution free" hydrogen car, but forget to mention that you have to make the hydrogen.

You can produce hydrogen chemically using natgas or coal as a feedstock. It produces CO2 and other pollutants, but may be more environmentally friendly than burning oil in the car. You can use nuclear or solar with no CO2 production.

Whether any of these will ever be economically viable is another question entirely.

You also don't have to have a fuel cell to use hydrogen. Hydrogen can be the fuel source for an internal combustion engine, just like oil or gas. Not as clean as a fuel cell, but cleaner than oil or gas, and little or no CO2 at the tailpipe.

Economics is another question.

Of course, mere facts don't matter to the treehuggers.

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