Eschew Obfuscation: Hydrogen Powered Vehicles are Not Viable

Hydrogen Powered Vehicles are Not Viable

Max Dunn — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 17:46:00 -0800

Regardless of what Bush thinks, hydrogen powered vehicles are not a viable alternative.

First off, hydrogen is not something that can be “mined”, but instead must be produced using other energy sources [1]. With current technologies, electricity from hydrogen fuel cells is four times more expensive than electricity from the grid [2]. Secondly, hydrogen is very difficult to ship and store. Leave a hydrogen car at the airport for two weeks and half of the fuel will be lost due to evaporation [2]. Thirdly, while hydrogen fuel cells are clean, currently hydrogen fuel cells are costly to produce and fragile [3] and only about 50% efficient [4]. Lastly, hydrogen is not very dense so cars would need to have a tank 2-3 times larger than their gasoline tanks [3].

With all things considered, it doesn’t make sense to power cars with hydrogen; instead, just put batteries in the car and use the electricity directly.

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"Hydrogen Powered Vehicles are Not Viable" by Max Dunn

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 07:17:26 -0800

I agree that hydrogen shouldn’t be considered. But you want to know why there is a big push for hydrogen? Oil companies! They realize they are running out of oil and so their business is threatened. If we go straight to electric vehicles, they will have nothing to sell us. But if we go to hydrogen vehicles, then they will be able to use a lot of their existing infrastructure to produce, store, transport and sell hydrogen.

"Hydrogen Powered Vehicles are Not Viable" by Estela

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 23:22:10 -0800

I don’t think hydrogen should be considered as an alternative fuel for vehicles. Like what you’ve pointed out, hydrogen is difficult to produce, cannot be stored for a long period of time and very expensive. Car owners will not even think of buying it. Yes, it’s a clean alternative but maybe we can think of other ways to lessen the pollution fossil fuels produce.

"Hydrogen Powered Vehicles are Not Viable" by Max Dunn

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 21:25:52 -0800

It is true that electric energy production does use fossil fuels. But it is a lot less than gas cars, in California by about 6 times! (See Electric Vehicles Produce a Lot Less CO2) They also require less fossil fuels than a hydrogen car. But the great thing about electric cars is that our power companies are continuing to switch to cleaner and more efficient sources of electricity including wind and solar. And we can eliminate all fossil fuel used for our electric cars by installing solar electric panels on our houses.

"Hydrogen Powered Vehicles are Not Viable" by Hualing

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 21:08:49 -0800

I agree with you. I’d go for electric powered batteries. Though they burn fossil fuels because of the electric charging, the gas they emit while running is less dangerous.