HYDROGEN

The promise of hydrogen—as a liquid or gas fuel or in the making of fuel cells—is virtually utopian in proportion. So when does Utopia get here?

If this were an easy question, there would be an easy answer. Since there is not an easy answer, let’s start with how fuel cells of any kind work: They store energy, very much like a battery.

Hydrogen fuel cells can serve a wide variety of functions. Just recently there have been exciting breakthroughs.

The state of California, under Governor Arnold, has moved to the forefront in developing the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle.

But Alec Brooks, the "hero" of WHO KILLED THE ELECTRIC CAR? says the hydrogen fuel cell is a perfect example of doing less with more.

Which explains why the movie’s website says: “The long term” is definitely the operative phrase when it comes to hydrogen fuel cells. Supporters see the hydrogen fuel cell as a better option for controlling pollution than the electric vehicle, because in theory the H2 car will create zero emissions at either the car tailpipe or at the electric power plant. Supporters and detractors both agree, however, that a practical H2 car is decades away from reality… The hydrogen that’s used to power a fuel cell can be produced by splitting the hydrocarbons in fossil fuels or through electrolysis…This process uses three to four times more electricity than the electricity used to power electric vehicle batteries…The director of GM’s hydrogen fuel-cell concept car, Sequel, was quoted as saying, “Hydrogen fuel cells are about 10 times too expensive now”, with a $50,000 price tag compared to the roughly $5,000 cost of an internal combustion engine… GM hopes to start selling hydrogen fuel-cell cars by 2010, though the International Energy Agency predicts that fuel-cell vehicles won’t come onto the mass market until 2025… We consider the hydrogen fuel cell “guilty” of killing the electric car primarily because we believe it was used as a “bait and switch”—swapping out existing, functional battery technology…for the promise of something that might be possible 20, 30 or more years in the future.

That’s an introduction to the controversy. Unless controversy typifies Utopia, it looks like we’re some way from there still. “…Stuck outside of Mobile with the Memphis blues again,” as Dr. Dylan said.