A Hydrogen Fuel Cell Car not only saves us from the rising prices of fuel, it also significantly reduces our dependence on foreign oil and lower unfavorable emissions that cause climate change. Since these cars run on hydrogen gas rather than gasoline and release no harmful tailpipe pollutants, they avoid particles from diesels that foul the air, as well as methanol leak into the soil from bad tanks and accidental spills. The great thing about hydrogen is that it can be made from water and electricity, which can be produced in unlimited quantities with the use of solar energy and water. When it burns, it leaves no trace in the air, except for a little water vapor.
This innovation is indeed valuable, but a lot of work still has to be done to enable each car owner to shift to a hydrogen fuel cell car. There is a need for a number of consumer distribution systems to make it happen. Unlike methanol, which is a liquid that can be piped, transported and stored in the existing network for gasoline with minimal conversion costs, hydrogen requires a totally new fuel distribution infrastructure.
The home of the California Fuel Cell Partnership is located in West Sacramento. It is a depot for most of the hydrogen fuel cell-powered cars in North America. The facility is big enough for various automobile makers and other partners from all over the world. Unfortunately, most of the suites are still vacant. Although the facility has eighteen partners, which are energy and fuel providers, auto manufacturers, fuel cell companies and governmental agencies, only Honda and Daimler-Chrysler actually have cars and crews on site. There are vacant spaces for Toyota, Nissan, Volkswagen, Ford, Hyundai, and General Motors.
From a technological perspective, methanol cars are ahead in terms of readiness for road cars because of the weight added by the reforming system for a hydrogen fuel cell car. The common problems with hydrogen cars are slow warm-up and short range capability. Honda’s V-3 can only reach 110 miles, which is a flaw that can only be partially fixed by designing a larger hydrogen tank into the car. A bigger tank can add weight and take up more space. A more efficient vehicle is still in development and won’t be ready in years.
With a hydrogen fuel cell car, people can lessen its reliance on foreign oil, achieve lower prices at the fuel pumps and cut down the levels of greenhouse gases released that cause global warming. At present, Japan, California and the European Union (especially Germany) are the places that take advantage of hydrogen fuel cars.
