Into water not CO2 that's hydrogen power for you

In a week when Gorden Brown called for all cars sold in 2020 to be either electric or hybrid and emitting 100 g/km of CO2 or less, a British company, ITM, announce a breakthrough in its development of a prototype home refueling station for the hydrogen car. This breakthrough reported by the BBC news maybe the very long term solution for a thirsty oil guzzling world fast running out of supply. For a report click on Red Herring.

Though, in addition to continuing concern from some university academics about the sustainability of the energy used to produce the hydrogen as a fuel-it requires electricity to generate it- there is the 'chicken and egg' twist. There is no refueling infrastructure to support a large number of hydrogen cars,and too few cars to encourage the investment in such an infrastructure. Assuming the technology is sound-the wonder material converting water into hydrogen (and oxygen) is a newly developed polymer-and the sustainability aspect is dealt with (use of renewable energy: from, wind,wave,solar etc.) then the market will develop the necessary refueling stations,and the car manufacturers are already working hard to produce the cars. Take Honda,for instance.

On November 16,last year, low emission cars reported-Honda home-in on a solution to the shortage of hydrogen- that Honda was trialling the Home Energy Staion 1v using natural gas to generate hydrogen for a hydrogen fuel-cell car and to provide power for domestic heat and light. ITM,too have seen that its refueling prototype can be a domestic appliance for driver convenience, although it does seem that the range of 25 mile per refuel is a practical limiting factor at present... something about the need to incorporate fuel-cell technology to extend range ,some scientists say.

The jury may still be out on the ITM project to provide the revolution the oil-strapped economies need, there clearly are going to be hydrogen cars in the mix in the near future. Honda is one manufacturer investing heavily in hydrogen power. Its FCX Clarity
hydrogen fuel cell car (lec archive:November ,2007) is currently being leased on a limited trial basis to drivers in the US. It seems clear there will be other exciting developments announced in this area of zero emission motoring in the coming months.

Meanwhile,if you are thinking of changing your car now for a low emission car that is currently available you should go for helpful information by clicking on at the Green Car Guide site.