Since the issue came up a few times, I decided to make this post. Like many, I was initially excited at the prospect of hydrogen powered vehicles. It seemed like a good way to lessen our dependence on Arab oil, until I learned better. Industrially, hydrogen is made in two ways: (1) By applying electric current (electricity) to water, and (2) from fossil fuels, including oil (bummer!) For those who like the science speak: http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfa...yHydrogen.html Industry produces the hydrogen it needs by a process called steam reforming. High-temperature steam separates hydrogen from the carbon atoms in methane (CH4). The hydrogen produced by this method isn’t used as a fuel. It is used for industrial processes. This is the most cost-effective way to produce hydrogen today, but it uses fossil fuels both in the manufacturing process and as the heat source. Another way to make hydrogen is by electrolysis—splitting water into its basic elements––hydrogen and oxygen. Electrolysis involves passing an electric current through water to separate the atoms (2H2O + electricity = 2H2 + O2). Hydrogen collects at the negatively charged cathode and oxygen at the positive anode. Hydrogen produced by electrolysis is extremely pure, and electricity from renewable energy sources can be used, but it is very expensive at this time. Today, hydrogen from electrolysis is ten times as costly as natural gas and three times as costly as gasoline per Btu. As a disclaimer, the above web site advocates the use of hydrogen, so it presents some of the info more optimistically than realistically.