[Raj_Copi_Jin]

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.

IT WILL BE DIFFICULT BUT IT IS FEASIBLE
Do you know that within 20 years,Iceland will get rid of oil and shift to all hydrogen processes thanks to their natural boiling water ressources
They will become a new "GREEN KUWAIT"
USA has all the assets on hands to progressively undertake the same transition,only political will is lacking
I am a strong supporter of President Bush but I think the only field he is lagging behind is energy policy (opening alaskan natural reserves to oil drilling is nonsense...),supposidly he is favouring hydrogen but not strongly enough

[Lt_Apple]

Well, the thing is, most of the hydrogen would be produced from fossil fuel, i.e. oil. It seems that it is just a better way to use the same fuel we use now, but won't end our dependency on it.

Justcurious: I haven't heard of people refering to it as "dough," but while there a few power plants that reprocess animal waste, I just don't think there is enough cow cr*p out there for it to become one of the mainsteam car fuels.

Dough is a bit suspicious indeed. But a guy near me has had a Volvo running on dough for years, he's got much publicity, and his car works extremely well. The main problem is that you cannot have enough dough gas everywhere.

[radikal]

No amount of cleverness on our part is going to put a dent on our reliance of fossil fuels.
http://nytimes.com/financialtimes/bu...35_200375.html

The best way of following the spike in gas prices is to watch what the Oil Companies are actually doing...

[MannoFr]

http://www.eagle.ca/~gcowan/boron_blast.html


Ok my physical/thermochemistry is rusty but the math appears to work out.

[doctorzlo]

Toyota Prius was chosen the Car of the Year. And it's a hybrid car!

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...12_031120_coy/