How are those hydrogen fuel cell cars coming along?

Question

We need them, NOW!

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080102/oil_prices.html

Answer 1

They're not coming along very quickly, but there are better alternatives.  Problems with hydrogen transportation:

1) Hydrogen fuel source.  Currently the only efficient method we have of getting hydrogen is from natural gas, and the process emits as much CO2 as burning gasoline (and it's no cheaper), so there's no benefit.  Theoretically you can use electrolysis to get hydrogen from water, but this requires tons of energy - more than you can get by burning the hydrogen.  Unless we find a way to weaken the atomic bonds, this process won't work.

2) Infrastructure.  There is no infrastructure for transportation and storage of hydrogen fuel, so even if there was a supply of hydrogen and a fleet of hydrogen cars, there's no way for them to refuel.

Electric cars are a better alternative.  They're environmentally friendly, the technology is advancing rapidly (affordable high-speed long-range EVs will begin to be available in about a year - see links below), and the infrastructure (power grid) is already in place.

Answer 2

For hydrogen technology, you should be thinking in decades - several decades, before they are even remotely competitive in terms of economics.

Answer 3

1 - We need to find catalyst (inside the fuel cell) to replace platinum.  Platinum works very well, but it is so expensive that it can never be incorporated into mass produced cars.

2 - Durability.  Right now they are not lasting long enough before they break down

3 - Hydrogen storage.  Great strides are being made towards safe hydrogen storage, but we still have a ways to go.

4 - Hydrogen production.  Right now since hydrogen demand is low, the electricity is worth more than the hydrogen that is produced.