In many cases, hydrogen is safer than the fuel we currently use to power our cars. Carbon-based fuels tend to spread as liquids (as you well know if you've ever spilled gasoline on yourself at the pump). When it burns, conventional fuel produces hot ash, creating radiant heat. This isn't the case with hydrogen. In its pure form, hydrogen burns no carbon and produces no hot ash and very little radiant heat [source: RMI]. What's more, when hydrogen leaks, it ascends rapidly into the atmosphere, so it has less time to burn [source: Princeton].
So what about the Hindenburg? Both proponents and opponents of hydrogen fuel have latched onto the ill-fated blimp in their debate. While opponents point to it as a cautionary tale, proponents view it as exoneration for hydrogen.
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