If Hydrogen fuel cell is used in cars why don't they use it on airlplanes and jet planes ?

Question

If Hydrogen fuel cell is used in cars why don't they use it on airlplanes and jet planes ?

Answer 1

That is what they plan to do. This is rocket science scaled down to the terra firma and for our friendly skies. Everything will be driven by the fuel cell and it will provide the energy for our homes also. The plan is for everyone to have an energy station at their home to supply all their auto needs and all the energy needs of the home.

The prototypes have been perfected and it is no longer in the planning stages, it's ready for roll out and in some places in Southern California where the need is at an all time high, it is being rolled out this year, summer of 2008.

I suspect the auto industry will start rolling out the new technology in all types of vehicles very soon for the general public once the infrastructure is in place.

How much longer can America be sustained on foreign oil and the unprecedented high fuel prices that seem to go up as we speak with no looking back and no end in sight?

People are not going to buy the gas guzzlers any more unless they have money to burn and could care a hoot about the environment. There are always a few in the crowd.

Answer 2

Altitude and temp difference, water freezes. That is all

Answer 3

But it is not used in cars now.  The fuel cells are still too expensive and there is no infrastructure to distribute and safetly carry hydrogen.

The Air Force is planning to build a plant at Malmstrom AFB, Great Falls, Montana to make jet fuel from plant material (using somewhat the same process as making bio-diesel).  It would be much cheaper than developing a hydrogen engine for aircraft.

Answer 4

Unlike petrol or jet fuel, hydrogen is not a particularly compact soure of energy.  Jet fuel will release about 42MJ/kg, hydrides (solids that are used to store hydrogen for use in fuel cells) release just 7MJ/kg.  This is a big problem for cars, because it means you'd have to refuel much more often.  It's an even bigger problem in planes because saving weight is so crucial.

The lack of a compact way to store hydrogen is arguably the biggest obsticle to achieving a hydrogen economy, and this is a very active area of research.