So is hydrogen the way forward after all?

[Neil]

I've been skeptical about hydrogen due to the difficulties in using/transporting it. But maybe that will be changing - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21618350


A new process for extracting hydrogen from a liquid fuel could sweep aside one obstacle to a "hydrogen economy".

Hydrogen produced from renewable resources is a promising source of clean energy, but the gas is difficult to handle and transport.

An international team has now published details of an efficient, low-temperature method for generating it from methanol.

This can then be used to produce electricity using a fuel cell.

[Mike70]

anything that will help usher in the death of the internal combustion engine (a highly inefficient way of generating power since so much of the energy is lost as heat) is good in my book and i'm all for it. i've been following the use of hydrogen for years. we already have hydrogen engines that work perfectly fine, produce decent power (enough to easily move a large city bus around), and produce only pure water as a by-product (because there is no "combustion" in hydrogen fuel cells).

there are lots of cities around the world that are already using public buses powered by hydrogen.

i am a dire and deadly enemy of gasoline powered vehicles. their time has come and gone long ago - we just haven't been smart enough, brave enough, and noble enough to realize it and do something about it.

[Legion2213]

I've been skeptical about hydrogen due to the difficulties in using/transporting it. But maybe that will be changing - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21618350

They had a hydrogen car on Top Gear years ago...Clarkson who despises all things eco absolutely loved it, because it functioned and performed like a normal car, and refueling it once the technology is up and running would take the same small amount of time as filling up your standard motor, (as opposed to all that recharging for hours crap with current eco jobbies).

[Neil]

^ Suspect we'll end up with electric cars, charged by hydrogen engines then?

[Legion2213]

Yep....hydro power plant. 270 mile range, 3 minutes to fill the tank, 100mph top speed, so not amazing, but urinates all over the average electro buggy-cart...and of course, it's in it's infancy, if they really pushed forward with this, I reckon they could easily double the range in a few years :)

http://www.topgear.com/uk/videos/honda-clarity

(was Captain Slow doing the testing, not Clarkson)