| Are Hydrogen Fuel Cells The Way Forward? |
| Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 23:28 by Mark Benson |
News that the US Department of Energy (DoE) has set aside a further $15 million for 10 ongoing hydrogen fuel cell vehicle projects has given the sector a boost just at the right time. The problem seems to be the distance that is achievable by the current crop of hydrogen fuel cells which can only run for a maximum of 180 miles mpared to the 300 mile average for a car fuel tank. So what next?
For whatever reason it seems as though the US DoE is highly confident that researchers working on the projects in question are on the verge of a breakthrough. The problem with the mileage short fall is the fact that if not improved this would ensure the need for more hydrogen fuel cell filling stations and the extra cost which is associated with this.
Researchers are experimenting with an array of different metals and materials as well as looking to incorporate groundbreaking nanotechnology into the mix. As you might expect with something a little different the increased funding has drawn criticism from some in the US, but new ground breaking technology does not come cheap!
Hydrogen fuel cells may well be the fuel of the future and are sure to be a lot cheaper than petrol! |
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