Originally published April 11 2005
Advocates of hydrogen power face many hurdles, but biggest hurdle is public acceptance
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Many advocates of hydrogen power are touting the abundance of hydrogen as a major reason for its use as a power source, but there are still many problems to be overcome. Not the least of these problems is public resistance to hydrogen power. The public may not embrace a fuel source that is pricier than even gasoline at $2 per gallon, requires a rare fossil fuel, natural gas, for most of its production, and calls for a complete overhaul of every gas station. As well, people think of the Hindenburg when they think of hydrogen, so the public must be convinced of the fuel's safety.
No one knows for sure when hydrogen-powered cars, which turn hydrogen into electricity using devices called fuel cells, will gain significant market share.
One of the element's leading backers is Air Products and Chemicals of Trexlertown, the world's leading supplier of hydrogen and a leading builder of prototype fueling stations.
Air Products was a sponsor of the conference, and several of its employees were featured speakers.
''The public at large is a bit skeptical about [hydrogen's] progress,'' said Carol Battershell of energy giant BP, formerly British Petroleum.
During that time, alternative power sources have claimed small slices of the market at best: Think of wind power or solar electricity.
Steve Chalk, manager of the U.S. Department of Energy's hydrogen and fuel cell program, said the department will assess progress in 2015 and decide if fuel-cell auto technology is worth commercializing.
Cost estimates to build the fuel network range from $873 million for a bare-bones string of stations along interstate highways to $14 billion for a more comprehensive plan.
''We have some societal issues ahead,'' warned Bill Reinert of Toyota Motor Sales USA. ''Three-dollar-a-gallon gas is not a reason to switch to fuel cells.
Americans' intransigence sets a tough hurdle for car companies, that say fuel cell cars will not catch on unless they are comparable in price or performance to gasoline cars.
Pierre Rivard, chief executive officer of Canadian fuel-cell maker Hydrogenics, said he feared union opposition when Hydrogenics installed fuel cells in forklifts at General Motors' plant in Oshawa, Ontario.
One fuel cell power pack took the place of three battery packs, raising the possibility that fewer union workers might be needed in the plant's battery storage and handling office.
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