Originally published June 9 2005
California Hydrogen Highway Plan could invest $54 million to build hydrogen fueling stations
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger advocates a plan to build 100 hydrogen fueling stations within five years. The plan, if state lawmakers approve funding, will put California ahead of the 13 other hydrogen initiatives in the country. While consumer hydrogen vehicles are projected to appear in 5-10 years, the project will create the infrastructure to speed the process along. According to the "California Hydrogen Highway Plan," the state will match funds for the construction of 100 hydrogen fueling stations statewide. Some skeptics think the initiative is premature: the most likely fuel cell vehicle to emerge, the Honda FCX, now gets only 190 miles per tank and costs about $1 million dollars per vehicle.
Arnold Schwarzenegger will advocate that California invest $54 million in public money to help build a network of up to 100 hydrogen fueling stations statewide within five years, according to new details of his ``Hydrogen Highway'' plan.
A team of more than 200 scientists, automakers and environmentalists spent a year drafting the 144-page document, which the governor requested last year, calling hydrogen-powered cars a way to reduce smog, slow global warming and wean the nation from oil.
The plan concludes that California can help speed a national transition from gasoline vehicles to environmentally friendly hydrogen fuel cell cars -- whose tailpipes emit only water vapor.
``The idea is that if you build it, they will come,'' said Alan Lloyd, secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency.
General Motors, Toyota, Honda and others have a few prototypes on U.S. highways, leased to government fleets or universities.
None are for sale yet to consumers.
Yet skeptics say broad use of fuel cell vehicles is still decades away because of problems with cost, vehicle range and questions over how to produce large amounts of hydrogen cleanly.
What's the rush?'' said Joseph Romm, a former assistant energy secretary in the Clinton administration and author of ``The Hype About Hydrogen.''
For example, most hydrogen vehicles have a range of only about 150 miles between fill-ups, compared with up to 450 miles for typical gasoline cars.
Also, hydrogen is produced by separating it from water with electricity or from natural gas with heat.
A fuel cell produces electricity by taking in oxygen and hydrogen, then separating protons and electrons in a membrane, and routing the electrons to create an electrical current that powers the vehicle's motor.
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