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• Sunday, July 6, 2008 12:13 PM

  Hydrogen fuel isn't as big as it once was

  At least, it's not the next step that's coming. Right now (despite the BMW 7-series Hydrogen, which was really just for PR), the two companies that are still going forward with hydrogen fuel cells as a really significant part of their plan are Honda and Mercedes.

  Toyota, GM and most others are heading straight to plug-in hybrids (aiming for 2010 mass market release) which does give something which bypasses most of the liquid delivery system (they have a very, very small gasoline powered engine, mostly in case of emergencies).

  Tesla is aiming for 2010-1011 with the next all-electric car, a sedan (unfortunately, the price is probably going to be around $60K, better than the roadster, which there is still little evidence they have delivered to many people, but, we'll see).

  The issue isn't developing a car that can run on hydrogen, they've done that. They just can't make the fuel easily, cheaply, etc.

  In any case, why is it necessary to have only one solution - I believe that's the problem we have now? If everyone goes to plug-in hybrids and electric, they have to, well, plug them in to the electricity grid which means the power has to come from somewhere. Where is it coming from? Coal? Natural gas? Nuclear? Wind? Solar?

  I think a mix of solutions across fully electic, hybrid, possibly hydrogen, if they can get it to work, and next-generation bio-fuels, plus as much improvement and expansion of public transit as possible is the best solution. Why are people so eager to dump dependence on one set of energy companies for dependence on another set of them?

  —SueNJ97 Read SueNJ97's other letters
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