According to the US Department of Energy, the greatest potential to revolutionize the transportation industry lies not within ethanol, bio-diesel, electric, or flex fuel engines but rather through hydrogen: The simplest and most abundant element in the known universe.<\/p>\n
Versatility in production is one of the element\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s greatest strengths and hydrogen comes with many options from fossil fuel byproduct, to biomass and even by simply electrolyzing water. <\/p>\n
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Producing hydrogen with renewable energy and then using it in fuel cell vehicles holds the promise of virtually pollution-free transportation. Unlike gasoline and diesel engines, which pump nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, and particulates into the atmosphere, hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles emit only H2O- water.<\/p>\n
Perhaps one of its greatest strengths lies in the fact that the nation\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s dependency upon imported petroleum could be completely severed. Hydrogen can be produced domestically from resources such as natural gas, coal, solar energy, wind, and even nuclear energy.<\/p>\n
Best of all the hydrogen fuel cell engine would have far reaching applications beyond simply transportation needs and could theoretically be used to power everything from lawnmowers to electric generators. Some automakers (Honda in particular) have devoted much of their R&D budgets into the development of fuel cell powered vehicles.<\/p>\n
In my next post I will take a look at how the fuel cell works in contrast to the internal combustion engine. Truly this technology could solve many of the world\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s current fossil fuel dependency issues.<\/p>\n
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