Is the answer to our oil problem a fuel-cell hydrogen powered car costing less than half current prices?

http://witcombe.sbc.edu/water/chemistrye鈥?/a>





The kind of fuel cell routinely used in the space program. If this technology ever becomes viably available to the common person, the estimated cost of a fuel-cell hydrogen powered car would be less than half that of your current gas-mobile. In addition, it would be simpler, require less maintenance, and be environmentally friendly!


The world needs a new energy source.Is the answer to our oil problem a fuel-cell hydrogen powered car costing less than half current prices?
Here's the problem with fuel cells - there is a better solution.


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There is no source of available hydrogen on earth. All existing hydrogen is already chemically combined into other substances (like water.)


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Separating hydrogen from water (done using electricity) expends more energy than the hydrogen will ever give back. And research will not change this - because there is a basic law of physics involved - the law of conservation of energy.


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Fuel cell cars are already electric cars. So, from an efficiency standpoint, it makes more sense to take that electricity you are going to use to extract hydrogen, and instead use it directly, in a battery powered electric car. This saves the steps of extracting the hydrogen and transporting it by truck to your filling station. Sending electricity by wire to your electric car wastes much less energy (the electric grid is 95% efficient.)


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The only advantage to using hydrogen instead of battery power, is faster refueling. But this battery drawback is only a year or two away from being solved, while affordable fuel cell cars are still decades away.Is the answer to our oil problem a fuel-cell hydrogen powered car costing less than half current prices?
What oil problem?
Where does the Hydrogen come from?
Half the current price would still be so expensive that only the very richest could afford it. And if you had the car there are no places to fuel it up. Hydrogen cells may be the future but it is the distant future
It's certainly one good option for the future. GM is releasing a limited number of new fuel cell vehicles on the Equinox platform. Honda has a little one as well.





It still takes energy to turn water into hydrogen... but, presumably that energy can be generated by renewable sources (wind, solar, hydro) instead of oil.





We may just need to cause oil to get more expensive so that these alternative sources become the most cost effective solutions and let capitalism take over. My idea is to start a graduated tax on gas/oil. Refill our nations coffers with the tax revenue, while encouraging use of alternative fuels. Do this slowy and predictably, so there isn't a catastrophic economic effect.
Currently you're talking about $200,000.00 a car and no infrastructure to support it .


Expect it but not overnite .
Because of the economics involved alternate sources are not going to work until oil prices are three or four times what they are today.





That of course does not even begin to consider the cost to make transportation that can use these new sources of energy. Again economics make them unreasonable. You can buy a new car say for $12,000 and one you are using as an example will be more along the lines of $250,000. How many people can afford the car? NONE.





So the solution is to keep on working on technologies, reduce the use of oil for heating through the use of atomic energy and electricity, OPEN up all areas of the US to exploration and hope that not everyone in China gets a SUV.





The choices currently are none and none, so why do we keep going on and on about it.





Have you read the energy plan the administration put before Congress? It makes a lot of sense but they would not open up new areas for exploration.