Could Hydrogen Help Produce The Automobile Of The Future?

Another interesting energy source of the future is being researched at Penn State University. The H2E Center in State College is a place where over 100 researchers are taking part in long term research projects to develop ways on how to produce and consume hydrogen.

Though it's estimated some of these enhancements may not be available for several decades, the potential of large scale hydrogen production would be a breakthrough in the efforts to use more efficient and cleaner energy.

As stated on their website, "(a) new energy source must be cheap, renewable, and environmentally clean. Non-polluting hydrogen—energy-dense and the most abundant element in nature—meets two of these requirements in spades."

While the prospect of finding a new energy source is very exciting, Bruce Logan, a professor of environmental engineering and director of Penn State's Hydrogen Energy Center sees costs as a major concern. "We need cheaper and better materials; in every facet of development—for the catalysts and membranes that make up fuel cells; for the safe, efficient storage of hydrogen aboard vehicles; for the solar cells that will be key to hydrogen production."

It is true that large scale hydrogen power use for things such as an automobile may be several decades away. But through the work done at places such as the H2E Center at Penn State, we continue to see new breakthroughs in hydrogen technology.

For example, Penn State currently has one of the only hydrogen fueling stations on the east coast. Several utility vans, public transportation buses and fuel cell cars currently use the station.

No one debates the fact it will take a long time for hydrogen to become a major player when it comes to being the "fuel" for a car we drive. While the technology is there, the expense right now is too high. However, it is worth taking a look at what our future may look like. Tom Considine, a Penn State professor in natural resource economics believes hydrogen is what many people are hoping will be our dominant fuel source in the future. "Scientists, engineers, and politicians see the great promise of hydrogen as a clean fuel, (with) no pollution. That's the nirvana that everyone's looking for."

As scientists continue to research ways on how to bring the costs of hydrogen down, there are a number of other alternative energies people can use. As it pertains to cars, hybrids have been out for nearly a decade and just this year, the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt were introduced to the market as some of the first electric cars to come to America.

Because of the work being done at institutions like Penn State, it's a matter of when, not if, we see hydrogen power come to our homes.

Sources:

www.engr.psu.edu/h2e/AboutH2E.htm

www.engr.psu.edu/h2e/index.htm

www.rps.psu.edu/hydrogen/fill.html

www.rps.psu.edu/hydrogen/price.html

Photo Courtesy Of Joel Anstrom