Hydrogen-fueled cars stuck at the gate
Washington (UPI) Feb 21, 2008 Analysts say hydrogen fuel cells have major hurdles to overcome before U.S. consumers will accept the technology in their cars. The fuel cells create electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen in a chemical reaction, with water and heat the only byproducts. While every major car company is exploring fuel-cell technology, most hydrogen-powered vehicles are still in testing or development, The Washington Times said Wednesday. Taras Wankewycz, vice president of Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies in Singapore said hydrogen fuel cells are still considered "very futurist," the newspaper said. The technology remains mostly limited to industrial applications. The biggest obstacles to the technology are the costs of both labor and materials. Plunkett Research of Houston said one 200-horsepower fuel-cell system costs about $75,000 to make. Companies must also overcome consumer concerns about safety. California is the first state to embrace the vehicles, with more than 175 fuel-cell vehicles already on the road and 24 hydrogen refueling stations, the newspaper said. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links Car Technology at SpaceMart.com A Greener Way To Power Cars Cardiff, UK (SPX) Feb 21, 2008 Cardiff University researchers are exploring how waste heat from car exhausts could provide a new greener power supply for vehicles. |
|
The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2007 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |