Problems With the Use of Hydrogen As Fuel
It is difficult to ignore the topic of renewable energy, especially hydrogen. Hydrogen has been lauded as the solution to pollution and a dependence on foreign oil. While hydrogen does not emit pollutants, the current state of hydrogen is not a feasible alternative to fossil fuels.
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Benefits
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Hydrogen's potential is almost unlimited. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the United States imports more than half of its oil. Hydrogen would remove this dependence on foreign oil. The Department of Energy also reports that more than half of all U.S. residents are exposed to a dangerous amount of pollution. The byproduct from using hydrogen as a fuel is only water.
Manufacturing
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Although hydrogen is one of the most abundant substances on earth, the type of hydrogen needed to power a motor does not exist in nature in sizable amounts. The manufacturing process called "steam reformation" turns hydrogen into the kind used in cars. However, this method uses fossil fuels and puts out a lot of carbon dioxide. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, most hydrogen for cars is created using this process.
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Storage
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Because it is a gas, transporting it or storing it in a vehicle proposes a storage problem. You can store hydrogen as a liquid, but the energy and material required to do so are not feasible and affordable for the average car buyer. Hydrogen weakens steel, thus hauling it in a transport would cause too much damage. Since hydrogen is not very dense, it takes large containers to haul it.
Infrastructure
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Converting most of the cars on the road to hydrogen would require massive infrastructure costs. Gasoline stations would have to re-equip for hydrogen storage. New fleets of trucks that can transport hydrogen would also be needed. For the foreseeable future, gasoline still remains much cheaper because of existing infrastructure and a much higher storage density than hydrogen.
Misconceptions
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The burning of the airship Hindenburg in 1937 and the general belief that the massive amount of hydrogen on board caused an explosion has made the public apprehensive of a "hydrogen economy." This is not true. Though the hydrogen did burn, the flammable fabric and fossil fuels caused the majority of the damage. Hydrogen is actually safer than gasoline because it disperses quickly when released.
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