Man that thing has been around for a while. Here is the issue that is going to come up, in Germany there is a push for hydrogen based fuel..in the U.S. there is a push for ethanol based fuel. When I was in college I actually did a report focusing on hydrogen based fuels and discussed BMW extensively. The benefit of ethanol (E85) fuels is that you don't have to change a fueling station, or re-educate the public on how to fuel their rides.

LAX actually has a couple hydrogen based cargo vehicles.

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An unwavering defender of those I see worth protecting.

"promote the general welfare, not provide the general welfare"

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Well hydrogen will eventually win out, the question is all about the infrastructure.

Unfortunately, I believe the oil companies are purposefully holding back on hydrogen in order to save their profits. In the past they have blamed the car companies for not putting cars out there that run on hydrogen (as a reason why they are not building the infrastructure), and the same went for the car companies who blamed the gasoline companies for not building stations (as to why they are not building the cars).

At least now the excuses will stop and the industry will have to follow.

I don't agree that hydrogen would win out. South America currently uses a ton of E85 fuels as well as a push in the US (there are 4 E85 stations in my area). Plus, retooling and training is hardly necessary for a E85 internal combustion motor, where as hydrogen is an entirely different game. Not to mention E85 motors can also run on regular gasoline when E85 is not available, that and the 28% reduction in vehicle emission simply by using the fuel.

Hydrogen requires:

- training technicians
- totally new equipment in vehicles
- new fueling stations
- new legislation for safety standards
- education a consumer on what their "new" engine does


You can buy E85 cars now from: Volvo, Ford, Chevrolet, Mazda, Mercedes

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An unwavering defender of those I see worth protecting.

"promote the general welfare, not provide the general welfare"

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

But...South America can produce sugarcane-derived ethanol which is far more efficient, right? Our corn based is OK, but not nearly as efficient (in terms of production efficiency). Closer to equator, they can harvest two yields per season, whereas Nebraska only one.

I'm not knocking E85--it's a great bridge solution. IMHO I think what freaks the system out is that anybody with access to water and electricity can make a hydrogen generator. Poof! there go multiple levels of captive infrastructure...Check out Jeremy Rifkin's The Hydrogen Economy .

Remember how the internal combustion motor was first received--horses would bolt, buggies would be wrecked. I put my money on the Germans--remember Herr Daimler and his three-wheeled horseless carriage...

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