The Benefits of Hydrogen as an Alternative Fuel

The looming energy crisis has spurred increased interest in alternative fuel sources for cars and trucks.

For instance, ethanol has been much hyped recently, though its benefits are still being hotly debated.

Electricity has also been promoted, while solar power and even compressed air have been offered as a viable alternative fuel base.

However, none of these fuel sources have the same benefits as hydrogen. This gas is abundant, clean, and efficient, and can be affordable given the right solutions.

Using hydrogen as an alternative fuel source offers many benefits for automobiles and the environment.

What benefits does this gas offer as a fuel source? Why is the automotive industry so keen on developing viable hydrogen-fueled vehicles? Here is a brief rundown of the benefits involved.

· Availability – Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe.

It forms the heart of stars and can be found in many places on earth. Hydrogen can be made through a simple electrolysis solution, using electricity to split water molecules into oxygen and hydrogen atoms.

It can also be derived from natural gas (which is where most hydrogen comes from, today). Thus, hydrogen requires little drilling, no lengthy refining process and causes little pollution from the capturing process.

•   · Clean Burning – Hydrogen is the cleanest burning of all alternative fuel sources. 

It is the lightest element on earth, and creates only heat and oxygen when burned.

However, when burned in an internal combustion engine mixed with nitrogen, it does create some trace gases.

Carbon dioxide (the main greenhouse gas implicated in global warming) is not produced, because hydrogen is not a carbon-based compound.

This means that cars and trucks using hydrogen as an alternative fuel source are almost completely pollution-free. 

• Compressed Hydrogen – Hydrogen is normally found as a gas, though this is not the form that most benefits vehicles. 

Gas vapor contains a substantially lower amount of energy than a liquid does (such as gasoline).

Therefore, hydrogen must be compressed to a liquid for use in alternative fuel vehicles.

Currently, compressing hydrogen gas to a liquid is somewhat expensive.

Most vehicles using hydrogen generators currently on the road use the gas as a supplement to gasoline, reducing fuel costs and emissions, but not truly using hydrogen as a standalone solution.

• Use in Fuel Cells – Hydrogen is also the main component of fuel cells. 

This alternative fuel solution is rapidly gaining ground among automakers.

For instance, almost all automakers have a prototype fuel cell vehicle, though Honda, Toyota and Ford currently lead the industry in research and development of a viable alternative fuel vehicle using a hydrogen fuel cell.

Fuel cells convert hydrogen and oxygen into electricity, which then power an electric motor.

This motor may power the entire vehicle, or be used in conjunction with an internal combustion engine, much like today's current crop of hybrid vehicles.

Hydrogen has enormous potential as an alternative fuel, with numerous applications available.

The drawbacks to using hydrogen in everyday applications are rapidly being overcome and most automakers expect hydrogen fuel cell vehicles to make their grand debut on the consumer market within only a few years.