Comments on: Army backs the hydrogen highway

Military has awarded a $1.8 million contract to Proton Energy Systems to develop hydrogen filling stations.

[ferretboy88]

Go Army!

[Commander_Spock]

So, what about the the energy self sufficiency programs for the Navy, the Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard....?

[assman]

It's less than $2 million.. more than worth the investment. Often technology incorporated by the military trickles down into public consumption at a later point (ala the internet). Even if hydrogen isn't a sensible source, it's better than foreign oil.

[canberra_photographer]

When you think about it, some of the best, most groundbreaking innovations have come from the military. We'd still be using Telex to send messages if not for the DoD developing the internet.

[Wiggletoe]

You are in extreme error as hydrogen will be far more economical. Fuel cell cars are 3 - 4 times as efficient as regular cars (45% verses 15%) plus the regenerative braking. And in this world, hydrogen is made from natural gas and please remember, prefection is the enemy of great. Companies like Air Products sell common commercial reformers in a number of capacities off-the-shelf with advertized efficiencies in the 90% range. Sooo...., the hydrogen distribution system is the national natural gas storage and distribution system with a common commercial reformer at your local service station. Frost and Sullivan study indicates a 70% reduction in carbon emissions.
Then, a future source of hydrogen is reform of ethanol made from sugarcane produced in the US, i.e., southern LA and TX also FL, AL, MS, where it will be piped to market in updated (replace seals) existing gasoline piping system. This requires incredible volumes of sugarcane, we may need to raise cane in Cuba. Also, current fuel cells require platinum and there isn't near enough production but very recent research indicates that goretex is a superior replacement. Now take a look at your fuel cell future http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/19/la-2008-honda-surprises-with-fc-sport-fuel-cell-sports-car-conc/.

[Catnap23]

Any time renewable, non-polluting energy is mentioned the naysayers come out in droves. Many times it's the environmentalists leading the charge. Take Bobby Kennedy, for instances. He opposes wind power because it might "pollute the view from his yacht. I guess if non-polluting energy were to come about and our dependency on foreign sources were to end, the radical left would have nothing to complaint about.

[magvine]

"Hydrogen is not naturally occurring..." did you flunk 9th grade physical science? Hydrogen is the most abudent element in our universe. It is what powers the sun. Of course it is also the most reactive element, so of course, here on Earth, it is found combined with other elements, so it needs to processed out. Funny thing is, gassoline dosen't come straight out of the ground, and needs to be processed too.

Stick to talking about computers, leave chemistry to people who passed highschool.