How far are we from Fuel Cell technology ?

Question

Will fuel cell powered cars using hydrogen fuel be available in a couple of decades...I am wondering. It seems plausible to me reading the statements made by the charimen of many hydrogen fuel projects.

Answer 1

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We already have had this technology for decades.

Answer 2

A considerable distance. For fuel cells to really take off, they will have to use something other than hydrogen as fuel:
- Hydrogen is not a primary fuel: you can't dig it out of the ground. You have to make it, using any of various processes (typically from natural gas), all of which use huge quantities of energy.
- Hydrogen cannot be shipped through standard pipelines: it works into the cracks between grains in steel, and embrittles it. Catastrophic failure can result.
- Hydrogen is difficult to deliver. It is usually delivered in gaseous form, but at very high pressures -- 5000 psi or more. Your mother in law isn't going to be able to drive her Buick into a service station and fill up the tank herself.
- Hydrogen is difficult to store in a vehicle. Its density is so low that a standard welding cylinder of the stuff has only the energy of a half gallon of gasoline.