Chevrolet Equinox/Hydrogen fuel cells

[Realitycheck]

This looks like it has the best potential to be the car of the future, using the hydrogen fuel cell solely. Has anybody read about the best (and cleanest) ways to produce hydrogen in mass? They mostly have lots of drawbacks related to the costs associated with producing energy, but if we can get enough green technology involved, or nuclear, it's a win/win situation. It's just a matter of getting the infrastructure in place.

 

The Department of Energy initially was shooting for price ranges around an equivalent of $1.50/gal. They have recently amended their estimate up to $2-3/gal., scheduled for implementation by 2015.

 

One of the things that I have wondered about reguarding fuel cells is what kinds of hp could they potentially put out. The Equinox will be able to go up to 100 mph, but I have not yet found anything about the power output.

[insane_alien]

fuelcells can put out as much power as you want though they can get quite big in doing that. i've seen a few MW fuel cells and a lot more kW range fuel cells.

 

enough to power a car in a small enough volume to be placed in existing engine compartments anyway.

[Skye]

Hydrogen vehicles are fine, there are already small numbers operating in areas like public transport. This is probably where the growth over the next decade or two will be limited to though. The infrastructure based around petroleum is huge. It will take many years to replace it. With things like bus services, long distance trucking and rail, there isn't the need for the huge infrastructure that private vehicles rely on. They have planned, predictable routes, so you just need a limited number of depots. It will still rely on incentives though, unless oil prices go crazy.