The Hydrogen Economy Where is it?

……. to enable a commitment by auto-makers no later than year 2015 to offer safe, affordable, and technically viable hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in the mass consumer market; and to enable production, delivery, and acceptance by consumers of model year 2020 hydrogen fuel cell and other hydrogen-powered vehicles that will have (i)a range of at least 300 miles; (ii) improved performance and ease of driving; (iii) safety and performance comparable to vehicle technologies in the market; and when compared to light duty vehicles in model year 2003 (I) fuel economy that is substantially higher; (II)substantially lower emissions of air pollutants; and (III) equivalent or improved vehicle fuel system crash integrity and occupant protection.

COST SHARING.— RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.—Except as otherwise provided in this title, for research and development programs carried out under this title the Secretary shall require a commitment from non-Federal sources of at least 20 percent of the cost of the project. The Secretary may reduce or eliminate the non- Federal requirement under this paragraph if the Secretary determines that the research and development is of a basic or fundamental nature or involves technical analyses or educational activities.

Except as otherwise provided in this title, the Secretary shall require at least 50 percent of the costs directly and specifically related to any demonstration or commercial application project under this title to be provided from non- Federal sources. The Secretary may consider the size of the non-Federal share in selecting projects. Do I smell subsidies for big companies?

CHINA

Iceland's Industry minister Valgerdur Sverrisdottir and Icelandic New Energy's general manager Jon Bjoern Skulason fuel the first vehicle, a DaimlerChrysler fuel cell van, at the new hydrogen station outside of Reykjavik.

Shell Hydrogen participated in opening the first hydrogen station in Amsterdam, home of Shell Hydrogen’s principal global office. The station is the latest to be opened under a European Union initiative to demonstrate that hydrogen and fuel cell buses could be used to provide clean transport for the continent’s cities. 22/12/2003

Other cities taking part in the CUTE/ECTOS project include Amsterdam (Netherlands), Barcelona (Spain), Hamburg (Germany), London (United Kingdom), Luxembourg, Madrid (Spain), Porto (Portugal), Reykjavik (Iceland), Stockholm (Sweden) and Stuttgart (Germany). Hydrogen fuelling station for buses in Hamburg

Technologies with the best potential for producing hydrogen to meet future energy demand fall into four general categories: Thermochemical A steam reforming process is currently used to produce hydrogen from such fuels as natural gas, coal, methanol, or even gasoline. To draw on renewable energy sources, the gasification or pyrolysis of biomass—organic material—can be used to generate a fuel gas that can be reformed into hydrogen. Electrochemical The electrolysis of water produces hydrogen by passing an electrical current through it. Photoelectrochemical The photoelectrochemical (PEC) process produces hydrogen in one step, splitting water by illuminating a water-immersed semiconductor with sunlight. Photobiological Photobiological systems generally use the natural photosynthetic activity of bacteria and green algae to produce hydrogen.

Solar energy used to create hydrogen in Germany

The Tandem Cell developed by Hydrogen Solar, UK

A car that runs on just hydrogen and solar power has completed a journey through Australia - the first crossing of a continent for a car of this type. The organisers say the gruelling 4,000 km (2533 miles) trip shows greener alternatives to the traditional internal combustion engine can be developed. The exhaust emissions of the Japanese - built car consist of pure water. Sydney's Lord Mayor sampled a glass of it when the experimental vehicle arrived there from Perth.

fuelcell.htm Thursday June 15, 2000 Manhattan Scientifics Successfully Tests Fuel Cell Powered Bicycle. Driving Range Km at 30 Km/h. Discussions Underway with Manufacturers.

The Segway HT (Human Transporter)

SunLine Transit Agency, Thousand Palms, CA, is committed to advancing the commercialization of clean fuel and clean energy technologies. A valuable national resource, SunLine is beginning its fourth year of producing hydrogen on site and using it in prototype vehicles, and in its ninth year of operating transit, paratransit and street sweeping fleets powered 100% by alternate fuels.

Hydrogen generated on site from renewable solar power and reformed from natural gas is used to fuel ultra-low and zero-emission vehicles and stationary fuel cells

TORRANCE, Calif., October. 02, Honda R&D Co., Ltd., Honda's subsidiary responsible for research and development activities has established an experimental Home Energy Station (HES) that generates hydrogen from natural gas for use in fuel cell vehicles while supplying electricity and hot water to the home.

Solar powered water electrolyzing hydrogen station