Would you buy a vehicle that uses hydrogen?

scesnick · Apr 30, 2006

I believe diesel vehicles are more plausable. Europe has a boatload of small diesel vehicles that get unbelieveable gas mileage. We need to import those to this country.
I am getting ready to buy a VW jetta TDI this week. At 45-50 mpg, it is the best deal going short of electric.

MikePA · Apr 30, 2006

You Americans are a spoiled lot! 
There's nothing virtuous about paying over $7.00/gallon.

NewToy · Apr 30, 2006

Maybe America could take the lead on the hydrogen and a savvy leader could whip the public into that national pride not seen here sine the 1960's space race. It's time to "circle the wagons" and reduce our dependency on foreign oil. I saw an alarming statistic the other day. The U.S. is the #1 user of oil in the world followed by China at #2. The thing that blew my mind is that we burn 300 times more fuel than China! I would buy a hydrogen powered car. But, would you buy a hydrogen powered TRACTOR ?

John

Av8r3400 · Apr 30, 2006

America = 6% of the world's population
America = 20% of the world's energy consumption
America = 30% of global economic output

To bad the rest of the world isn't as efficient as America.

Buy a diesel. You could run it on straight vegetable oil grown by our own farmers instead of the terrorist's Dino-oil.

Hydrogen fuel without nuclear electricity is a net energy loss.

Thank a tree hugger.

Egon · Apr 30, 2006

Hydrogen fuel without nuclear electricity is a net energy loss.

In iceland they use naturally occuring geothermal energy.

Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Jstpssng · Apr 30, 2006

Necessity is the mother of invention; someday we'll have to suck it up and find alternatives to oil. Despite recent events oil is still a bargain; right now it hurts every time I go to the pumps, but pretty soon we'll find ways to absorb the higher prices.

HGM · May 1, 2006

( That is what will kill H powered vehicles, infrastructure. Stop at nearly any major intersection and count the gas station signs you can see. Now think how much time/$$$ it will take to retrofit that installed base w/ H capabilities. While I think it is a great idea, they (here we go w/ THEY again! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif) need to think past the vehicle and work on getting infrastructure in place to service/refuel these vehicles. I remember back in the mid 70's everyone around here was going to go to LPGas. But you could only fill up at a couple places. And on a cross country trip you had to find RV parks that MIGHT have a tank, but they were set up to service 5-10 gallon bottles for RVs, not lines of automotive traffic.
I drove a diesel p/u in college. I had to drive several miles to a truck stop (in Dallas/Ft. Worth) to get diesel. Thankfully diesel is more common today but it is the same deal w/ H, or biodiesel, or propane. If they(again with the mysterious THEY) design a car to run on Windex, you still need somewhere to fill it up. )

I couldnt agree more here..... Safety is not an issue.. Same as LP or NGV, the precautions were laid way before the product was released.. No manufacturere would produce something that is inherantly dangerous to the consumer, think about how quickly they would be out of business with lawsuits..

The convenience is what kills it.. The technology is awsome, everything I've seen and heard about these cars put them between LP/CNG and Hybrids.. They are neat and clean, but not exactly efficient(as opposed to the hybrid)..

Now, my question(if you dont mind).... What is the difference in our diesel vs Europes diesel? There is a difference. Their fuel is much cleaner, evidenced by the issues (all MFG's) experienced in diesel engines run in the states.. The sulfer is being removed and helping dramaticly, but its still not the same quality. If we, as a country would demand better quality diesel fuel rather than impose the radical emissions on diesel powered vehicles we would dramaticly reduce our dependance on oil. Not a fix for the long term, but a major step in the right dirrection.. If we were to get our arms around diesel, this would buy time to explore diesel hybrids, hydraulic hybrids, hydrogen, LP/CNG(assit), electric, bio fuels, etc.. I think we are missing a HUGE oportunity by neglecting the diesel option. Again, this might go back to customer perception of the '80s diesel crap that was produced.. I agree with emission controls, but if we control the fuel quality, cleanliness will follow..

OK, I too will put my soapbox away for now....

Highbeam · May 1, 2006

We must first embrace nuclear power and then hydrogen used as a fuel will be right behind. I agree though that nothing will change until the high prices force change.

I worked in shipyards scrapping nuclear submarines and ships. There is nothing profoundly dangerous about a reactor there are hundreds of them out there being sent into harms way to be shot at.

To answer the original question.... Yes, if I as a consumer am rewarded financially and experience the same or better performance and safety level as my petrol hogs.

slowrev · May 1, 2006

Yep, as long as it was not a Pinto hydrogen bomb!
Ben

BlueRidge · May 1, 2006

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There are immense technical and logistical problems for using Hydrogen as a fuel. Safe storage (in a vehicle) is one...although I think hydrogen is less explosive then gasoline. )

Much less, AND, leaks tend to dissipate so quickly that it's difficult to get an explosive mixture accumulated. Inside your garage might be a different story. Out on the road, thoiugh, it's much less dangerous than gasoline, which likes to run downhill across roadways to other vehicles.

Energy density is a problem for hydrogen, though. Range would be more limited than with petrofuels for this reason. And don't expect the torque of a diesel using hydrogen fuel

That said, it's still a good idea.

But we need to get over this stupid fuel from corn business. From sugar beets, MAYBE, but corn alcohol is another net energy loss.