There is an abundance of hydrogen on our planet.
Many cannot wait until we see hydrogen refueling stations on every corner. In order to use the fuel cell concept in vehicles as a source of energy, it must be pure hydrogen. Pure hydrogen does not occur naturally, it must be collected using a chemical or electrical process. At the moment, the most economical way to produce hydrogen is the latest “steam methane reforming”. Another concept in research and development is a procedure that involves solar energy. Fuel companies can save ten percent if they use environmentally safe solar energy to remove hydrogen.
Automotive corporations like Toyota, Honda, and GM are paying close attention to fuel cell-powered vehicles. Toyota assures us that fuel cells are the most efficient source of energy for a car and much more profitable than water internal combustion engines. A battery and a fuel cell are very similar, using an electronic chemical response between hydrogen and oxygen to generate power.
Toyota has begun researching a wide range of fuel sources such as natural gas, gasoline and liquid hydrogen, as well as developing components for use with this type of energy. Toyota is justifying its thoughts on whether or not they should propose a fuel cell car intended for the general public for retail sale before October 2014 and at a very high price.
The main problem that must be solved in order for the general public to use fuel cell cars is infrastructure. The infrastructure will have to include input from the company, Chevron Texaco, which is developing a unique service station hosting a small-scale on-site natural gas-to-steam reform to produce hydrogen is a great example.
Traditionally, hydrogen cars meant a lack of performance. Toyota has had colossal success with a high-powered prototype vehicle. We won’t see hydrogen cars on the market until automakers figure out an optimal way to build the cars to lower the price. There are currently no hydrogen-powered vehicles commercially available to consumers, but the government and auto companies are aiming for the year 2010 to have the infrastructure in place.