The Subaru SVX World Network - Fuel cell technology

Don,

It's not the fuel cell that I have a problem with. It's the lack of research and funding of the infrastructure.
We need stations that can fuel, fuel cell powered vehicles.
We need ways to produce H2 that is much more efficient than we now have.
All the govrnment money is now going to fund demonstration or show cars to bedazzle the public.
The money should be directed toward inner city bus and/or trolley systems and taxis..
Buses/trolleys & taxis have central depots where H2 fueling stations can be placed. They are ideal test beds because they are large so the H2 components can fit and they operate in stop & go traffic not the interstate so we can get real data about efficiency, component life, etc.

H2 fuel cell vehicles will also have pollution problems.
When the internal combustion car replaced the horse and buggy, we just substituted one type of pollution problem for another (NOx, CO, CO2 & hydrocarboon emissions replaced horse manure). The fuel cell components have disposal problems. Unlike a V-8 or H-6 cast iron or alum block you just can/t melt it down or throw it in a land fill.

Money is needed so that Real fuel cell programs can be set up to get Real engineering data. Right now all the money is being spent on "Razzle Dazzle".

The general public never heard about development of stationary H2 fuel cells for electrical generation. That's beacause they are not glamorous. They were developed over the last 10-15 years and are now being installed by US industry across the country. The Merck plant in northern NJ, that I am currently working on, put one in last year. It saves them about a million $ per year in electrical costs. Not bad for something that was done quietly and efficiently.

Don't get me wrong. I am for H2 fuel call cars. I just don't like the programs that the politicians are funding. I think the money (our tax dollars) should be spent more wisely.