Hydrogen as fuel.  Imagine the sum total of auto emissions being reduced to nothing but pure water.  The possibility has inspired many, and has resulted in extensive research at great expense.  Early enthusiasm has been tempered by the inbuilt difficulties, but the search continues.  Curious onlookers have joined the quest, and taken giant grass-roots strides toward the fulfillment of the hydrogen dream.  This site is intended to provide you information, or direct you to more sources.

Hydrogen Basics

What Is Hydrogen?

Hydrogen is the simplest element. Each atom of hydrogen has only one proton. It is also the most plentiful gas in the universe. Stars like the sun are made primarily of hydrogen.

The sun is basically a giant ball of hydrogen and helium gases. In the sun's core, hydrogen atoms combine to form helium atoms. This process — called fusion — gives off radiant energy.

This radiant energy sustains life on Earth. It gives us light and makes plants grow. It makes the wind blow and rain fall. It is stored as chemical energy in fossil fuels. Most of the energy we use today originally came from the sun's radiant energy.

Hydrogen gas is so much lighter than air that it rises fast and is quickly ejected from the atmosphere. This is why hydrogen as a gas (H2) is not found by itself on Earth. It is found only in compound form with other elements. Hydrogen combined with oxygen, is water (H2O). Hydrogen combined with carbon forms different compounds, including methane (CH4), coal, and petroleum. Hydrogen is also found in all growing things — for example, biomass. It is also an abundant element in the Earth's crust.

Hydrogen has the highest energy content of any common fuel by weight (about three times more than gasoline), but the lowest energy content by volume (about four times less than gasoline).

HYDROGEN FUEL CELLS -- The main thrust of the attention to hydrogen research of recent years has been in the area of fuel cells.  Significant government funding has poured into this area, which is vast by nature.  The motor that runs on hydrogen must be perfected, as well as the onboard 'cell' which stores the hydrogen. The production of hydrogen from petroleum is obviously counterproductive, so other methods of manufacture are being explored.  And after all this looms the challenge of creating the vast infrastructure of fueling stations that could service these vehicles. 

HYDROGEN-ON-DEMAND -- Another area of research has been into the area of an onboard hydrogen-generator which creates hydrogen as needed by simply breaking down water. This generator can be mounted in a standard gas-burning vehicle and used to vastly improve fuel efficiency.  The advantage of this technology is that there is no need for the manufacture of hydrogen, onboard storage cells, or distribution in the form of hydrogen fuel stations.  The following websites can provide further information about this technology: 

How Is Hydrogen Made?

Because hydrogen doesn't exist on Earth as a gas, it must be separated from other elements. Hydrogen atoms can be separated from water, biomass, or natural gas molecules. The two most common methods for producing hydrogen are steam reforming and electrolysis (water splitting). Scientists have discovered that even some algae and bacteria give off hydrogen.

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