Hydrogen

Hydrogen makes up 90 percent of the universe by weight.  It is usually found in combination with other elements.  When purified and used as a fuel (in mobile and stationary applications), hydrogen does not produce any harmful emissions to the environment.  The energy in one gallon of gasoline is about the same as one kilogram of hydrogen.

The U.S. Department of Energy is working together with industry, national laboratories and academia to expedite the development of hydrogen technologies. A hydrogen-fueled economy may be in America's future.

Fuel cells

Fuel cells harness the chemical energy of hydrogen to generate electricity without combustion or pollution. Water is the only by-product that is emitted from the process, which makes it an attractive alternative form of energy. Currently, research and development are being concentrated on making reliable, low-lost high performance fuel cell systems.

Fuel cell vehicles are being made as prototypes today, but soon the futuristic cars will be a reality in the United States. The vehicles are propelled by electric motors that are generated the use of onboard fuel cells. Fuel cell vehicles will benefit the environment by reducing harmful emissions.

Links

U.S. Department of Energy's Hydrogen, Fuel Cells & Infrastructure Technologies Program

Hampton Roads Clean Cities "Hydrogen Economy" contains information on the future of hydrogen in Virginia

The Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Energy Association promotes the transition role of hydrogen in the energy field

Virginia Tech research on fuel cells