U.S. is on track on hydrogen targets - 7/19/06

A Bush official said Monday the partnership between the federal government and the auto industry and energy companies to develop a hydrogen economy faces challenges but is making progress.

David Garman Energy Undersecretary told a Senate panel the work developing hydrogen is on track to meet the goals within the next nine years to have vehicles using hydrogen by 2020.

The cost of automotive fuel cells has dropped from $275.00 per kilowatt in 2002 to $110.00 per kilowatt in 2005.  Garman says more research is needed to meet the target price of $30.00 per kilowatt. 

Garman told a subcommittee of the Senate Energy that more time is needed instead of more money.  There is a learning process that has to happen.

With gasoline reaching $3.00 per gallon, automakers are moving toward the hydrogen technology and away from fossil-fuel systems.  Hydrogen’s only byproduct is water.  It can be made from a number of sources including biomass, water, coal, and natural gas.

High costs are related to low volume in the auto business, early vehicles will still be expensive said executive director of fuel cells for General Motors J. Byron McCormick. 

Source: http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13917905/
The Associated Press
July 18, 2006

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