Future of Hydrogen powered cars

Hydrogen is a limitless renewable source of energy contained in 70 percent of the earth’s surface which is water. California is leading the effort to go green with Hydrogen power. California Governer, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s vision and announcement on the “Hydrogen Highway”: The “Vision 2010″ for California’s Hydrogen Highways is to ensure that by the end of the decade every Californian has access to hydrogen fuel along the State’s major highways, with a significant and increasing percentage of that hydrogen produced from clean, renewable sources. This vision for California is real and attainable; however, it will take time so we must plant the seeds now.

In the next decade, it is expected that major automobile manufacturers will have several models of Hydrogen powered vehicles available. Recently, the University of Albany, college of Nanoscale Science and Engineering held an exposition of Hydrogen powered cars. Many major automobile manufacturers such as Toyota, GM and BMW participated in this expo to showcase their upcoming Hydrogen powered cars. Toyota showcased the hydrogen version of it’s Highlander. Pradeep Haldar, executive director of New Energy New York and also director of E2TAC, took the Highlander for a drive while explaining why hydrogen-powered cars are such an important technological advancement.

“There is no carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases,” Haldar said as he drove the SUV around UAlbany’s uptown campus. “This is the holy grail to address our long-term energy needs.”

Recently, we posted information on the newly redesigned Honda FCX hydrogen powered car. Now, BMW has joined the ranks of Hydrogen car makers, with it’s 7-series version named “Hydrogen 7″ which is expected to be available in the US by 2008 in limited quantities. Because hydrogen refilling stations are still not widely available, the car is equipped with a gasoline as well as an electric engine. At a touch of a button, the driver can choose which fuel source to use and the automobile responds seamlessly. The car can go 400 miles before needing a refill of both fuel sources. The vehicle produces 260hp, can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 9.5 seconds and has a top speed of 143 mph.