How Hydrogen Fuel Is Made

How Hydrogen Fuel Is Made

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles: The Future of Transportation?

This section introduces the concept of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and explores the potential for hydrogen as a clean energy source in transportation.

Hydrogen as a Fuel Source

  • Hydrogen, being number 1 on the periodic table, is a powerful combustible element that makes up 75% of the universe. It is used in various industrial applications and food processing.
  • Hydrogen fuel cells, invented in 1839, use oxygen and hydrogen to power cars without moving parts, emitting only clean water vapor when burned. The U.S. produces over 9 million metric tons of hydrogen annually.

Challenges and Production Methods

  • Most of America's hydrogen (95%) is produced through natural gas steam reformation, which generates both hydrogen (positive) and carbon oxides (negative).
  • Electrolysis can also be used to produce hydrogen by splitting it from oxygen using electricity. However, generating this electricity often involves coal power in the U.S., hindering sustainability efforts.

Challenges in Hydrogen Fuel Adoption

This section delves into the challenges associated with producing and distributing hydrogen fuel for vehicles.

Production Challenges

  • Current methods of producing hydrogen involve fossil fuels, leading to environmental concerns due to reliance on coal power for electricity generation.
  • Cooling, storing, and transporting hydrogen require additional fossil fuel energy inputs through trucks and trains, highlighting inefficiencies in the current system.

Future Prospects: Expansion of Hydrogen Infrastructure

This section discusses future initiatives aimed at expanding infrastructure for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

Infrastructure Development

  • Government and private sector partnerships aim to establish more fueling stations to support the growth of hydrogen vehicles. California has set a goal for zero-emissions vehicles by 2025 with significant investments in building new fueling stations.
Video description

Is hydrogen fuel the future of car fuel? How is it made? Read More: Hydrogen May Prove Fuel of the Future http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/hydrogen-may-prove-fuel-of-the-future/ “Humans have harnessed hydrogen for a variety of applications, from blasting rockets into space to making common household products like toothpaste.” Hydrogen Production From Natural Gas, Sequestration Of Recovered CO2 In Depleted Gas Wells And Enhanced Natural Gas Recovery https://www.princeton.edu/pei/energy/publications/texts/Hydrogen_production_natural_gas.pdf “If fuel cells are introduced for vehicular applications, hydrogen might become an energy carrier for transport applications.” The Truth About Hydrogen http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/energy/next-generation/4199381 “Wild promises abound, but can the simplest element in the universe really power our homes, fuel our cars and reduce our contribution to global warming? PM crunches the numbers on the real hydrogen economy.” Hydrogen Production and Distribution http://www.afdc.energy.gov/fuels/hydrogen_production.html “Although abundant on earth as an element, hydrogen is almost always found as part of another compound, such as water (H2O) and must be separated from the compounds that contain it.” How the Hydrogen Economy Works http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/fuel-economy/hydrogen-economy1.htm “Currently, the United States and most of the world is locked into what could be called the fossil fuel economy.” Fuel Cell Basics http://americanhistory.si.edu/fuelcells/basics.htm “Through this website we are seeking historical materials relating to fuel cells.” Is 2014 the Year of the Fuel Cell Car? http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-2014-the-year-of-the-fuel-cell-car/ “For almost two decades, fuel-cell electric vehicles have been another five years away. That is, until now, according to major automakers.” Will Hydrogen Cars Finally Hit The Road? http://www.futurity.org/hydrogen-fuel-cell-vehicles-752732/ “A number of factors are converging to make hydrogen fuel cell vehicles more attractive to investors and consumers, according to a new report.” Hydrogen Cars, Coming Down the Pike http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/30/opinion/sunday/hydrogen-cars-coming-down-the-pike.html?_r=0 “The once-distant promise of clean, affordable hydrogen-powered cars is starting to become a reality.” ____________________ DNews is dedicated to satisfying your curiosity and to bringing you mind-bending stories & perspectives you won't find anywhere else! New videos twice daily. Watch More DNews on TestTube http://testtube.com/dnews Subscribe now! http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=dnewschannel DNews on Twitter http://twitter.com/dnews Trace Dominguez on Twitter https://twitter.com/tracedominguez Julia Wilde on Twitter https://twitter.com/julia_sci DNews on Facebook https://facebook.com/DiscoveryNews DNews on Google+ http://gplus.to/dnews Discovery News http://discoverynews.com Download the TestTube App: http://testu.be/1ndmmMq