The 21st century is defined by transition. That’s a safe bet for any era, but this time feels different. We are staring down the barrel of an inevitable shift: the end of widespread fossil fuel dependence.
It isn’t a guess. It’s basic chemistry and physics. Coal and petroleum are the buried remains of prehistoric organisms. They are finite. When those reserves dry up, and they will, our technology needs a new heartbeat. Internal combustion engines burning gasoline or diesel are part of the problem. They pollute. They consume scarce resources. The solution? Cleaner, less scarce alternatives.
Hydrogen.
The first element on the periodic table. It is promising because it offers a way out of the petroleum trap. The concept of a hydrogen economy was coined in 1970 by chemist John Bockris. He envisioned a future where vehicles ran entirely on hydrogen. The logic is sound. No more burning down ancient forests of carbon to move metal. A hydrogen internal combustion engine would be pollution-free. It would eliminate the carbon emissions choking our cities.
But there is a better way than burning it.
Hydrogen powers vehicles through a fuel cell. This device splits the hydrogen atom. It separates the single electron from the proton. The electrons create a stream of electricity. That electricity powers the motor. It is an electric vehicle at its core, just without the battery dependency.
Fuel cells use no fossil fuels. They produce no pollution. They seem like the ideal successor to the internal combustion engine. We have proof. The Honda FCX Clarity is already available for lease in parts of California. It is a real car. It works.
So why haven’t we all switched?
Are hydrogen fuel cell vehicles too good to be true? Before you line up for a lease, we need to look at the chemical dangers associated with hydrogen energy. The technology is real. The risks are also.
