Car companies, such as BMW and Toyota, are planning to bring hydrogen-powered cars to the market by 2015. 08/19/2011
Alternative fuel is not a new concept by any means, but a new source of hydrogen fuel is turning heads and getting a lot of attention. Many major automakers, including Toyota and General Motors, are working to bring hydrogen-powered cars to the market by 2015, but there has been much uncertainty concerning the sustainability and availability of the fuel source, according to The Los Angeles Times.
However, the UC Irvine National Fuel Research Center may have found an endless supply of power in the sewers. By the end of the month, the first sewage-powered hydrogen fuel station will open in Fountain Valley, California. The station will be powered by a 300-watt fuel cell that transforms human waste-generated methane into 120 kilograms of hydrogen gas every day. That much fuel can supply up to 30 cars per day, Scott Samuelsen, the director of the research center explained to the Times.
This is good news for automakers, as the Obama Administration may cut the funding for research and development of this fuel source, USA Today reports. The President is skeptical of fuel cell technology, which was supported by former President George W. Bush back in the early stages.
"We’re prepared to make thousands of these cars, but it really comes down to how many fuel stations there are at that point," Mike O'Brien, the vice president of product planning at Hyundai Motor America, told USA Today. "It's a chicken and egg story for us."
The new station could be the key to improving the reputation and future of hydrogen fuel. Car companies have released a few hydrogen-powered prototypes to drivers in the area. If all goes well, it could mean that more new cars will not rely on gas, and alternatives to electric vehicles will be available.