Unlike fossil fuels such as petrol or diesel, hydrogen is not a source of energy in its own right. It is merely a means for storing electricity generated in a power station and delivering it to the motor driving the wheels of an electric vehicle-in much the same way as a battery works.
And as free hydrogen does not occur in useful quantities in nature, it has to be made by using electricity to crack water into its constituent elements.
In California, despite the many solar installations and wind farms, the electricity coming out of the plug is neither green nor clean, being derived predominantly (ie, 62%) from fossil fuel. During cheap-rate periods at night-when electric vehicles tend to be recharged andelectrolysis plants are running flat out-most of California's electricity is imported from coal-fired power stations out of state.
Thus, like electric vehicles, hydrogen cars contribute their share of greenhouse gases as well.
http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2012/10/nitrogen-cycle
Micro nuclear powered hydrolysis stations, anyone?
And as free hydrogen does not occur in useful quantities in nature, it has to be made by using electricity to crack water into its constituent elements.
In California, despite the many solar installations and wind farms, the electricity coming out of the plug is neither green nor clean, being derived predominantly (ie, 62%) from fossil fuel. During cheap-rate periods at night-when electric vehicles tend to be recharged andelectrolysis plants are running flat out-most of California's electricity is imported from coal-fired power stations out of state.
Thus, like electric vehicles, hydrogen cars contribute their share of greenhouse gases as well.
http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2012/10/nitrogen-cycle
Micro nuclear powered hydrolysis stations, anyone?
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