HYDROGEN AS A FUTURE TRANSPORTATION FUEL

A smooth transition from a petroleum-driven transportation system to c lean-burning automobiles with the performance and range of today's gas oline cars is plausible using high-efficiency hydrogen-fueled hybrid-e lectric vehicles. The introduction of hydrogen (H-2) vehicles will red uce U.S. dependence on oil imports, virtually eliminate automotive urb an air pollution, accelerate the development of cost-effective renewab le energy, and help stabilize greenhouse-gas emissions. Based on an ec onomic and technical analysis, H-2 vehicles, when first introduced, ca n be cost-competitive with battery-powered electric vehicles. As marke t penetration increases, H-2-vehicle fueling costs would become compet itive with the fueling costs of today's gasoline Vehicles (5 cent/mi). Hydrogen production at filling stations, vehicle fleets, and homes wo uld circumvent many start-up issues and would use existing natural gas and/or electricity energy infrastructures to begin the transition tow ards a clean, flexible, sustainable, and secure transportation fuel.