Cited Ford, "As a result, we've taken a leadership role in moving fuel cell technology from the laboratory into vehicles on the road. Ford's P2000 and Focus FCV fuel cell electric vehicles are powered by hydrogen, the earth's cleanest, most abundant fuel and an infinitely sustainable energy source. Fuel cell vehicles offer the same safety, performance, and ease of use as today's combustion vehicles."
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| Company CEO Bill Ford, replied to Rainforest Action Network's comments by saying, "we've taken a leadership role in moving fuel cell technology from the laboratory into vehicles on the road." (Photo: Ford Motor Company) |
But what's holding them back? Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, but that doesn't mean you can fill up at the corner station. Distribution and production of hydrogen remains a problem. For the cleanest hydrogen, water must be broken by electricity into oxygen and hydrogen. But the law of perpetual motion reminds us that no system can be 100 percent efficient. Thus, more electricity must be used to create hydrogen than can be extracted from hydrogen in a fuel cell. In the end, an energy efficient means to create hydrogen remains a major stumbling block.
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| One big stumbling block for hydrogen cars is the infrastructure to support them, but Ford has made some headway by partnering with a number of large U.S. and Canadian groups and companies. (Photo: Ford Motor Company) |
As well, various systems are currently being tested to store and distribute hydrogen, which requires either very high pressure (10,000 psi) or very low temperatures (-253C) to store sufficient quantities efficiently.
However, Ford believes that they are making significant grooves in the road to a hydrogen infrastructure by partnering not just with U.S. groups such as FreedomCAR, the Department of Transportation and the California Fuel Cell Partnership, but significant Canadian players as well. Recent announcements have been made outlining joint projects by Fuel Cells Canada, Natural Resources Canada, and the National Research Council.