Hydrogen Energy and Fuel Cells: Transportation Power from Water - Automotive Designs, Production, Safety, Storage, Government and Industry Research for a Cleaner Future (Three CD-ROM Set)

DOE is not pursuing any long-term hydrogen pathway (on a well-to-wheels basis) that emits more greenhouse gas (GHG) or criteria emissions than advanced gasoline hybrid-electric vehicles. NAS Conclusion: "A transition to hydrogen as a major fuel in the next 50 years could fundamentally transform the U.S. energy system, creating opportunities to increase energy security through the use of a variety of domestic energy sources for hydrogen production while reducing environmental impacts, including atmospheric CO2 emissions and criteria pollutants." DOE s strategy is to produce hydrogen directly by coal gasification (and not use electricity as an intermediate). Since the DOE strategy includes coal with sequestration (never without), GHG emissions are virtually zero. Coal-based H2 fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) use much less energy than conventional gasoline vehicles and about the same energy per mile as gasoline hybrid-electric vehicles. Electrolysis is being pursued for renewable (wind) and nuclear options. These pathways result in virtually zero GHG emissions and criteria pollutants. Distributed electrolysis could be used as a transitional strategy but the added GHG would be small (1%) during the initial market penetration phase (<2 million new vehicle sales/yr). Hydrogen via PV electrolysis is not a current DOE strategy, because of high electricity cost. Solar routes to hydrogen (not commercially viable now but research is ongoing) include photoelectochemical, photobiological, and thermochemical. Other renewable approaches involve the use of biomass or bio-based fuels. hydrogen infrastructure to move hydrogen from the power plant (future use requires more study). DOE is not pursuing lon