Hydrogen Economy News

The hydrogen economy news section features small factoids about the latest and greatest happenings in regard to building a hydrogen-based economy. While clearly we are not there yet, the building of a hydrogen economy is well underway.

Come back to the hydrogen economy news page often as we will attempt to keep it up-to-date about the latest happenings in the industry including hydrogen cars, fuel cell research and developing, hydrogen production and distribution methods.

News 2008

• FutureGen is in trouble as the DOE has decided to restructure the program because of massive cost overruns.
• Direct solar to hydrogen using a new kind of metal nanostructure may pave the way for cheap production.

News 2007

• Students in the UK at the University of Hertfordshire have developed the country's first hydrogen racecar.
• Ohio University is developing a car that runs on ammonia. The car reforms the ammonia into hydrogen and then uses this in an onboard fuel cell to propel the vehicle.
• ChevronTexaco has received shipment of its hydrogen generation unit in Orlando, Fl.orida, which it will integrate with its hydrogen fueling station. The new hydrogen fueling station will refuel at least eight Ford hydrogen buses that will be used for transporting individuals around the Orlando International Airport.

News 2006

• In South Carolina, there is a $15 million bill aimed at bringing hydrogen fuel jobs to the state. State House Speaker Bobby Harrell is pushing to give incentives to companies to locate in South Carolina for the purpose of hydrogen technology research.
• California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger fired up the Christmas tree at the Capitol building in Sacramento on December 6, which was powered exclusively by a hydrogen fuel cell.
• The BMW Hydrogen 7 automobile was on display at the Los Angeles Auto Show in early December. The vehicle is dual fuel (gasoline-hydrogen) and is the first luxury hydrogen car rolling out as a production vehicle early in 2007.
• The Ford Explorer Fuel Cell SUV was announced at the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show in December 2006. The concept vehicle compliments Ford's other hydrogen car, the Ford Focus FCV, which has been in fleet use.
• General Motors announced the Chevy Equinox Fuel Cell SUV will roll out the third quarter 2007 to 100 select customers in a lease deal expected to last 2 - 3 years. The fuel cell in the vehicle is rated for 50,000 miles and the vehicle is dependent upon a hydrogen gas infrastructure for refueling.