Assignment

Theory in Action: Obstacles to the Hydrogen Economy

Fuel cells create electricity from a reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, and are much more efficient than internal combustion gasoline engines. Whereas a typical internal combustion engine converts less than 20 percent of the energy potential of gasoline into power for the automobile, fuel cells capture 40 percent to 60 percent of the energy potential of their fuel source, which can be any hydrogen-rich liquid or gas.

a. Hydrogen is one of the most abundant elements on earth and can be obtained in a number of ways, including electrolysis of water or steam conversion of methanol. Furthermore, the only waste products of hydrogen fuel cells are water vapor and carbon dioxide. Hydrogen thus offers an inexhaustible and environmentally friendly fuel source.

b. Utilizing hydrogen to power vehicles (among other things) offers the promise of reducing reliance on dwindling fossil fuel reserves while dramatically decreasing the environmental impact of automobiles. Many of the key players in fuel cell development envision a "hydrogen economy" whereby automobiles with hydrogen fuel cells are used to supply power to homes and offices, eventually replacing the existing electrical power grids. Fuel cells were developed more than 150 years ago, but were initially too bulky and expensive to be used in automobiles. In the 1970s, however, the energy crisis sparked a resurgence in fuel cell development, and a number of prototypes emerged through the late 1970s and 1980s. By the 1990s, several auto manufacturers, including Toyota and Daimler had developed automobiles powered by fuel cells and were planning commercial production. A number of serious obstacles, however, stood in the way of fuel cell adoption by the mass market. The most serious of these was the lack of a complementary refueling infrastructure. Before fuel cell vehicles could be promoted to the mass market, refueling options had to be developed that would be convenient and easy for consumers to use. This was no small feat-the existing fuel stations that were ubiquitous in almost every corner of the globe could not handle a gaseous fuel such as hydrogen. While liquid gasoline can be stored in almost any type of container, hydrogen gas is liquid only under very high pressure and has very small molecules. It would rapidly leak out of existing gasoline storage containers. Both fueling stations and automobiles would need to be able to keep compressed hydrogen in a pressurized tank. Furthermore, many of the existing gasoline stations were owned or otherwise connected to oil companies. Since it was not yet clear what role oil companies would play in the hydrogen economy, many suspected that oil companies would use their resources and lobbying power to resist the adoption of hydrogen fuel cells. To unleash the power of the "hydrogen economy" vision would not only require heavy investment in new infrastructure, but also require resolving or overcoming the conflicting interests of numerous stakeholders, including government, utilities, auto manufacturers, oil producers, and consumers.

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b J. Rifkin, "The Hydrogen Economy," E Magazine, January-February 2003, pp. 26-37.

(Write a 7 page paper in APA format.) The research paper should include the following sections.

Cover page

Introduction - (Thesis statement and Purpose of paper)

Background - Background and History on the concept

Discussion - Discuss current issues, innovation, and future use. Support the topic with any necessary sources. Be sure to include in-text citations.

Conclusion - Summary of main points

References - Formatted using APA.