|
|
|
|
Hydrogen Bus
Tue Oct 12, 2004
Listen in RealAudio 
Hi. I’m Bryan Yeaton for The Weather Notebook. Concerns about global climate
change and dwindling oil supplies have led some countries to look elsewhere for fuel.
Iceland has decided it wants to become the world’s first hydrogen powered economy.
Trish Anderton recently visited this island nation and explored the country’s new
hydrogen fueled buses:
Trish Anderton:
Reykjavik’s new bright hydrogen buses look pretty much like ordinary buses but there
are some key differences. The only thing that comes out of their tailpipes is water.
Fuel cells release energy through a chemical reaction so they don’t produce any
exhaust. Also these buses are quieter than their diesel counterparts. Engineer
Thomas Velner demonstrates: "That’s the starter motor and as soon as we have
enough air we can put hydrogen to the fuel cell and now the bus is running. That’s a
normal sound."
The buses have been running in Reykjavik since last year. Other European countries
have also begun using them and plans are underway to test them in the U.S. But
questions remain about hydrogen’s viability. For one thing, it takes energy to produce
hydrogen, so for it to be a truly clean fuel, the world needs a lot more renewable power
like solar, wind and geothermal. Also hydrogen is more difficult to store and transport
than oil. Joseph Rhom is the author of "The Hype About Hydrogen." He’s hopeful this
technology can work, but he urges people not to put off conservation efforts: "It certainly
would be a shame if we did nothing for 10 years in the hope that hydrogen would show
up and then it turns out not to be practical for one or more reasons, and we’re left with
rising greenhouse gas emissions."
Scientists in Iceland hoped to prove that hydrogen can work. They plan to have fuel cell
cars on the road by the end of the decade.
Trish Anderton is now back at home in warm sunny New Hampshire. The Weather
Notebook is funded by Subaru of America and the National Science Foundation.
|
|
