| The
lightest and most common element in the universe,
hydrogen has been safely used for decades in
industrial applications. Currently, over 9 million
tons of hydrogen are produced in the U.S. each
year and 3.2 trillion cubic feet are used to
make many common products. They include glass,
margarine, soap, vitamins, peanut butter, toothpaste
and almost all metal products. Hydrogen has
been used as a fuel since the 1950s by the National
Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA) in the
U.S. space program. |
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| Hydrogen
- A Safe, Clean Fuel for Vehicles |
Hydrogen
has another use - one that can help our nation
reduce its consumption of fossil fuels. Hydrogen
can be used to power fuel cell vehicles. When
combined with oxygen in a fuel cell, hydrogen
generates electricity used by the vehicle's
clean electric motor to create a smooth, quiet
ride - and the only emission from the tailpipe
is water vapor.
Hydrogen is an excellent vehicle fuel for many
reasons. The U.S. Department of Energy compares
hydrogen very favorably to other fuels. Hydrogen
is not toxic, poisonous or corrosive. As a result
of hydrogen's benign nature, it doesn't harm
the environment or public health. If hydrogen
were to leak it would disperse into the air
almost immediately because it is so light. Contrast
that with the effects of oil and gasoline spills,
and it's easy to see why hydrogen offers such
an exciting future! |
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| Misconceptions
About the Past |
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| The
fire that destroyed the Hindenburg back in 1937
gave hydrogen a misleading reputation. Hydrogen
was used to keep the airship buoyant, but hydrogen
did not cause the fire. NASA scientists have
found that the Hindenburg's outer shell was
coated with a compound similar to what is now
used in solid rocket fuel. When the ship docked,
an electrical charge ignited the coating. Hydrogen,
as a fuel, was not the cause of the tragedy. |
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| Respecting
Flammable Fuels |
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As
with any fuel, hydrogen's physical qualities
must be respected and understood. The very property
that makes all fuels useful also makes them
potentially dangerous. So it's important to
remember to safely handle energy carriers like
gasoline, diesel, natural gas, and hydrogen.
Fortunately, we have over 100 years of experience
using motor fuels. Today, all fuel production
and distribution systems have built-in safety
systems. Vehicles do too.
The main rule of thumb in fuel safety is to
avoid a leak. Without a leak, there's no opportunity
for the fuel to ignite. Fuel cell cars and hydrogen
fueling stations are designed to prevent hydrogen
from leaking, and with the redundant systems
to shut down automatically if an accident occurs.
The operation of these shut-off safety systems
will be verified through testing and real-life
experience. |
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| Fill
'er Up with Hydrogen |
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| When
you pull into a gas station today, you rarely
think about safety. We're so used to the experience
of refueling our cars, we take certain things
for granted -- like not smoking, not using cell
phones, and not filling the car with the engine
running. In some ways, hydrogen stations will
be like traditional gas stations. Many of the
same safety precautions will apply. |
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| For
instance, to make sure a spark can't cause a
fire, no smoking or use of cell phones will
be allowed. And built-in safety systems will
prevent static electricity from causing any
problems. |
Hydrogen
Safety Examined
Government
and industry have decades of experience
designing and conducting safety tests
for vehicles and transportation fuels.
The same diligence and accumulated experience
will be applied to hydrogen fuel cell
vehicles with collision, fire and leak
tests. In some respects, hydrogen already
has been found to be as safe as gasoline
and other fuels we commonly use today.
Companies that manufacture hydrogen
fuel cell vehicles and build hydrogen
stations will use many safety features.
These features will be validated through
safety tests. Ultimately consumers will
play a critical safety role. The more
aware you are of the fuels you use,
the safer the transition to hydrogen
will be. Someday soon, fuel cell vehicles
may become as much a part of our lives
as our gasoline powered cars. |
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Fueling
Takes Only Minutes
Refueling
your hydrogen fuel cell vehicle
won't feel all that different. You'll
still insert a nozzle into your
tank or fueling tube. In this case,
though, the nozzle will be securely
connected to your tank to prevent
hydrogen from escaping.
The nozzle will also be designed
so hydrogen can't leak during the
process of connecting and disconnecting,
and the opening of the hydrogen
tank will be different enough to
make it impossible to accidentally
fuel your vehicle with gasoline
or natural gas. |
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| Driving
Your Fuel Cell Car |
| By
using hydrogen in a fuel cell vehicle, you'll
get all the benefits of an electric drive
system - no harmful emission and a smooth,
quiet ride. There are already a number of
hydrogen fuel cell cars on California roads.
In the near future, fuel cell buses will also
be used in several California cities.
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| FOR
MORE INFORMATION |
| The
following web sites provide information about
hydrogen fuel cells or hydrogen safety:
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|  The
California Fuel Cell Partnership
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| The
National Hydrogen Association |
|
The National Hydrogen Association's Monthly
Online
Hydrogen Safety Newsletter |
| The
National Fire Protection Association
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| The
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
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| The
U.S. Department of Energy |
| The
U.S. Fuel Cell Council |
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| This
information was compiled by the California
Fuel Cell Partnership. |
