How Close Are We to Having Cars Powered by Hydrogen That Are Pollution Free?

NTIS Collection of Technical Reports Shows Decades Of Research & Development

SPRINGFIELD, Va., Feb. 26 -- A simple chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen generates energy, which can be used to power a car, producing only water, not exhaust fumes. Hydrogen fuel cells represent one of the most promising emerging technologies. The ability to efficiently and cost-effectively harness hydrogen for energy will reshape industries, improve lives, and even change the global economy. Research reports found in the National Technical Information Service collection show our progress as well as the advantages of developing a hydrogen economy.

Recognizing the importance of fuel cells to future American competitiveness, the President has proposed to increase research funding to $1.2 billion so that America can lead the world in developing clean, hydrogen- powered automobiles. How do our law- and policymakers foster an environment for innovation and commercialization of hydrogen powered technologies, to let our scientists and engineers overcome obstacles to taking these cars from laboratory to showroom?

Fuel Cell Vehicles: Race to a New Automotive Future, a new report released by the Office of Technology Policy at the Department of Commerce, details the many challenges to the widespread adoption of fuel cells, both technological and infrastructure-related. It also presents a snapshot of current policies and activities around the world that seek to address these challenges.

Fuel Cell Vehicles: Race to a New Automotive Future is available from NTIS, call (1-800-553-6847) or (703) 605-6000, for $25 plus $5 handling fee, no additional charge for shipping; quote order number PB2003-102538KSL. Most major credit cards accepted. Fax orders to (703) 605-6900.

To order online and for a list of other hydrogen fuel technologies reports available from NTIS, go to http://www.ntis.gov/products/pages/fuelcell.asp on the NTIS Web site. Access information on more than 750,000 government information products on the NTIS Web site: http://www.ntis.gov/ .

The National Technical Information Service is the federal government's central source for the sale of scientific, technical, engineering, and related business information produced by or for the U.S. government and complementary material from international sources. Approximately 3 million products are available from NTIS in a variety of formats: electronic download, online access, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, diskette, multimedia, microfiche and paper.