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Japan takes the lead in hydrogen-fueled cars

UPI Asia -- Tokyo, Japan — In the wake of last year's soaring crude oil prices, coupled with a growing environmental awareness, the development of alternative energy sources is moving into high gear. Among next-generation energy sources, hydrogen is proving to be a favorite.

Japan started selling the world's first household hydrogen fuel cell this year, and stands on the verge of selling fuel-cell vehicles. But there are still difficult challenges involving the manufacturing, storing and transporting of hydrogen. For these reasons, some experts say the advent of the hydrogen economy might be a pipedream.


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Submitted Nov 20, 2009 By: GM
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REPLIES (newest first)
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Naturenut99
All-Star Author Illinois

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Message Posted: Nov 23, 2009 12:25:48 PM

I believe the big point of this article should be (along with the headline)...
"By the time FCVs are commercially available in 2015 they will be cheaper than a Rolls-Royce, but it will be difficult to price them down to the level of a Corolla,” said Kenichiro Ota, a professor at Yokohama National University. A Rolls-Royce costs around US$550,000 and a Corolla $22,000."

Should be cheaper than a Rolls-Royce by 2015.
EV's / PHEV's cost 10 times LESS than that NOW.
Give EV's / PHEV's more time and they will be cheaper still.

The only reason they are still trying for FCV's is for there to be something for the oil co's to sell.
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kelsielee
Champion Author Atlanta

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 2:09:25 PM

Still a very expensive option - that may or may not be commercially viable in the future.
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adr47
Champion Author Saskatchewan

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 12:50:57 PM

Japan is ahead because North America has got used to cheap oil and is still in denial
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bluebird1
Champion Author Toronto

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:41:24 AM

Good for them....and to mreiff this is likely out of necessity. Gas is what maybe $2.70/gal US in your area...here in Toronto Ont. the price has been pretty stable at $4.45+ /gal Cdn...much higher than warranted. UK is traditionally about double ie. they pay in pounds what we Cdns pay in $'s.
Japan likely pays more than that again. I know mid-2008 it was 133 yen/L after a big drop. If still the same, this is $1.52 USD/L (according to Yahoo currency converter) which is $6.90/gal.
Paying 2.5 times what you are for a commodity is a strong motivator to find an alternative.
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mreiff
Champion Author Louisville

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:11:37 AM

As usual, Japan leads the US in technology and engineering.
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mazdaboy
Champion Author Portland

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:11:07 AM

Pressurized hydrogen? And I thought driving in vehicles with gasoline was dangerous. Now we are going to have 4 wheeled Hindenburgs all over the highways.
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Cerberus2k
Champion Author Phoenix

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:07:07 AM

Japan is the tech capital of the world.
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Patch44
Champion Author Buffalo

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:01:51 AM

It's still better than OPEC terroist oil.
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yclookout
Champion Author Sacramento

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:01:40 AM

Hydrogen is SAFE, the uninformed who keep crying Hindenburg have no idea what they are talking about! The massive fire that destroyed the Hindenburg was the burning aluminum paint on the envelope, NOT the hydrogen. Powered metals are used in fireworks. Hydrogen is difficult to ignite, and even if there were to be a fire, the actual flame would be several feet above the fuel tank.
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THEDodgeman
Champion Author Denver

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:53:14 AM

GO JAPAN...I posted this would happen..American auto makers always behind the 8 ball.
THIS IS WHY THEY ARE ALL GOING BROKE HERE.
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smoketown
Champion Author Cincinnati

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:51:44 AM

Screw the so called experts
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DirtDauber
Champion Author San Antonio

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:49:58 AM

Sure seems to have lots of difficult storage problems.

Probably ought to be crash proof also.
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Tnerbeel
Champion Author Houston

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:46:21 AM

Filling up with compressed hydrogen at a station is a scary thought. One small leak + one small spark and 'Hindenburg'!
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Don20
Champion Author Oklahoma City

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:45:03 AM

Hydrogen is the way to go, but we have to perfect the ability to store without leaking out. We need to continue the research and development as hydrogen is cheap its all around us...
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w4kh
Champion Author Riverside

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:44:53 AM

Japan has a totally different mindset thsn the US... they do not have large numbers of people driving around at high speeds in 4x4 crew cab pickups with only the driver and nothing in the truck bed, or soccer moms in SUVs... no one in Japan is squalling about their right to be wasteful... the Japanese people and the government recognize the importance of getting free of imported oil, unlike the "free" US, who cling to oil. Small wonder that Japan is taking the lead and the US is falling behind on alternative energy research.
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USAFA82
Champion Author Colorado Springs

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:44:42 AM

Sound promising.
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squeakyUT
All-Star Author Salt Lake City

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:40:08 AM

We have lost that competitive edge to other countries. The only thing we lead in is ripping the public off and Wall Street salaries.
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gabbygusIN
Champion Author Indiana

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:37:01 AM

Go Japan! When are we going to be the 1st anything??
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EricON
Veteran Author Ontario

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:33:03 AM

hydrogen will be a reality as soon as our quest for cheap fossil fuels runs out
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jb107
Champion Author New Jersey

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:31:46 AM

Do we take the lead in anything any more?
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yukonjack
Champion Author Georgia

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:30:10 AM

If they figure out how to extract hydrogen from air on the fly, then there would be no need for hydrogen filling stations. That would probably take a pretty big piece of equipment though, but if not, then the faster you go, the more hydrogen you can suck in and use. Fantasy, I know. But who knows.
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Helms
Champion Author Fort Worth

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:30:07 AM

Go Japan go!! Save us because we can;t stand any more of nobama's "help"
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madison8359
Champion Author Cleveland

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:29:57 AM

Many expert believe that hydrogen will be the energy of the future.

It is abundant, safe when handled correctly and will eventually be relatively inexpensive.

Where are the Americans in this emerging technology. We already use it for space flights!
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TeachR06
Champion Author Raleigh

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:29:06 AM

Keep up the alternative research. That's the only way to go.
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Ringmaster2008
Champion Author Ontario

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:28:45 AM

Japan has lead in new technology for quite a while.
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bbreff
Champion Author Atlanta

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:27:44 AM



When will the US wakw up and do something to help out with the high oil prices?

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CharlieC08
Champion Author Colorado

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:27:37 AM

Natural gas please.
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biza4u
Champion Author New Haven

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:27:22 AM

Hydrogen is the way to go. We need more research into it and get the auto manufacturers on board
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twiper1
Champion Author San Diego

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:27:21 AM

Right now Hydrogen is not practical because there is NO hydrogen stations
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Rednix
Champion Author Miami

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:26:35 AM

We need to wake up and join Japan in this.
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Bou
Champion Author Maine

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:24:38 AM

Sounds promising, but why can't we burn it as alternative to gas?
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granma3xnow
Champion Author Indiana

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:22:35 AM

When I hear "hydrogen" I think BOMB. Makes me nervous.
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Sam195
Champion Author San Bernardino

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:21:44 AM

Hydrogen is better than oil.
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civicdutie
Champion Author Rochester

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:20:16 AM

Filling your car up with hyrdrogen sounds riskier than gasoline. How expensive will it be to outfit current gas stations with the equipment necessary to fill your car with it?
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Jarol
Champion Author Iowa

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:18:52 AM

I hope they have a technical breakthrough.
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CarrottopNe
Champion Author Lincoln

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:18:24 AM

US's only hope in hydrogen-fueled cars will come from Ford if any company is going to compete with Japan.
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Cheepo
Champion Author Tampa

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:18:23 AM

Go hydrogen, GO!!!!!!!!!!
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HEBster
Champion Author Kentucky

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:15:54 AM

This seems like the best technology to me...
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CISA
Champion Author Orange County

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:15:51 AM

let them lose money for the market development -- much like the pioneers took the first arrows.
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BeaverBilly
Champion Author Alberta

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:15:01 AM

Japan is #1 in Electronics, Honda's, and Toyota's. Now watch out for alternative energy.
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murdershewrote
Champion Author Riverside

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:14:18 AM

japan is passing us by again
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qmyster
All-Star Author Denver

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:14:04 AM

Go Japan.
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Ticoman54
Champion Author Miami

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:10:01 AM

Any alternative to fossil fuel is a step in the right direction.

Imagine if we had considered electricity, telephone, television, computer, automobile, internet,etc. all as pipe dreams, where would we be today?
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Toppers
Champion Author Atlanta

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:08:40 AM

Hope they can make it a reality...but doubt it!
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148366
Champion Author Spokane

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:08:35 AM

It is the challenges that have to be over come that are the problem.
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rvn4me
Champion Author Texas

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:06:08 AM

I agree that it looks more like a pipe dream.
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tazdriver
Champion Author Huntsville

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:06:00 AM

Hydrogen needs lots of research and proving to overcome a host of problems but overall has great potential
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sleepyt
Champion Author Chicago

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:05:24 AM

The only problem I have with what you wrote, Bikechuck, is that you have one basic fact wrong. The vast majority of the deficit spending wasn't done by Obama or the Democratic Congress.

It was done by the Bush Administration (W.) and a Republican controlled Congress.

Other than failing to assign the blame properly, the effects are correctly described.
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Voltus
Champion Author Miami

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:05:06 AM

I hope it does not go the way Zeppelins went... down in fumes!
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spunky4443
Champion Author Washington

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:04:30 AM

Seems like the Japan is always well ahead on Technology.
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