Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCVs) could alleviate the nation's
dependence on oil and reduce U.S. emissions of carbon dioxide,
the major greenhouse gas. Industry-and government-sponsored
research programs have made very impressive technical progress
over the past several years, and several companies are currently
introducing pre-commercial vehicles and hydrogen fueling
stations in limited markets. However, to achieve wide hydrogen
vehicle penetration, further technological advances are required
for commercial viability, and vehicle manufacturer and hydrogen
supplier activities must be coordinated. In particular, costs
must be reduced, new automotive manufacturing technologies
commercialized, and adequate supplies of hydrogen produced and
made available to motorists. These efforts will require
considerable resources, especially federal and private sector
funding. This book estimates the resources that will be needed
to bring HFCVs to the point of competitive self-sustainability
in the marketplace. It also est