Yesterday Honda released their Hydrogen fuel cell car for lease in California. The hydrogen fuel cell uses hydrogen to produce electricity to operate the vehicle and produces only water from its tailpipe.

The production and release of this ‘green’ car that is more efficient than gas powered cars and even hybrid vehicles is a major milestone in vehicle production and also in the ‘green’ movement overall. The question that comes to mind is how long will it take before the other major manufacturers will realize that this is not only a necessary step in their evolution, but that it will also be good for business? Until that happens, the cost of producing these vehicles will be the prohibitive factor to making the technology accessible to the masses.

Have you ever thought about having water come out of your car instead of terrible CO2 gases? Sounds like a great plan until you look at the reality of what needs to be done in order to get that hydrogen into your car… So by buying a hydrogen car, who are you really helping? Yourself? Government? Environment? Corporations?

The answer to this amazing question is unfortunately quite simple, it is again another marketing technique to try and approach the suddenly ‘conscious’ and environmentally friendly consumer that is now trying to look into reducing their CO2 footprint on mother earth. The increased profit margin for this premium product goes nowhere else but into the pockets of the producers of these cars.

You yourself do not gain simply because the price of a hybrid car, where most people would not exactly like to shell out $100,000 for having your pickup converted to run on hydrogen. But be sure to get one once you’ve brought home your next million dollar paycheck, as it may improve your image amount your social circle of elites when you roar by withing showing any signs of polluting the environment. The story about the actual milage which you get/L won’t even be started… Oh yes, and talk about refueling every 120km, with the one in a million hydrogen fuel stations that are out there.

The next question of the hydrogen fuel comes up with the government subsidies which may be potentially given to those who stimulate the research into hydrogen cars, and ‘try’ and reduce their environmental impact on the earth. So not only are less taxes collected due to fewer taxes being collected from oil, but instead money is passed on to those who drive a car that is less efficient then a regular diesel hybrid.

Now before going nuts about the hydrogen economy of the future, go back to your gr.12 physics textbook and look at the chapter on thermodynamics. Or if thats too far here is a quick online review of it. Hydrogen isn’t an energy source — it’s an energy carrier, like a battery, in which case it takes more energy to put it there then it is actually worth. You better also not be surprised about having your new hydrogen car weighing several times more then a normal ones. Just please don’t forget the words of the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration (NHTSA) “Vehicle weight reduction is probably the most powerful technique for improving fuel economy. Each 10 percent reduction in weight improves the fuel economy of a new vehicle design by approximately eight percent.” But on the other hand you get to drive like a tank and carry a sticker on your car showing that this is a hydrogen car and that if you get into a serious accident the whole block will go up in flames. (Free hydrogen is extremely reactive. It is ten times more flammable than gasoline, and twenty times more explosive.) When expecting your next hydrogen delivery to arrive at your local gas station please don’t hope that it will actually be able to fuel more then 60 cars, as the 40 ton truck will only be carrying 400kg of hydrogen, and will use up 20-40% of the energy delivered just by getting to your station.

So the next time you get into your ‘clean’ hydrogen powered care, along with your going green handbook take the single page about the ‘Five Myths of the Hydrogen Fueled Vehicle,’ and show those damn gas car drivers about who is boss on the road.

Andrei Ryan 14/05/08

Do you know a company that believes in sustainable development, has a strong commitment to the environment with a detailed policy to back it up and is known to be one of the most innovative all around the world? I know one. It’s Honda Motor Corporation. You have probably heard of this company; some of you for its motorcycles, some of you more for its car or maybe for its generators, marine engines or other power equipment. Honda is now a lot more than that. They are very active in the aeronautics and the robotics industries. In the following lines, I will tell you why I think companies around the world should follow Honda Motor Co. model for sustainable environment.

Honda is mainly known for its high quality products but it also has a wonderful history of innovations that has changed trends in different industries that has benefited the environment. Honda has always been dedicated to the environment. The have open the road in many domains. For examples, in July 2002, the zero emission Honda FCX became the first fuel cell (hydrogen) electric vehicle in the world to obtain the required certifications to be sold in the U.S. Honda as always been the leader in manufacturing engines with cleaner exhaust gas, improved fuel economy and use of alternate energy source.

The commitment the environment and to sustainable development doesn’t stop at the product development for Honda Motor Co. The have a full Environment / Sustainable development set of rules for production, purchasing, transportation, sales, disposable and recycling.

I hope I have awakened your curiosity about this wonderful company. I strongly encourage you to visit their corporate web site dedicated to the environment at http://www.world.honda.com/environment/ . You will discover what the power of dreams can do. I put you to the challenge to find a company that does more than Honda Motor Co. does.

To know more about the company products, you can follow the links bellow.