Hydrogen Fuel Cell Cars

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LONDON, England (CNN)-- For a century the petrol engine has remained largely unchallenged,seeing off all pretenders to its crown. But with dangerous climatechange on the horizon and a host of contenders looming large in therear view mirror, is the petrol engine about to be overtaken by a newfleet of cleaner, leaner rivals?

Principal Voices takes a look at the competition.

SCIENCE THAT WILL CELL?

Hydrogen powered cars are emissions free -- expelling only drops ofwater from the exhaust -- and fuel cell technology is proven. NASA hasbeen using hydrogen to power space missions since the 1960s.

Afuel cell works by converting chemical energy into electrical energywhich in turn powers the vehicle. Unlike electric cars they don't needrecharging, just fuel.

Earlier this year, Honda became the firstmanufacturer to complete production of the first commercial hydrogenfuel cell vehicle -- the FCX Clarity -- which is powered by a 100 kilowatt V Flow fuel cell stack.

But they are expensive -- "hundreds of thousands of dollars each" saysHonda -- and only 200 have been made (by hand). Honda is leasing outthe FCX to a variety of hand-picked customers including actress JamieLee Curtis and Japan's Ministry of the Environment.

Dozens of motor manufacturers are currently designing new cars with fuel cell technology.

As part of its 2009 centenary celebrations, the UK's Morgan Motor Company is developing the LIFECar -- a lightweight fuel-efficient car based on the chassis of the company's Aero 8 model.

The LIFECar is powered by a small fuel cell (22 kilowatts) which hasbeen built by British defense contractor QinetiQ and has a set ofultracapacitors which helps it to accelerate a lot faster -- zero to 60miles per hour in six to seven seconds.

Dr Malcolm McCulloch, leader of the Electrical Power Group at the UK's Oxford University is helping Morgan with the electric motors and power electronics on the car.

"At the moment we are still doing tests on the car, but it looks likeit will be emitting around 50 grams of carbon per km equivalent, whichis five times better than most vehicles will do now," McCulloch toldCNN.

Being the most abundant chemical element in the universe, hydrogen isn't about to run out either.

Professor Rob Thring,Chair in Fuel Cell Engineering at the UK's Loughborough University,told CNN: "If you go out a buy a bottle of hydrogen today it willalmost certainly be manufactured from natural gas -- which is not verygreen.

"But there is a better way. If you electrolyze waterusing electricity you've made from wind turbines, wave or solar, thenyou can say that you have completely carbon free transportation."

VERDICT

Hydrogen fuel cell cars aren't ready to take over from the petrolengine. They are currently very expensive to produce and Honda saysthat a production model is still a long way off. But in the long termthey could be the best option. Fuel cell cars are an incredibly cleanand efficient mode of transport.

"We need to build up theinfrastructure in the same way that we did in the 1900s withpetroleum," says Professor Thring. "The time it takes to roll out theinfrastructure will depend on the incentive but I think a significantproportion of the total vehicle fleet will be hydrogen fueled in tenyears time."

Dr John Turner, Research Fellow at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory(NREL) in Colorado, U.S. says: "It's going to take a long time to buildup a fuel cell manufacturing base. But for a species that wants tomaintain the viability of the planet, hydrogen is perfect."

OUR FRIENDS ELECTRIC?

Historically, electric vehicles have been the destitute cousin of thepetrol car with a popular perception as being slow and fiendishlyuncool. In fact, the only person who wouldn't be seen dead driving oneis a milkman.

Recent additions to the electric family such asthe REVA G-Wiz -- launched in 2001 -- have failed to erase the rathernegative connotations of going electric.

But the latest advances in battery technology could change the fortunesof electric cars dramatically. Powering cars with lithium-ion batteriesis transforming their capabilities. They are lighter, require lessmaintenance and hold their charge much longer than old fashionedlead-acid batteries.

The Tesla Roadster-- the much-hyped first fully electric sports car -- is powered by alithium-ion battery and is proof that the electric car has moved on.

With a full 3.5 hours charge it will travel 250 miles. The Roadsterwill go from zero to 60 in 3.9 seconds and has a top speed of 125 milesper hour. Less impressive is the price tag of around $100,000.

Hot on the heels of Tesla is the UK's Lightning Car Companywhose Lightning GT is even prettier than the Roadster and comes with asimilar spec. It is even more expensive -- around $180,000 -- but doescome with the option of a NanoSafe lithium titanate battery which canbe charged in just 10 minutes.

While these cars aren't exactlyin reach of most people, there are plenty of new companies lining up tosell motorists an affordable electric vehicle.

Founded in 2006 by two former Lotus engineers, Julian Wilford and Evert Geurtsen, the Nice Car Company and has a range of two, four wheel and commercial cars including the Mega City and the Mega MultiTruck.

The Mega City costs around $18,000 and has a range of 60 miles on afull charge of eight hours. Perhaps a bit too pricey for theperformance but costs should come down as take up increases.

VERDICT

Oxford University's Dr McCulloch says that at the moment electric carslook like they might dominate the market in the coming years. "Theadvantage of batteries is that there is a ready infrastructure there,"he said.

Renault's electric vehicle project director, SergeYoccoz, told the International Herald Tribune recently that he expectselectric vehicles to represent as much as 20 percent of the Europeanmarket in 10 years.

And the UK Government's Committee on ClimateChange has predicted -- perhaps rather boldly -- that 40 percent ofcars on British roads will be electric by 2020 if tough greenhouseemissions targets are met.

But Dr John Turner from the NRELisn't convinced that electric cars are the way to go

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