Although it currently uses compressed hydrogen gas fuel, Ford plans to change this to liquid hydrogen stored in a cryogenic tank. Compressor noise is similar to a dentist's high-speed drill, but Ford explains that this is simply a prototype system. But there is no suggestion that fuel cell technology will sweep aside the internal combustion engine. We could see 100,000 achieved in anything from four to eight years from now and a million maybe within five years of that. So we could be looking at 2012.
Powers is cautious about the use of methanol allied to a reformer as a hydrogen source.
The reformer is really an on-board refinery, but we are miniaturizing it. We are trying to work out how you take refinery technology and make it automobile-like. Another type of fuel cell is one which can be fed methanol directly with no need for a reformer. Another target is the substitution of expensive materials for cheaper types that do not seriously degrade fuel cell efficiency. While motor manufacturers struggle with the design and manufacturing aspects of fuel cells, the really big challenge is likely to be establishing a common re-fueling infrastructure.