Totally new cars and home energy systems become possible, with efficiencies unobtainable with any other fuel. The development of clean hydrogen energy applications will dramatically improve our quality of life, while greatly reducing the burdens placed by our society on the environment. Hydrogen,like natural gas, requires a fuel handling system which is quite different than gasoline systems. Liquid hydrogen must be kept very cold, so its tanks are superinsulated. Compared to gasoline, an equivalent amount of liquid hydrogen fuel is about four times larger, although it weighs only about one third as much.
Room temperature compressed-hydrogen tanks are simple but are large for normal vehicle use.
New lightweight hydrides, such as activated carbon, and better storage tanks and more efficient cars are being developed for use in the hydrogen marketplace. Using the latest in today's technology, however, the feasibility of using hydrogen has been demonstrated in several test cars in the U.S., Germany and Japan using modified production vehicles. Today's problem is a lack of public awareness, and therefore demand, and a lack of leadership to make the political and market place changes that are needed. In fact, it had a favorable safety record in accidents. This is because hydrogen tanks are very sturdy, and fuel leaks quickly dissipate.