Hydrogen
Hydrogen (H2) is an alternative fuel that can be produced from diverse domestic resources. Although hydrogen is in its infancy in the market as a transportation fuel, government and industry are working toward clean, economical, and safe hydrogen production and distribution for widespread use in fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). FCEVs are beginning to enter the consumer market in localized regions domestically and around the world. The market is also developing for buses, material handling equipment (such as forklifts), ground support equipment, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, and stationary applications. For more information, see fuel properties and the Hydrogen Analysis Resource Center.
Hydrogen is abundant in our environment. It's stored in water (H2O), hydrocarbons (such as methane, CH4), and other organic matter. One of the challenges of using hydrogen as a fuel comes from being able to efficiently extract it from these compounds.
Currently, steam reforming, combining high-temperature steam with natural gas to extract hydrogen, accounts for the majority of the hydrogen produced in the United States. Hydrogen can also be produced from water through electrolysis. This is more energy intensive but can take advantage of inexpensive excess renewable energy, such as wind or solar, while avoiding the harmful emissions associated with other kinds of energy production.
Almost all of the hydrogen produced in the United States each year is used for refining petroleum, treating metals, producing fertilizer, and processing foods.
Although the production of hydrogen may generate emissions affecting air quality, depending on the source, a FCEV running on hydrogen emits only water vapor and warm air as exhaust and is considered a zero-emission vehicle. Major research and development efforts are aimed at making these vehicles and their infrastructure practical for widespread use. This has led to the initial rollout of production vehicles in northern and southern California, and more recently in the northeastern states in 2018.
Learn more about hydrogen and fuel cells from the Fuel Cell Technologies Office.
Alternative Fuel Data Center information on Hydrogen
California Fuel Cell Partnership
DriveClean.ca.gov information on Hydrogen
Hydrogen is abundant in our environment. It's stored in water (H2O), hydrocarbons (such as methane, CH4), and other organic matter. One of the challenges of using hydrogen as a fuel comes from being able to efficiently extract it from these compounds.
Currently, steam reforming, combining high-temperature steam with natural gas to extract hydrogen, accounts for the majority of the hydrogen produced in the United States. Hydrogen can also be produced from water through electrolysis. This is more energy intensive but can take advantage of inexpensive excess renewable energy, such as wind or solar, while avoiding the harmful emissions associated with other kinds of energy production.
Almost all of the hydrogen produced in the United States each year is used for refining petroleum, treating metals, producing fertilizer, and processing foods.
Although the production of hydrogen may generate emissions affecting air quality, depending on the source, a FCEV running on hydrogen emits only water vapor and warm air as exhaust and is considered a zero-emission vehicle. Major research and development efforts are aimed at making these vehicles and their infrastructure practical for widespread use. This has led to the initial rollout of production vehicles in northern and southern California, and more recently in the northeastern states in 2018.
Learn more about hydrogen and fuel cells from the Fuel Cell Technologies Office.
Alternative Fuel Data Center information on Hydrogen
California Fuel Cell Partnership
DriveClean.ca.gov information on Hydrogen