The POPA report concluded that major scientific breakthroughs are required for the Initiative to succeed. The most promising hydrogen-engine technologies require factors of 10 to 100 improvements in cost or performance in order to be competitive. Current production methods are four times more expensive than gasoline. And, no material exists to construct a hydrogen fuel tank that meets the consumer benchmarks. A new material must be discovered.
These are very large performance gaps. Incremental improvements to existing technologies are not sufficient to close all the gaps. Significant scientific breakthroughs are needed. According to Peter Eisenberger, chairman of the committee that drafted the report, "Hydrogen storage is a potential show stopper."
The panel made several recommendations to make success more likely. It also urged that Congress take particular steps to hedge against the possibility that the significant technology hurdles for the Initiative will not be met within the proposed 2020 timeline.
Peter Eisenberger, will be testifying before the House Science Committee on Wednesday, March 3 at 2:00 pm EST.
The full report is on the APS website:
http://www.aps.org/public_affairs/index.cfm.
For further information on the Hydrogen Initiative report by APS Panel on Public Affairs, contact:
Peter Eisenberger
Columbia University
609-924-8062, 917-568-6915
petere@ldeo.columbia.edu
Francis Slakey
American Physical Society
202-662-8700
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Contact: James Riordon
riordon@aps.org
301-209-3238
American Physical Society
2-Mar-2004