Many consider hydrogen to be the automobile fuel of the future. Indeed, it has
numerous characteristics that makes it very attractive. Hydrogen has a much
higher energy density than gasoline, can be produced from water, and its only
emission is water. However, there are numerous challenges associated with
hydrogen. In particular, the production of hydrogen is a key issue. Currently,
most hydrogen is developed from methane, resulting in hydrogen having a carbon
footprint. New investments into electrolysis from renewable energy sources is
showing promise as an alternative for generating hydrogen. Further, the
distribution of hydrogen poses many problems, requiring substantial
infrastructure to support a hydrogen economy. Additionally, hydrogen storage is
a key issue since most conventional storage mechanisms are overly bulky. If
these three issues can be addressed, hydrogen is posed for being a key fuel as
the world tries to move away from fossil fuels. This article discusses these
challenges and key research developments that can potentially resolve these
issues.
