Smart
Grid versus the Hydrogen Highway
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
A
Honda Fuel Cell vehicle filling up with solar-hydrogen
Not long ago, I thought it was time to give up on fuel
cell vehicles and the hydrogen highway in favor of plug-in
hybrid vehicles. After driving some fuel cell
vehicles, however, I realized the automotive side of the
hydrogen economy was closer to reality than I believed,
however, the hydrogen highway still seemed miles into the
future.
The biggest impediment to the hydrogen highway is surely
cost, which some have estimated at $50 billion. GM
believes $15 billion could kick start the hydrogen
highway. Honda believes Home Energy Stations might
supplant the need for a widespread hydrogen highway.
Nonetheless, the monetary costs are staggering.
Still, are the infrastructure costs of plug-in hybrids so
much more cost-effective?
When Congress investigated smart grid technology to better
manage surges to the grid caused by air conditioning, it
was estimated that it would cost $14 to $26 billion to
implement nationwide. How much more would it cost to add
the ability to manage tens of millions of electric
vehicles, even 100's of millions?
Likewise, when a squirrel can knock out the power grid,
how much more money will be required to update current
grid infrastructure? Will nuclear power be required to
ensure that enough electricity is always in the grid?
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