Electrolysis and reforming NG are ways of having H2 at stations. I can not see trucking and storing lots of it. If we had SNG to reform, it would be CO2 neutral. If we had renewable electricity and 85% electrolysis efficiency it would be better also.

We may have Hydrogen fuel cell autos 20 years from now, but it will take an adsorbant that will store more at lower pressures. Activated charcoal does it for NG, now we need something that good for H2. With ANG, we can store the same amount that we can store at 3500 pounds at only 500 pounds. We can store twice as much at 1000 psi. This is what we need for H2.

Reforming natural gas to make H2 is a plain idiocy, natural gaz is a very clean fuel and can be burned with high efficiency in ICE engine because of its very high octane index and gaseous nature, so what's the point to loose efficiency in an expensive reforming to make a fuel that is so difficult to store.

It may not be difficult to store at the station or on the vehicle with carbon fiber tanks and adsorbants. If the reformers and electrolysis equipment can be located at the fueling station there would be no need to transport it by truck nor pipeline.

I do not see fuel cells becoming used on a widespread basis for decades. I think Honda and GM are doing them for the CARB gold standard stuff. They have to get over the expensive precious metal catalysts and make them last 100,000 miles first.

ICEs are still smog pumps. They produce nasty stuff even while burning NG. NOX is almost a given at temperature and pressure. Cat converters can only do so much. A fuel cell that just produces water has some appeal, especially in areas like L.A. The relative simplicity of a fuel cell is another attractive attribute.

If you have read my previous posts, you know I am for using NG in cars in a big way. The have made reformers that go on the cars for PEMs and SOFCs can just take it straight. Engines run much more cleanly on NG and can be boosted for high efficiency with small displacement. I am just making a counterpoint.

Once again those silly Japanese continue to do things that don't make sense in America. Small cars didn't make sense. Hybrid cars didn't make sense. And now fuel cell cars don't make sense. Yet, somehow, I'll bet we'll look the fool again a decade from now.

It is interesting to note how people looked at the small Japanese cars on the 70s while all the U.S. companies could do was Pinto and Vega. They said that no one wanted them, in a self validating delusion.

The Japanese know that oil is finite from a long history of having to import it. They have the right outlook and we are still living with the 50s mentality that there will be another gusher in Texas to bail us out.