Certainly in this era of through-the-roof gasoline prices, you might be ready to hear news about alternative fuels. And one that has got a lot of ink is hydrogen, which happens to be the most abundant element on earth. We recently had the chance to live with a Chevrolet Equinox crossover utility vehicle fueled by hydrogen, which gave us a peek at what the future might be, and the results, we’d have to say, are mixed. The Equinox Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle proved to be a very capable performer with reasonable all-around drivability on the highway and around town. Supplied with electricity from the under-hood fuel cell and onboard battery pack, the Equinox’s 100-horsepower electric motor moves it from a standstill to 60 mph in about 12 seconds. While that’s not bad, the driving experience still pointed up the big questions that loom before we enter a hydrogen economy.
First, there is the fuel itself. In its three very heavy fuel cylinders, which add to the vehicle’s weight and cut down its payload capacity, the Equinox carried only enough hydrogen to allow a stated 160-mile range. That’s less than half that of a conventional vehicle with a full gasoline tank. More disconcerting, we could visibly watch the fuel gauge drop as we commuted in the vehicle. This gave us pause, because there are so few hydrogen stations in the country.
It is the lack of infrastructure and the source of hydrogen fuel itself that are two major question marks. Without many fuel cell vehicles on the road, one must wonder who will take the leap of faith to build hydrogen filling stations, and without hydrogen filling stations, who will decide to build more fuel cell vehicles? Questions, too, linger about whether hydrogen can be obtained and delivered to customers in a manner that doesn’t cost more energy than is derived from it. So to us, the fuel cell Equinox proved that a hydrogen-powered vehicle could be done but not that it will be done.
The Rim of World Scenic Byway aptly describes the drive along Southern California's highest mountain range, the San Bernardinos, with their spectacular view of the surrounding mountains as well as the Los Angeles Basin.
