The issue of efficiency, as noted in earlier comments, can be extremely confusing. Efficiency has to be converted to energy used to move a vehicle of the same shape and weight a certain distance at a certain speed. The comparison between two fuels or engines can only be made meaningful when they are measured using the criteria of equal weight, shape, distance traveled and speed of travel.

In February 2003, the Department of Energy delivered the "Fuel Cell Report to Congress" comparing fuel cell vehicles to internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. On page 3 of that report, a table lists the following:

* MPGE – miles per gallon equivalent measured as liters/miles.

What is astounding is the improvement from the basic ICE engine to the hybrid car, a 1/3 reduction of energy used. What is equally astounding is the relatively low improvement forecasted for the Fuel Cell Vehicle (FCV). From the volume of fuel cell hype, one would expect the FCV to offer something far more substantial than a 50 percent reduction from the ICE.

This is even more noteworthy when one realizes that, with absolutely no fanfare, Honda and Toyota, who developed the first hybrid cars, reduced the energy usage by about 2/3 of the ultimate offer of the fuel cell vehicle.

Probably a 50 percent reduction in fuel consumption has occurred in the last 50 years with normal improvements in the gasoline engine. Honda alone achieved close to that on the Honda Civic over a 10-year period. The 1991 Honda Civic Hatch back DX weighed 2158 pounds and its gas mileage (city/highway) combination was 31/35. The 1992 Honda Civic VX hatchback weighed 2100 pounds and its gas mileage was 48/55. This amazing increase was based on a new VTEC-E engine, which utilized a finely timed valve control system and new lean-burn combustion technology. This was the only car in California that did not require a catalytic converter. In 1999 the Honda Insight was delivered. It weighed 1847 pounds with mileage of 61/70. This represented a doubling of gas mileage in Hondaís smallest car in less than a decade.

It is possible to speculate that Honda and Volkswagen, the two leaders in high mileage vehicle development and manufacturing, may well achieve another 50 percent in the next 50 years with ICE hybrids, possibly with diesel engines.

The case for the Fuel Cell as the panacea for reducing automobile energy use has not successfully been made, particularly since the fuel cell has existed for over 50 years. It is not reasonable to expect a 50-year technology to suddenly offer the breakthroughs suggest by the hype. The push for fantasy solutions such as the "Freedom Car" and the "Hypercar" may well distract us too long from the need to make corrections in our lifestyle to more efficiently and fairly use the earthís resources.

Top of Page