Army backs the hydrogen highway

(Credit: Proton Energy Systems)

In a side bet on "green power," the U.S. Army has awarded a $ nike air 90 1.8 million contract to develop hydrogen filling stations for military vehicles, hoping it pays off with reduced fossil-fuel consumption and increased efficiency.

At first glance, this nike 360  may appear to be a throwaway investment for the Army. Hydrogen fuel requires such a large amount of energy to separate it from water and to compress or liquefy before it's delivered to the user, nike air max 360 women  that it has been criticized as neither sustainable nor an economic alternative to fossil fuels.

However the contractor, Proton Energy Systems claims its patented prot nike air max 360 black on exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis technology produces hydrogen at 200 psig, eliminating the need for mechanical compression and the weighty high-pressure storage tanks that ma nike 2009 ke the fuel so noncompetitive. (PDF)

The Wallingford, Conn.-based company also claims its on-site hydrogen production is a "zero pollution process." This addresses another issue. Hydroge nike air max 360 iii men's running shoe n, as fuel, is not naturally occurring-it can't be mined or pumped out of the ground- it must be synthesized, and that takes electricity, which means that it is com tn requin peting with its own energy source. Proton Energy Systems counters by pointing out that its hydrogen generators can integrate with renewable electricity or hybrid power sources.

Critics sco nike air max 360 basketball shoes ff that if renewable and hybrid power sources were so dependable and readily available, we wouldn't be wasting time on hydrogen.

Still, to many the hydrogen highwa nike air flight 90 y sounds like--if not a sure bet, at least a safe one. (PDF)

"The United States military is dedicated to developing the latest technology that will ultimately enable the realizat air 360 ion of a state-of-the art hydrogen powered installation vehicle fleet which supports our petroleum reduction goals," Proton quotes Paul Skalny, director of the U.S. Army's National Automotive Cent air 180 er, in its announcement this week.

Mark Rutherford is a West Coast-based freelance writer. He is a member of the CNET Blog Network, and is not an employee of CNET. Email him at [email protected]. Disclosure. Topics: Motor Pool Tags: Proton Energy Systems, proton exchange membrane, PEM, hydrogen fuel, Hydrogen Highway, US Army National Automotive Center, TRADOC Share: Digg Del.icio.us Reddit Facebook Twitter