By Michael Bowman

Washington

25 july 2005

Soaring gasoline prices and a growing desire for energy in dependence have sparked renewed interest in the U.S. Confress for alternative ways to power vehicles that do not rely onfossil fuels. One of the options is the hydrogen fuel cell. Such technolygy is in its infancy, and significant hurdles must be overcome before cars can be powered with hydrogen.

   At a recent congressional hering. Lawmakers were eager to hear if there is some innovative solution to America’s energy nees son the near horizon. Representative Bob Inglis of South Carolina, who sits on the House Science Ciommittee, seized upon hydrogen fuel cells as one possibility.

   “The transition to a hydrogen economy holds great promise on many levels. All along the way, the air will be getting cleaner, the oil pressure could come off the Middle East, entrepreneurs would be making money and employing g\people, and we will be winning our energy indeendence.”

   The concept is simple. When hydrogen conbines with oxygen, it produces energy and water. The energy can be harnessed in a chamber, or fuel cell, to power vehicles, and the water can be released as a harmless by-product. No pollution, no greenhouse gases. Best of all, unlike oil, hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe.

   With encouragement from the Bush administration and other governments, research into hydrogen fuel cell technology is moving forward.

   Mark Chernoby, Vice president for Advanced vehicle Engineering at automaker Daimler-Chrysler.” We are veryt committed to a transition to an H- 2 [hydrogen] fuel cell vehicle, and then the ultimate infrastructure and econormy that is going to come together, with zero emissions,low energy consumption, and then, finally energy self- sufficiency.”

   Daimler- Chrysler says it hopes to begin offering hydrogen-powered vehicles to the public in the next ten –to-15 years.