Obama eliminates budget to develop hydrogen fuel-cell cars

Posted: May 08, 2009
Filed under: Hybrids, Green News, Industry News

President Barack Obama eliminated former President George W. Bush’s $1.2 billion plan to develop cars powered by hydrogen fuel-cells. The move wills save you, the taxpayers, a whopping $100 million annually.

“The probability of deploying hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles in the next 10 to 20 years is low,” Energy Department spokesman Tom Welch told Automotive News.

According to Energy Secretary Steven Chu, the Obama administration plans to target more immediate fuel-saving solutions.

Welch said that there is a large cost involved with developing infrastructures for hydrogen fueling stations for cars. He said that there are also huge technical obstacles to produce hydrogen and storing it in vehicle as a fuel-source.

President Obama’s fiscal 2010 budge proposal has $68.2 million for fuel-cell technologies, down form $169 million last year.

- By: The Daily Auto Editor

Photo Credit: Flickr by Pete Souza

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  4. GM to have fuel cell cars in showrooms by 2012
  5. Shanghai Auto Show: GM Updates the Chevy Volt with E-Flex hydrogen fuel cell

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  • Allen
    This is sad. Hydrogen cars are the only future: electric cars do not have the range and gas power is going away fast.

    The nation that takes the lead in energy technology will be the nation that owns this century. By killing off Hydrogen research the Obama Administration has killed America's chances at the future of mobility.

    I voted for the man, but this is reason for me to doubt him now.

    Oh and GMfan87: people said the same thing about gasoline when cars were first brought out, that it would never be safe. That kinda went south on them huh?
  • sadinamerica
    I agree with Zermatt. The H2 group didn't put enough dough into Obama campaign. It is all political. Obama couldn't care less of what middle America wants and dreams.
  • zermatt
    The pro hydrogen Greens must not have kicked in enough during the campaign or is it because it was supported by the past administration? Perhaps payback for the Greens that the administration is going to shovel taxpayer money to?

    There are a few anufacturers that are researching this technology - private money. When government gets involved in research I have to question who is really benefiting from this.

    Short sighted on the new administration's part.
  • GMfan87
    hehe thats always bugged me, the one area where GM is leaps and bounds ahead of everyone...and its utterly useless...this was a good cost cutter though

    and i really wish the whole myth about safe storage of hydrogen and CNG could be put to rest...
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