Novel sugar-to-hydrogen technology promises transportation fuel independence

BLACKSBURG, Va., May 23, 2007 — The hydrogen economy is not a futuristic concept. The U.S. Department of Energy

According to the DOE, advances are needed in four areas to make hydrogen fuel an economical reality for transportation: production, storage, distribution, and fuel cells. Most industrial hydrogen currently comes from natural gas, which has become expensive. Storing and moving the gas, whatever its source, is costly and cumbersome, and even dangerous. And there is little infrastructure for refueling a vehicle.