Hydrogen
Fuel cells combine hydrogen gas and oxygen gas in order to produce electricity and emit water vapor into the air. Because using it emits no CO2, widespread use of hydrogen as a fuel would greatly reduce the threats of global warming and climate change. Providing more energy per gram than any other fuel, hydrogen is an ideal aviation fuel. However there are drawbacks to hydrogen fuel. It is a fuel produced by using energy so it's net energy is always going to be negative. Some experts believe that hydrogen gas will be the fuel of the future, replacing oil during the last half of the century.
ADVANTAGES |
DISADVANTAGES |
Can be produced from plentiful water (economic) |
CO2 emissions if produced from carbon-containing compounds (environmental) |
Nontoxic (environmental) |
Excessive H2 leaks may deplete ozone in the atmosphere (environmental) |
Safer than gasoline and natural gas (environmental) |
High costs (economic) |
Easier to store than electricity (economic) |
No fuel distribution system in place (economic) |
Good substitute for oil (economic) |
Short driving range for current fuel-cell cars (economic) |