Hoffmann P., Dorgan B. Tomorrow's Energy: Hydrogen, Fuel Cells, and the Prospects for a Cleaner Planet

London, England, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The MIT Press Cambridge, 2012. 369 p. — ISBN: 978-0-262-51695-2.Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe. An invisible, tasteless, colorless gas, it can be converted to nonpolluting, zero-emission, renewable energy. When burned in an internal combustion engine, hydrogen produces mostly harmless water vapor.It performs even better in fuel cells, which can be 2.5 times as efficient as internal-combustion engines. Zero-emission hydrogen does not contribute to CO2-caused global warming. Abundant and renewable, it is unlikely to be subject to geopolitical pressures or scarcity concerns. In this new edition of his pioneering book Tomorrow's Energy, Peter Hoffmann makes the case for hydrogen as the cornerstone of a new energy economy. Hoffmann covers the major aspects of hydrogen production, storage, transportation, fuel use, and safety. He explains that hydrogen is not an energy source but a carrier, like electricity, and introduces the concept of "hydricity," the essential interchangeability of electricity and hydrogen. He brings the hydrogen story up to date, reporting on the latest developments, including new hydrogen and fuel-cell cars from GM, Daimler, BMW, Honda, and Toyota.Foreword
Preface and Acknowledgments
Why Hydrogen? The Grand Picture
Hydrogen ’ s Discovery: Phlogiston and Inflammable Air
A History of Hydrogen Energy: The Reverend Cecil, Jules Verne, and the Redoubtable Mr. Erren
Producing Hydrogen from Water, Natural Gas, and Green Plants
Primary Energy: Using Solar and Other Power to Make Hydrogen
Terra Transport: Hydrogen for Cars, Buses, Bikes, and Boats
Fuel Cells: Mr. Grove ’ s Lovely Technology
Clean Contrails: The Orient Express, Phantom Eye, and LAPCAT
Hydrogen as Utility Gas: Hydricity, and the Invisible Flame
Nonenergy Uses of Hydrogen: Metallic H 2 , Biodegradable Plastics, and H 2 Tofu
Safety: The Hindenburg Syndrome, or Don ’ t Paint Your Dirigible with Rocket Fuel
The Next Fifty Years
Notes