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Hydrogen: A Pollution Shell Game?

From: The Environment Report
Length: 04:02

Hydrogen powered vehicles merely shift pollution upstream. Read the full description.

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Playing: Hydrogen: A Pollution Shell Game?
From: The Environment Report

Default-piece-image-2 As it stands now, hydrogen is produced using the fossil fuel natural gas. That means there is still CO2 emissions. Instead of out the tailpipe of the car, the pollution is emitted out smokestacks. Automakers looking at hydrogen say it's easier to control pollution at smokestacks than at millions of tailpipes. The bottom line for many experts is that hydrogen fuel cell-power just shifts CO2 pollution upstream.

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Piece Description

As it stands now, hydrogen is produced using the fossil fuel natural gas. That means there is still CO2 emissions. Instead of out the tailpipe of the car, the pollution is emitted out smokestacks. Automakers looking at hydrogen say it's easier to control pollution at smokestacks than at millions of tailpipes. The bottom line for many experts is that hydrogen fuel cell-power just shifts CO2 pollution upstream.

Broadcast History

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Transcript

HYDROGEN: A POLLUTION SHELL GAME?
Julie Grant
March 5, 2007

Lots of people in the automotive industry expect hydrogen to be a major fuel source in the future. Cars that run on hydrogen don't emit greenhouse gases from the tailpipe. In fact, they don't emit anything except water. It might sound like magic, but there are some costs to fueling the future on hydrogen. Julie Grant reports:

There are a lot of young guys checking out the hybrid cars on display at this exhibit. Sales associate Chris Beckham is putting on his tie as he walks over to the sleek, futuristic cars Honda hopes to lease to consumers as soon as next year:

"It's a fuel cell-powered vehicle. It runs on hydrogen. The only emissions it has is water. So, it's a really great vehicle for the environment."

Beckham hopes he gets a chance to lease one:

"What do you think, are you ready to drive one of these?"

"...
Read the full transcript

Timing and Cues

Host intro: Lots of people in the automotive industry expect hydrogen to be a major fuel source in the future. Cars that run on hydrogen don't emit greenhouse gases from the tailpipe. In fact, they don't emit anything except water. It might sound like magic, but there are some costs to fueling the future on hydrogen. Julie Grant reports.