Why Hydrogen?

Connecticut's transportation sector is nearly 100% dependent on fossil fuels, which are non-renewable and in limited quantity. In the last 20 years, demand for these fuels in Connecticut alone has grown nearly 50%. This demand is anticipated to grow another 50% by 2050. The burning of fossil fuels is a major contributor to air pollution which negatively impacts public health.

The use of hydrogen fuel has the potential to address some of Connecticut's long term energy and environmental challenges by reducing petroleum consumption and providing important environmental benefits. A key aspect of this program is the potential creation of new jobs in Connecticut to support the development and maintenance of these new leading-edge technologies.

The HyRide project is using hydrogen for many reasons. First and foremost, the hydrogen that fuels the HyRide bus is generated from water (H2O). Therefore, this process is entirely free from fossil fuels, resulting in an eco-friendly method, where hydrogen is extracted from water (technique known as an electrolyzer.) Next, the safety of hydrogen is always under examination. Hydrogen safety is equivalent to that of flammable fuels such as gasoline, natural gases, fossil fuels, etc. Hydrogen is lighter than air and consequently diffuses much faster than any natural gas would. This simply means that once hydrogen is released into the atmosphere it dilutes quickly into a non-flammable concentration.

Lastly, the comparison between hydrogen and gasoline fueled vehicles is important information concerning our future. By 2048, the probability of increased engine efficiency in hydrogen-powered vehicles is expected to be nearly twice that of engine efficiency in conventional gasoline vehicles. The hydrogen-fueled vehicles entire lifetime cost is expected to decrease about 20% in the coming years. In conclusion, hydrogen is an efficient, safe, and statistically more sustainable and cheaper fuel for the future.