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Sierra Club Energy Forum Albert Nunez, Takoma Park, MD: What about metal hydrides? As opposed to compressed gas and liquid hydrogen, aren't metal hydrides more promising? Ned Ford, from the Sierra Club's Global Warming Committee, responds: Metal hydrides are metals that easily attach and release hydrogen molecules. The idea is that they can be charged with hydrogen under pressure and then release the H2 fast enough to use, but store it in a compact volume and release it slow enough to protect against explosion in an accident. In an automobile accident, the threat of explosion from hydrogen fuel is less than from gasoline. At least the hydrogen rises in the air and burns away from passengers, unlike gasoline. But hydrides, like most of the rest of the hydrogen cycle, are fighting a battle of cost. It remains to be seen whether a hydride fueling system can be developed that is both inexpensive enough and feasible for widespread use. In the mean time, raising the efficiency of vehicles is feasible and will save money, and will expedite a hydrogen technology, because more efficient vehicles will make the on-board storage of hydrogen less problematic. Choose another topic Energy Forum main | Make your own energy movie | More in Sierra magazine Up to Top