The National Research Council (NRC) has finished conducting research into the possibility of powering vehicles using hydrogen fuel cells and other alternatives. Despite mixed reviews, the report suggests that even without ready solutions to quite a number of major issues, taxpayer-funded research into hydrogen "is justified by its potentially enormous benefits to the nation."

Also in the report was a suggestion that too much money is being spent on reducing the cost of lightweight materials, and some of it "should be redistributed to areas of higher potential payoff." Interesting ... like what? Could be plug-in hybrids, which they suggest are not being researched with enough verve. Not surprisingly, the target date being thrown around for hydrogen cars (2020) is now seen as a bit unrealistic; the NRC sees 2030-2035 as a more likely possibility. The question that remains is whether we'll even need hydrogen fuel cells by then, what with battery technology potentially getting good and cheap enough. View the entire press release after the break.

[Source: NRC via Automotive News (sub. req'd)]

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Media organizations with a broad collection of stories (like a daily newspaper or the nightly news) often mention briefly what those of us who blog incessantly about a particular topic really dig into. Take, as a perfect example, this story in the Christian Science Monitor, which puts the Chevy Volt, new battery technologies and GM's upcoming hurdles into a 650-word perspective. Most of the text is nothing new if you've been checking out AutoblogGreen this past week, putting it all together lets the CSM frame GM's announcement as the first event in an upcoming race to the finish: whoever gets working, next-generation batteries - batteries "that can power a car for 40 miles, discharge most of its power, and be recharged thousands of times without major deterioration. The technology should be reliable enough to carry warranties of 150,000 miles and 10 years" - into cars first will be the first true winner of the 21st century car wars.

[Source: Christian Science Monitor]