why outer space?

> One thing that seems puzzeling to me is that the fuel
> cell research that the N.R.E.L., the auto makers, the
> existing fuel cell companies, and the oil and power
> companies are conducting, seems to be focused almost
> completely on P.E.M. fuel cells requiring the use of
> rare and expensive metals, and on fuel cells with
> carbon emitting reformers (which seems to defeat the
> purpose).

This is industry research. The history of industry research shows that
they tend to improve existing systems and avoid radically different
processes. There are exceptions to the rule, but the bigger the
company, the more they focus on process changes to achieve efficiency.

Why is this? Why isn't the focus on
> Alkaline fuel cells with no reformers? And if one of
> the reasons is that a reformer elliminates the
> problems associated with storing compressed hydrogen,
> or of trying to keep it so cold that it becomes a
> liquid, then what about storing the hydrogen in sodium
> hydride balls (like Powerball Technologies does)? Of
> course that still wouldn't solve the problem of the
> expensive materials required for PEM fuel cells.

Expensive materials is a way to keep out competition, and an excuse to
increase the prices.

>
> Then again Powerball Technologies may be to good to be
> true. I haven't seen any prototypes of functional
> vehicles on their website. They may be all talk and
> no do.
>

I got the impression that there is more money poured in advertising
than in research at that company.

Bill