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Sinking Finances Throw Iceland's 'Hydrogen-Based Economy' In

nytimes.com -- Published: July 1, 2009
REYKJAVIK, Iceland -- The financial crisis that brought Iceland to the brink of bankruptcy has postponed this volcanic island's ambitious dream of ditching fossil fuels and transforming itself into the world's first hydrogen-based economy.Proponents of a government-sanctioned scheme to derive hydrogen from water and use it to power all ground transportation as well as Iceland's large fishing fleet admit that their plans have been set back at least 10 years and may have to be altered to allow for electric cars.

Ten years ago, Iceland started experimenting with hydrogen applications in transportation. Three city buses ran solely on hydrogen in Reykjavik for three years. As many as 16 passenger vehicles ran on hydrogen in the city. Twelve remain in operation today

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Submitted Jul 03, 2009 By: teafortwo

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ddkk Sophomore Author Illinois Posts:169 Points:497,285 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:04:08 PM Ignore ddkk Report Abuse They are trying, But, . . . conservation is cheap and easy.
abcdMA Champion Author Worcester Posts:3,154 Points:624,505 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:00:23 PM Ignore abcdMA Report Abuse at least they are moving forward
tidbitKY Champion Author Kentucky Posts:2,110 Points:419,070 Joined:Mar 2009	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 11:59:12 AM Ignore tidbitKY Report Abuse Good learning lesson for us in the US.
travelzonecente Champion Author Riverside Posts:1,845 Points:459,490 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 11:53:07 AM Ignore travelzonecente Report Abuse They still have not perfected it and look at the costs
hamdriver Veteran Author Lansing Posts:423 Points:478,320 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 11:51:15 AM Ignore hamdriver Report Abuse Iceland? how does that relate to us?
C4U Champion Author Salt Lake City Posts:4,290 Points:821,520 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 11:48:37 AM Ignore C4U Report Abuse That's an ambitious project want to watch this one unfold very interested in hydrogen fuel cells for solar applications. Conservation is the best thing we can do. We still need to implement a fast track to alternative fuels and energy to be come energy independent from foreign support, big oil companies and local utilities monopoly.
Skip928 Champion Author Arizona Posts:1,835 Points:691,425 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 11:47:20 AM Ignore Skip928 Report Abuse It will come, just not today. Man did not stop living in caves because we ran out of caves, and man didn't stop using horses because we ran out of them. Change just happens when it's good and ready. It isn't wise to force change.
kidrockTX Champion Author Fort Worth Posts:3,854 Points:508,370 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 11:46:38 AM Ignore kidrockTX Report Abuse go for it iceland try to help with the problems we have no one else is going to
rwm1 Champion Author Iowa Posts:1,952 Points:845,525 Joined:Oct 2007	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 11:43:36 AM Ignore rwm1 Report Abuse Big mistake. Oil is just going to eventually take their economy down anyway. A progressive country like Iceland should continue with alternative fuels. This could end up both financially and ecologically beneficial for them.
WAdriver007 Veteran Author Seattle Posts:271 Points:14,970 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 11:41:45 AM Ignore WAdriver007 Report Abuse certainly big business wouldn't let them succeed. One of these days, maybe when we run out of oil, we'll get more options.
TrixieMugsy Champion Author Colorado Springs Posts:8,276 Points:1,611,035 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 11:41:02 AM Ignore TrixieMugsy Report Abuse We were statiioned in Iceland for two years and they are amazing, progressive thinkers.
teafortwo Champion Author Washington Posts:4,088 Points:426,545 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 11:40:24 AM Ignore teafortwo Report Abuse This is a fascinating and inspiring article. Sadly, our economic woes have delayed a truly admirable goal of a whole country being fossil fuel free. This goal is DELAYED, NOT cancelled. It was somewhat of a nice surprise to learn that a modified FORD has been one of their most successful vehicle trials. This article leaves me feeling maybe there is hope for our ground breaking FORD auto-maker, after all is said and done. [Edited by: teafortwo at 7/3/2009 12:42:10 PM EST]
Tatalah Champion Author Riverside Posts:5,761 Points:1,505,335 Joined:May 2003	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 11:31:46 AM Ignore Tatalah Report Abuse Do you think that big oil and OPEC might have been working against Iceland? Can Big oil and OPEC allow us to get fuel from our garden hose?
ByGuy Champion Author Dallas Posts:3,256 Points:791,610 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 11:30:20 AM Ignore ByGuy Report Abuse Gov usually does not know how do anything successfully. Let the private sector do it for a profit and it will work or fail on it's own merit.
THEDodgeman Champion Author Denver Posts:3,083 Points:975,140 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 11:29:05 AM Ignore THEDodgeman Report Abuse Go hydrogen... By product....Water wouldn't that be a Shame.....water out the tail pipe instead of POLLUTANTS.............About time some one got smart.
YLHandyman Champion Author Orange County Posts:4,604 Points:835,345 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 11:28:27 AM Ignore YLHandyman Report Abuse What happened to the rest of the hydrogen powered vehicles.