Hybrid cars now, fuel cell cars later.
We compare the energy efficiency of hybrid and fuel cell vehicles as well as conventional internal combustion engines. Our analysis indicates that fuel cell vehicles using hydrogen from fossil fuels offer no significant energy efficiency advantage over hybrid vehicles operating in an urban drive cycle. We conclude that priority should be placed on hybrid vehicles by industry and government.
Technology and Policy Program, Engineering Systems Division, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. jmd@mit.edu
Nurettin
N
Demirdöven
John
J
Deutch