Pathway for Hydrogen in Urban Transit System

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the average global temperature has risen over the last century. The changes in climate could adversely impact human health, agriculture, water resources, and ecosystems. Most national and international agencies have concluded that our use of carbon-rich fuel is responsible for global warming through the greenhouse effect. Automotive exhaust emissions are the largest single source of air pollution in the world today, especially in urban areas. Natural gas, a fossil fuel that offers substantial advantages over oil-derived fuels, can facilitate the transition to hydrogen fuel. Advanced natural gasfueled vehicles have the potential to reduce carbon monoxide and reactive hydrocarbon emissions substantially compared to gasoline vehicles. Further environmental benefits can be realized by using a blend of natural gas and hydrogen. Such an approach will help create an infrastructure for an eventual transition to hydrogen.