President Bush wants $1.2 billion in funding for hydrogen-powered, zero emission fuel cell cars. Researchers at Michigan State University say the idea is not bad, but it's misguided.
Dr. Harold Schock says the current plan is to convert hydrocarbon fuel to hydrogen. But he says that would cause a loss of almost half the available energy.
Schock is working with an optical engine at the Engine Research Lab at Michigan State. It determines how air and fuel are mixed and has the potential to help develop engines with 50 percent greater efficiency.
In order to have a serious hydrogen effort, Schock says nuclear energy would be the most likely means of producing it.
