Hydrogen cars beat the old bomb

While the county is ramping up for the electric car revolution, one of its industrialists has already moved on to hydrogen.www.hydrogen.energy.gov.

Electric cars are the rage. “The infrastructure is there already, so it’s easier,” said Tom Sullivan, founder of Lumber Liquidators, headquartered in Toano. “In the long run I think hydrogen makes more sense.”

Sullivan has invested millions in hydrogen technology. A few years ago he purchased Proton Energy Systems, which specializes in hydrogen fuel generation.

Last year, SunHydro, an associated chain of hydrogen stations, opened its first solar-powered stop, in Connecticut. The plan is to connect Miami to Maine via commercial fueling stations along Interstate 95. Richmond is identified as one of the nine stops.

Sullivan said in an interview that there are no immediate plans in James City, although he’s open to a partnership.

This might be a good time to talk. Last month county officials agreed to start planning for the advent of all-electric cars.

They expect that electric car popularity will mimic hybrids, and hybrids run rampant here. There are far more hybrids in greater Williamsburg than in Richmond, according to DMV records cited by Dominion.

Officials don’t want to be caught unaware. They are looking into government processes and grant funding to ease the transition to electric. Hydrogen didn’t enter the discussion.

Sullivan explained that right now hydrogen is used mostly in industrial and military applications, but he feels there’s a far greater potential on the road. Car manufacturers already have hydrogen vehicles, and they need a nationwide hydrogen infrastructure.

Developing that infrastructure relies on private funding. While President Obama’s budget is rolling out new funding programs for electric vehicles, it cut hydrogen funding by 40%.

Sullivan said he’s been told privately by White House officials that because former President Bush supported hydrogen, Obama favors electric.

“And electric is easier,” he conceded. “Everyone is used to it. Everyone has a plug in the garage.”

He remains undeterred. Toyota has backed SunHydro by putting 10 hydrogen cars in Connecticut and plans to roll out its hydrogen model in 2015, as does General Motors.

SunHydro’s fueling stations, which are fueled by solar, wind or biomass power, cost up to $3 million each, according to its website.

This spring Proton Energy will release an at-home unit, estimated to cost up to $200,000. Most likely they’ll first be used to power small communities, Sullivan said, before they are widely adopted and the price drops.

Source: Cortney Langley, The Virgina Gazette