Fuel cell cars are having a hard time gaining ground because the fuel, hydrogen, isn't available widely and cheaply in the United States, according to analysts. Nonetheless, fuel cells as a technology are gaining ground in aircraft, trains and stationary applications.
Splitting Water
Many engineers will tell you that hydrogen isn't a fuel so much as an energy carrier. That is, hydrogen is usually produced with a process that requires an energy input of some sort. Reducing the energy needed to make hydrogen would cut its costs and improve its net energy balance.
Most of the world's hydrogen gas is produced from fossil fuels, like methane. Scientists recently developed a catalyst that can better produce hydrogen from water. The new material requires less energy, making water a more viable option for producing hydrogen.