Over the past few years the issue of alternative fuels has become the one of the most popular socioeconomic topics not only in the United States but around the world as well. It’s not going away anytime soon for we need answers now (if not yesterday) for quelling our incredible addiction to oil, one that seems to defy logic.

Even with gasoline prices rapidly ascending to unprecedented levels, per capita consumption of gasoline has continued at its recent levels and even shows signs of upward movement, trends completely in defiance of the "laws" of economics. Add to this mess the inability in - or even indignation towards - adjusting vehicular technologies and the world is setting itself up for environmental problems (harming the air and sucking the planet dry of oil before the century closes out) and potentially-devastating international conflict (the quest for oil is starting to mirror the quest for gold of centuries gone by).

Alternative fuels are necessary for the rectification of these situations and progress has been made in the development thereof. But, the approach being most focused-on (ethanol) is truly not the best method for our future. The use of corn, grasses, and sugars is anything but an alternative because the voluminous majority of the fuel mix to which they are added is still fossil fuels.

Despite this glaring weakness, ethanol has become in the eyes of many the only answer to our problems. This is caused by a combination of government policy and intense media coverage. The more appropriate method of alternative fueling – hydrogen fuel cells – is hardly discussed in political circles and rarely gets worthwhile mention in the news.

The Hydrogen alternative has even taken a backseat in the past month when it should have been big news on at least two occasions. For starters, we learned that the Chevy Sequel became the first fuel cell vehicle to reach the magical 300-mile mark on one fuel-up. Then, GM announced its intent to launch hydrogen vehicles in 3 years.

Not only should these have been big new stories internationally, they should have been even more so locally. The Sequel’s trip took it across New York State and the hydrogen used was produced in Niagara Falls. And, GM’s future in hydrogen vehicles will have the Honeoye Falls plant as its epicenter. Those are some major victories for the Empire State and major stepping-stones in the future of global transportation.

This complete indifference to hydrogen fuel cells and the lack of adequate promotion has made it a complete mystery. Most people know of it only by name and don’t understand its science and impressive benefits.

To the layperson, a hydrogen fuel cell can best be compared to a battery. It basically brings together hydrogen and oxygen to create water, waste heat, and, most importantly, electricity. In essence, these vehicles of the future would run on self-produced electricity.

The benefits of such energy are without peer, especially in regard to environmental impact. Hydrogen is anywhere and everywhere, the most abundant element in the universe, not some non-renewable fossil fuel destined for extinction. And, since a hydrogen fuel cell creates power through chemical reaction rather than combustion, there is no pollution.

Another benefit of hydrogen fuel cells is vast economic impact in the positive. By using abundant elements and not pricy gasoline to drive cars, were this to become the vehicle of the choice the monies that were once spent on gasoline would instantly become great amounts of disposable income. Just think about your annual "investment" in gasoline turning into spending money and everyone the world over experiencing the same. That’s trillions of dollars of expenditures on real products and real services (not fuel), sending the world economy into unfathomable prosperity.

Despite all of the good that they represent, hydrogen fuel cells get minimal respect. This may be a result of special interests looking out only for themselves. Legislation and thought seem to be controlled by the all-powerful oil magnates and auto industry. The former would prefer to keep its lifeline viable while the latter is frightened by the expense of investing in new technologies. It’s time that the tables were turned and a more important special interest group – the consumers of this world – stood up against them and, in the spirit of free and open markets, demanded from those who manufacture and sell our vehicles an alternative that is truly an alternative, one that will end our dangerous addiction to oil.