• Hydrogen cars are a relatively new option available to consumers looking to purchase a vehicle, according to Michael Boxwell and Quentin Wilson, authors of "Owning an Electric Car 2010 Edition." While these vehicles are environmentally friendly and run on a renewable resource (water), they have several drawbacks, including not being the cheapest or most comfortable of cars.
  
  

Benefits

• Hydrogen cars are a very "green" way to approach transportation. With water as the only byproduct of their operation, they do not release the toxins of dangerous fossil fuels into the air. In addition to being good for the environment, they are remarkably silent vehicles. Traditional noises associated with starting, driving and accelerating the car are muffled to a great extent. Since there is no oil in the engine that needs to be changed every three thousand miles, you won't have to spend as much money on a mechanic as you would with other types of cars.
  
  

Disadvantages

• As with any new technology, hydrogen cars do have drawbacks. They are more expensive than cars that run on fossil fuels. Depending upon the model you purchase, it may not have the comfortable features many vehicle owners are used to, such as a terrific stereo system or plush leather seats. Many companies that make hydrogen cars attempt to reduce the overall cost of the vehicle by leaving out these extras. Hydrogen cars are not known for their large sizes. They do not have the storage capacity of a sports utility vehicle, or even a traditional car of the same size, because the hydrogen cells in the car take up a great deal of room that would otherwise be usable for storage.
  
  

Considerations

• When determining whether or not to purchase a hydrogen car, consider how the benefits and drawbacks of the vehicle will affect your lifestyle. If you don't have a lot of money to spend, they are not a terribly affordable option. Keep in mind, however, that fewer maintenance visits to the mechanic will decrease the total cost of owning the car, and save you time as well. If you have a large family, and need to transport children, pets, or sporting equipment on a regular basis, the hydrogen car is really not set up for these types of tasks. If you do a great deal of driving, or have a long daily commute, the sparse interior may begin to wear on you shortly after that new-car smell has faded away.