[roadcat]

Without the military, there is NO FREAKING WAY this green stuff would move forward, perhaps AT ALL —just too expensive for “real people” to buy the early units.

You are absolutely right. How to contain the hydrogen and oxygen safely in a home? How to supply the expensive and rare platinum catalyst for the hydrogen anodes in thousands of homes? Not to mention the fancy electronics required. Way too expensive. There are other factors - clean-up after homes explode from faulty units, EPA approvals, etc.

[nomorelurker]

I'm kind of a hydrogen “denier” myself.

However it seems the Japanese how made some progress.

http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/12/08/am-home-fuel-cells/

[neverdem]

How to supply the expensive and rare platinum catalyst for the hydrogen anodes in thousands of homes?

Don't underestimate advances in catalyst chemistry.

Bio-inspired catalyst design could rival platinum

Small steps toward big energy gains