Fact #422: May 1, 2006
Hydrogen Education
Data from recently conducted surveys indicate that those who know the least about hydrogen and fuel cells are the ones who are more likely to believe that hydrogen is not as safe as other fuels. Four surveys were conducted in 2004 to gather information on the knowledge of hydrogen and fuel cells. The four groups surveyed were: the general public; students ages 12 to 17 years; State and Local Government officials; and potential large-scale end users, such as transportation services, businesses needing uninterrupted power supplies, and industries with large power requirements. The general public and students know little about hydrogen, evidenced by the low share of correct responses to the technical questions in the survey (33% and 32%, respectively). These two groups of people also had the greatest share of respondents believing that hydrogen was not as safe as other fuels (16% and 27%, respectively).
Supporting Information
| Population | Percent of correct responses to technical questions | Percent believing hydrogen is not as safe as other fuels |
|---|---|---|
| General Public | 33% | 16% |
| Students | 32% | 27% |
| State & Local Government Officials | 66% | 11% |
| End Users | 44% | 10% |
|
Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Hydrogen Baseline Knowledge Assessment Surveys, 2004. | ||
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