7. Conclusions

There is a large amount of information available concerning hydrogen as a fuel for vehicles. This report has attempted to draw together the available information and draw conclusions as to hydrogen safety in a fair, critical and transparent manner.

The main conclusions are as follows:

• Hydrogen, like any other fuel, is safe if handled correctly. Safety systems should be implemented for both FCEVs and hydrogen filling stations.
• Evidence suggests that hydrogen can be as safe as, if not safer than, gasoline. Hydrogen has been used extensively for other tasks and has displayed an excellent safety record.
• Hydrogen storage onboard a vehicle is safer than gasoline storage due to the fact that air is not allowed into the hydrogen tank, meaning a combustible mix cannot develop.
• The public image of hydrogen as a dangerous fuel is unfounded, and can be attributed to fear of the unknown, similar to when gasoline powered vehicles were first introduced in the 1800s.

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