Hydrogen fuel cars are now on sale in the United States. What does it mean for you, the country and the planet? Time Warner Cable News technology reporter Adam Balkin answers those questions in this Tech Talk report.

This car represents what could be the next big phase in automobiles and the next big phase in weaning our nation off of fossil fuels.  It is Hyundai’s Tucson Fuel Cell, the first hydrogen powered car to go on sale to the mass market in the United States.

 “A hydrogen fuel cell is actually just an electric car, except instead of using batteries, we use hydrogen to generate electricity on board,” explains Gil Castillo of Hyundai Motor America. “It’s an electric car, but it doesn’t have the limitations that a battery electric car has. Its range is 265 miles. Same as a regular car, you fill it up at a hydrogen station and it fills up in five minutes, like a regular car, and water’s really the only thing that comes out of the tailpipe - so zero emissions."

The big initial hurdle for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles is, if you get one, where are you going to fill it up.

Hydrogen comes from several sources. There is a big push to get a bulk of it via sewage treatment plants. Right now, there are just eight hydrogen fuel stations in the US, all in Southern California, which is why the car is only on sale there. More stations are being built in the northeast around Boston and soon, New York. Auto industry watchers say fuel stations are key as a potential battle looms for our future - between fuel cell or plug-in electrics.

“There’s no one good answer,” says Robert Sorokanich of CarAndDriver.com. “Each has its benefits and drawbacks. It’s just a matter of which one becomes easier for buyers to use every day, so if that means there’s a hydrogen station on every corner, hydrogen will win out, and if there’s an electric station on every corner, electric’s going to win out."

Toyota is due out with a fuel cell also later this year, and even more are expected in 2016. For the moment though, in an effort to spur adoption, Hyundai has decided that, included with the $500/month, 3-year Tucson lease, those Southern California drivers will get unlimited fuel at the hydrogen stations at no extra charge.