According to CNET News, Purdue University professor Jerry Woodall has discovered a way to make hydrogen out of a reaction of water and an alloy of aluminum and gallium. This process eliminates the need to store hydrogen - mixing water and pellets made up of the alloy in a tank would produce fuel for a small engine, or conceivably a car.

Many of the major auto makers have invested heavily in developing fuel cell-powered cars. However, to date, hydrogen has faced significant obstacles to becoming a viable alternative to gasoline, principally the expensive (and often carbon-fueled) process of isolating it, and the lack of a fueling infrastructure. This recent development has the potential to address both of these issues.