A newspaper article detailed how a locally-based unit of United Technologies (UTC)just signed a contract with the city of Oakland, CA to supply 8 fuel cells for 8 fuel cell-driven busses.

I have been led to believe that Fuel Cells are something that should be exploited to the extent possible as they provide part of the solution to our energy needs, etc.

Then I was caught off guard as the article cited the number of such busses used in the Hartford area and that the cell fuel-based busses cost $2 Million each and that the standard diesel versions cost $500K.

Why do the fuel cell busses cost 4x the cost of conventional busses and, then, why are fuel cells cited as such a 'solution'.

Is the industry so immature at this point?

PS These buses, as stated above, would be a tough sell for me to buy.

And I can't imagine Oakland is exactly flush with cash these days either. Unless this is an outside project of some kind with a Silicon Valley tech firm and they're footing the bill, I don't get it at all. Fuel cell technology is a ways away from commercial viability.

I mean, if your aim is to make the buses eco-friendly, why not do what lots of other cities have done and just use biodiesel?