Education, habit and cost are the main reasons we don't use more hydrogen power in our everyday lives, said R. Paul Williamson, dean of the College of Technology at the University of Montana.

"Around 1875, they had a horseless carriage committee in Congress, and everyone was worried to death about this new thing coming out called gasoline," Williamson said. "We're at 1875 all over again."

In 2002, Williamson started the Montana Hydrogen Futures Project, with the lofty goal of changing Montana into a hydrogen-based economy.

He tells anyone who will listen that oil production is going to peak in 2010 and that supply and demand is going to have an immense impact on what we pay for gas. It will be easier to consider hydrogen-powered automobiles when gas costs $7 or $8 a gallon, he said.

But at the moment, he concedes, anyone leading the way in hydrogen power incurs higher maintenance costs on the front end because there is no commercial infrastructure to support it.

"It's a chicken and egg thing," Williamson said. "You won't get hydrogen cars until you have a place to fill them up, and you won't get places to fill them up until you have the cars."

Existing off the power grid means there is virtually nothing to rely on but yourself, he added, and mistakes are inevitable.

And yet, Williamson said, "it's a lifestyle choice we're going to have to make."