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Hydrogen Fuel Cells
They say that the exhaust
from a hydrogen fuel cell powered bus tastes a bit like
distilled water. That's because it is water. Fuel cells
using pure hydrogen do not emit any air pollutants or
greenhouse gases, only water vapor. Hydrogen fuel cells
promise to power our vehicles, homes and offices more
efficiently and will be less harmful to the environment
than traditional energy sources. What is the state of this
technology and what stands in our way of using this clean,
renewable energy resource?
Renewable Energy
Resources
Renewable energy resources are energy resources that are
replenished by nature. They are virtually inexhaustible,
but limited in the amount of energy that is available at
one time. Renewable energy resources include: biomass,
hydro, geothermal, solar, wind, ocean thermal, wave
action, and tidal action.
What is Hydrogen?
Hydrogen is the simplest and lightest of all chemical
elements. It can be found in many places including
water and organic matter. In its normal gaseous state,
hydrogen is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and is
nontoxic.
What is a Fuel Cell?
A fuel cell is a device
that takes the chemical energy
produced when hydrogen and oxygen are combined in a
special process, and turns it into electrical current. The
amount of charge that each fuel cell produces is small, so
the fuels cells are made in sheets and stacked next to
each other to produce enough current to power an electric
motor.
A simple configuration of a fuel cell
powered vehicle begins with a tank that contains
pressurized hydrogen fuel. This tank is connected directly
to the fuel cells. The fuel cells convert the hydrogen to
electricity to power an electric or hybrid motor
.
Will Hydrogen Fuel Systems Become
Readily Available?
There are many obstacles that must be overcome before
hydrogen fuel can replace fossil fuels. Extracting
hydrogen from abundant sources like water can be difficult
and costly. Storing
hydrogen safely and efficiently is an issue and the the
projected consumer price is still way too high. By far the
biggest hurdle will be to convert the current gasoline
infrastructure, (the system for collecting fuel,
delivering it to the gas stations and then to your vehicle), to
a hydrogen infrastructure.
Hydrogen fuel cell technology is
advancing rapidly thanks to the research and support of
governments and businesses. But a change this large needs
the cooperation of society as a whole. The benefits of a
cleaner environment and reducing our dependence on oil are
two very good reasons for us all to get behind this
promising new technology.
Find out more about fuel
cells:
Hydrogen as a fuel
How fuel cells work
Hydrogen now
Fuel Cell Technology - General Motors
Ford Model U
Hydrogen Fuel PDF - Autoalliance.org
Fuel Cell Links
Hydrogen.gov
Hydrogen Highway
H2CarsBiz
Fuel Cell Today
Fuel Cell Markets
FuelCells.org
National Fuel Cell Research Center |
