A hydrogen fuel cell is a device that converts hydrogen and oxygen into water while also producing energy that can be used for other purposes. Currently, the automotive industry is the center of attention when it comes to the use of hydrogen fuel cells. If the technology can be developed to the point where it can be produced at a reasonable cost, it could be the primary source of energy for automobiles in the near future.
The majority of people are familiar with “fuel cells” of a different kind, also known as batteries. Although batteries are not technically referred to as fuel cells, they contain chemicals that produce an electrical current. Zinc and manganese oxide are used in alkaline batteries. The materials inside the batteries, however, cannot be replaced because they are closed-ended systems. As a result, they eventually lose their ability to generate current and are labeled as “dead.”
A hydrogen fuel cell, on the other hand, does not have to deal with this major drawback. There is always current flowing out of the cell because the materials needed to produce a current, hydrogen and oxygen, are constantly flowing into the cell. One of the major advantages of a hydrogen fuel cell is its continuous regeneration.
When used to power a vehicle, a hydrogen fuel cell can be extremely energy efficient. In fact, in automotive applications, most hydrogen fuel cells that use pure hydrogen have an efficiency rating of nearly 65 percent. Gasoline-powered vehicles, on the other hand, lose a lot of efficiency as a result of the heat produced as a by-product. The conversion of gasoline to mechanical energy wastes so much heat that the overall efficiency is only about 20%.
In comparison to a traditional gasoline or diesel-powered vehicle, a hydrogen fuel cell offers a number of other benefits. To begin with, a hydrogen car emits no carbon dioxide or other harmful gases. Water is the only byproduct of a hydrogen fuel cell. Second, for countries with limited fossil fuel resources, hydrogen fuel cells are a great energy source because they operate on virtually unlimited supplies of hydrogen and oxygen.
While the technology has progressed to the point where a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle can be developed and even driven, they are still expensive when compared to their gasoline counterparts. Fuel cells are extremely expensive to manufacture due to the precious metals required and the cost of other raw materials. Many scientists believe it will only be a matter of time before production costs start to fall as a result of technological advancements. However, for the time being, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles remain out of reach for the vast majority of people.