ENERGY POLICY PROJECT |
SUMMARY: HYDROGEN FUEL CELLS "The hydrogen fuel cell operates similar to a battery. It has two
electrodes, an anode and a cathode, separated by a membrane. Oxygen
passes over one electrode and hydrogen over the other.
The hydrogen reacts to a catalyst on the electrode anode that converts the
hydrogen gas into negatively charged electrons (e-) and positively
charged ions (H+).
The electrons flow out of the cell to be used as electrical energy. The
hydrogen ions move through the electrolyte membrane to the cathode
electrode where they combine with oxygen and the electrons to
produce water. Unlike batteries, fuel cells never run out."
http://inventors.about.com/od/sstartinventions/ss/Physics_Illustr_2.htm
Hydrogen fuel cells are currently being "aggressively explored" as a fuel
source to be used in cars. When ready, they would be used in the
from of something called a "fuel cell stack" to power electric
motors. Fuel cell stacks are just multiple fuel cells stacked to get
the amount of power needed for the vehicle. Hydrogen can also be
used in internal combustion engines. Hydrogen would be a large
improvement over gasoline because it is completely environmentally
friendly, being that the only byproduct of hydrogen fuel cells is
water.
Current set-backs for making hydrogen powered cars include the cost and
availability of hydrogen, the cost of a hydrogen fuel cell engine,
and the size of the fuel storage tank needed for the average
consumer. Being that hydrogen contains much less energy than
gasoline.
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/hydrogen.shtml
While the costs of making a hydrogen powered car may be too much now, in the
future many car companies are boasting that cost will not be an
issue. Toyota specifically has been researching fuel cell cars since
1992 and they say that soon these cars will be available.
Specifically saying, “we have some confidence the vehicle released
around 2015 is going to have costs that are going to be shocking for
most of the people in the industry. They are going to be very
surprised we were able to achieve such an impressive cost
reduction.” Previous predictions of the price of producing a car
were based on small batches of cars being made. But with the help of
Toyota and other car companies mass producing hydrogen powered cars
the prices will surely go down and become affordable. http://www.h2carblog.com/?p=215 If you have any questions, please email me. |