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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

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