Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Hydrogen fuel cells are what will power the 'Hydrogen Highway' of the future. Hydrogen fuel cells are electrochemical engines that come in several different varieties with the most common being the Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells, also called Polymer Electrolyte Membrane fuel cells. PEM fuel cells use oxygen from the air and pressurized hydrogen to create electricity, heat and water (steam) as byproducts.

The sketch below from the Department of Energy shows the different parts of a PEM fuel cell used to power hydrogen cars.

Department of Energy

Most hydrogen fuel cells do not produce enough voltage to power a car so fuel cells are typically arranged in "stacks." Because of recent engineering advances, a hydrogen fuel cell about the size of a small piece of luggage can power a car.

The difference between hydrogen fuel cells and typical batteries is that batteries eventually go dead. As far as the hydrogen fuel cell goes as long as hydrogen and oxygen are introduced to the cell, electricity will be produced continuously.

The hydrogen car's electric induction motor/transaxle and electric power inverter will use the electricity generated from the PEM fuel cells to produce up to 90 kilowatts of power. The inverter turns the direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC) which can then power the electric motor that turns the wheels of the car. Most likely, other features of the car like air conditioning and electrical system will still be powered by a traditional car battery.

Hydrogen is the most common element in the universe and hydrogen can come from many readily available sources for fuel cell use. Sources such as methanol, ethanol, natural gas, biomass (plants and trees), waste gases from landfills and water treatment plants, sunlight, wind and geothermal energy sources can all be used to produce hydrogen for fuel cells.

Besides fuel economy and lessening pollution, hydrogen fuel cells in cars have a few other benefits as well. Lower maintenance costs from less moving parts, lighter weight vehicles for less wear and tear on parts, longer driving range, less engine shake for quieter, smoother ride, and plenty of power for entertainment features such as Internet connections, GPS and DVD movie players are a few of the added benefits of having a hydrogen fuel cell powered car.

Update: A company out of Milan, Italy called Nuvera Fuel Cells, Inc. has announced a breakthrough in its Andromeda II fuel cell stack. This new second generation technology is capable of generating 125 kW of power (168 horsepower). It also exceeds milestones for milestones for power density, cold-start capability, system efficiency, durability, and high-volume production cost.