Fuel Cells

Q: What is a fuel cell?

A: A device that converts a fuel's chemical energy directly to electrical energy. It produces electricity from various fuels on the anode side and oxidant on the cathode side. These react in the presence of an electrolyte and catalyst. Fuel cells can produce electricity continuously as long as fuel and air are supplied. Since they electrochemically combine fuel (typically hydrogen) and oxidant without burning, fuel cells don't have the inefficiencies and pollution of traditional energy conversion systems. Fuel cells can operate almost continuously as long as the necessary flows are maintained. A fuel cell is up to 99.9999% reliable (equivalent to 1 minute of down time in 6 years of operation).

Fuel cells are different from batteries because they consume fuel, which must be replenished, batteries store electrical energy chemically in a closed system. And, while the electrodes within a battery react and change as a battery is charged or discharged, a fuel cell's electrodes are catalytic and relatively stable. (see picture 1)

Fuel cells forego the traditional fuel-to-electricity production route common in modern power production, which consists of heat extraction from fuel, conversion of heat to mechanical energy and, finally, transformation of mechanical energy into electrical energy. In a sense, our bodies operate like fuel cells because we oxidize hydrocarbon compounds in our food and release chemical energy without combustion.

Q: How are fuel cells currently being used?
A: Most of the current electricity production from fuel cells is being used in stationary power applications like providing power to small industrial sites, hospitals, hotels, etc. Other applications include space applications (e.g., space shuttle), transportation demonstrations (e.g., buses, automobiles), and portable power applications (e.g., portable computers, communications equipment).

Q: I hear that fuel cells use hydrogen. Are they safe?

A: Many people are concerned with hydrogen's safety—and with good reason. Hydrogen is a fuel and is therefore combustible. Hydrogen has been suffering an image problem since the Hindenburg tragically caught fire and burned in New Jersey in 1937. However this fire was a diesel fuel and thermite (from the skin of the airship) fire, not from hydrogen. Hydrogen is made, shipped and used safely today in many industries worldwide. Hydrogen producers and users have generated an impeccable safety record over the last half-century. Liquid hydrogen trucks have carried on the nation's roadways an average 70 million gallons of liquid hydrogen per year without major incident.

If it leaks or spills, hydrogen disperses and evaporates much faster than gasoline, which minimizes the explosion hazard. Hydrogen can be handled carefully and safely, just like any other inherently dangerous fuel such as gasoline.

Hydrogen tanks have been put through series of demanding safety tests. They have been completely engulfed in flames at over 1,650°F for up to 70 minutes, perforated by solid objects (such as armor-piercing bullets), and squeezed until they break with safety valves completely blocked. Sometimes the gas leaked out, sometimes it burnt, but it never exploded.

Q: What's all this noise about fuel cell cars?

A: Hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered cars are the best alternatives to gasoline-powered cars for several reasons:

(1) the cars are completely emission-free

(2) fuel cells have no moving parts which increases reliability

(3) fuel cells are compact and lightweight--not overly bulky or heavy

(4) the cars are about three times as efficient as gasoline-powered cars…even up to about 500 miles per fill up

(5) the tanks can be refueled quickly

(6) hydrogen is renewable and abundant

(7) hydrogen is safe, has been tested rigorously for use in vehicles, and is being used in many vehicles already

(8) technology is available to produce hydrogen at the pump for $3.00 per gallon gasoline equivalent. By 2010, the price goal is $1.50 per gallon of gasoline equivalent (untaxed) at the station

(9) even $3 a gallon will save us money, since FCVs are two to three times more efficient than internal combustion engine vehicles. If all goals are met, FCVs could be equivalent to fuel at $1 a gallon - or less!

Q: Are they really THAT good?

A: Vehicles that use hydrogen with fuel cell technology instead of gasoline are the cleanest around because they emit only water vapor into the air we breathe. These cars simply do not pollute. They can also use hydrogen from domestic energy sources, reducing our dependence on oil. And driving fuel cell vehicles significantly reduces the amount of carbon dioxide emissions, helping to slow the increase in greenhouse gases. Fuel cell efficiencies can reach as high as 60 percent. Published data from Honda is listed in picture 2. http://automobiles.honda.com/fcx-clarity/fuel-cell-comparison.aspx

Q: Why can't we just use Hybrid cars?

A: If every single vehicle in the U.S. was a hybrid by 2025, we would still need to import as much oil as we import today, because of growth in vehicle use. We need a permanent solution.