Disadvantages to Fuel Cells

One obstacle to using hydrogen-based fuel cells is the cost of hydrogen production. Since hydrogen is not abundant in its free state, it must be produced from other materials. Much of these materials are coal and natural gas. It takes a great deal of energy to extract hydrogen from these materials, almost as much as energy as it takes for the hydrogen produced to power a car. Because it uses coal and natural gas, the process also releases carbon.

When this form of energy is used to fuel cars, issues arise in the amount of time the car can run on the fuel source, limiting the distance drivers can travel on a single charge. And the major concern is that this form of energy actually loses energy, meaning that it takes more energy to produce them than they give off.

Although the technology has most certainly not been perfected, this could lead to a revolutionary change in the way we get around.

What Are Fuel Cells

A fuel cell may sound as though it is simply a type of gas tank, but is actually similar in function to a large battery. These cells combine hydrogen, the most common element in the universe, with available oxygen.

Hydrogen carries energy. The electrons, which are tiny particles bound to the hydrogen atom, carry the energy. It is when these bonds are broken that the energy is released. Fuel cells work by burning hydrogen gas in a flameless chemical reaction which produces electricity and water.

There are five main components needed during the operation of fuel cells such as hydrogen, oxygen, two conductors and an ionic conductor. The two conductors, referred to as anode and cathode, are separated by an ionic conductor or electrolyte. Hydrogen is pumped into the anode and oxygen in pumped into the cathode. Hydrogen reacts with the charged particles, called ions, in the electrolyte which will react to water and electrons. These electrons leave the fuel cell through as an electric current (much like a typical battery) and return to the fuel cell cathode. It merges with the oxygen and the water to form more ions which will replace those being consumed at the anode.

Advantages of Fuel Cells

The process by which fuel cells create energy is nearly silent, and it is done much more efficiently than the combustion engines that create energy from gasoline.

The most attractive feature of fuel cells, however, is that the only by-product is water and water vapor. No greenhouse gases are formed and no carbon footprint is left behind.

First, fuel cells provide an efficient alternative to other power generation models. Fuel cell power plants can offer 47-80% efficiency when generating electrical power, while fossil fuel power plants only use 35% efficiency. Furthermore, fuel cells have a much lower emission rate of pollutions such as nitrogen oxide, sulphur oxide and carbon dioxide than coal and other fossil fuels than standard energy generation options.

However, fuel cell are not only one of the top choices in green energy in power plants; they can also be used to fuel hospital, hotels, universities and personal homes.

Hydrogen is not often found in its free state on earth, and processes to extract it are sometimes pricey. In recent years, to overcome this, researchers have developed methods by which to extract hydrogen from water through a process called electrolysis. Electrolysis simply pulls the hydrogen and oxygen atoms in water apart, leaving behind the desired hydrogen. Better still, there has been much advancement in the use of solar and wind sources to power the machines needed to perform electrolysis.

Amory Lovins, one of the driving forces of the Rocky Mountain Institute in Colorado believes that fuel cells in cars will even be able to act as generators to power homes and offices. He has also expressed his belief that they can act as backup generators in while traveling in remote areas.

Some hybrid cars already utilize fuel cells in combination with gasoline tanks. As research and development is perfected on fuel cells, the cost of these vehicles will decline and the price will be more appealing to the consumer. Once the cost is comparable to gasoline powered cars, more will be sold, leading to cleaner burning engines that leave only a trace of water as exhaust. Because water is the only by-product and contains hydrogen, it is a continually renewable energy, one that almost creates itself.