By now most of you have heard the term “Fuel Cells” or “Fuel Cell Technology” being thrown around a bit by auto makers and auto buyers in reference to future alternative fuel possibilities. So that brings me to the questions, what the hell are fuel cells, how do they work and what will they do for me and my ride. So I started researching this buzz worthy topic and here is what I found

• What is a Fuel Cell?

Fuel cells generate electrical power quietly and efficiently, without pollution. Unlike power sources that use fossil fuels, the by-products from an operating fuel cell are heat and water.

• How does Fuel Cell Technology work?

A fuel cell converts hydrogen and oxygen into water, and in the process produces electricity. A simple example that we all know is a battery.

A battery stores all of it’s chemicals inside, and converts those chemicals into electricity. However a battery eventually “goes dead” but with a fuel cell, chemicals are constantly flowing  into the cell so it never goes dead (ah now I see potential)

• How can we benefit from Fuel Cells?

A fuel cell is a zero-emission power source. Meaning no harmful exhaust, no pollutants and no damage to the planet. Some Fuel Cell power plants are so low in emissions that some have been exempted from air permit  requirements. Fuel cells are also extremely quiet, which reduces noise pollution. Fuel Cells produce less than one ounce of pollution per 1,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity produced, compared to the 25 pounds of pollutants conventional combustion systems spit out. Fuel cells are highly reliable, long lasting and can reduce facility energy service costs by 20% to 40%.

• Who is making Fuel Cell cars?

Well right now Honda is gearing up to release it’s FCX Clarity Hydrogen Fuel Cell vehicle along with a home energy station. Ford makes a Shelby Cobra with a 351 engine that runs on hydrogen. The Nissan Frontier pickup has a powered by fuel cells and hydrogen version. Even a hydrogen Hummer is available now. And you can bet companies like Toyota and Hyundai are not far behind either.

• Are there Fueling stations for these cars?

Most industrial gas suppliers sell hydrogen by the cylinder but there is very few filling stations around today. California has the most at 13,  run by utilities and car makers, and plans to reach 170 commercial ones by 2011. The cost varies from $1 to $21 a kilo. 1 kilo of hydrogen equals 1 gallon of gas, but vehicles running on hydrogen get two to three times higher mileage.

So I have found Fuel Cell technology to be just what the doctor ordered. It is cleaner and  more efficient then anything we have at the moment and is actually attainable right now. I say bring on the Hydrogen  baby!

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