Ameer Randolph
Fuel cell cars, also known as hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), are powered by hydrogen gas. This gas is stored in an armoured, carbon-fibre tank on board the vehicle and is converted into electricity to power the car's electric motors. Hydrogen fuel cell cars are quiet, energy-efficient, and produce no emissions, with the only waste product being water vapour. They are distinct from battery-powered or plug-in hybrid cars, which rely on electricity from an external power source. While hydrogen fuel cell cars are currently less common than electric vehicles, major automakers are offering an increasing number of these vehicles to the public.
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What You'll Learn
Hydrogen gas is stored in a reinforced tank
Hydrogen fuel cell cars are powered by the most abundant element in the universe: hydrogen. Hydrogen gas is stored in a reinforced tank inside the car. The tank is designed to hold pure hydrogen under extremely high pressure, at 10,000 pounds per square inch (psi) or 700 bar. The amount of energy stored onboard is determined by the size of the hydrogen fuel tank.
Fuel cell cars can carry enough hydrogen fuel for 300-400 miles of range, and their tanks can be refuelled as quickly as a standard car's gas tank. A fuel cell car can travel about 100 kilometres on one kilogram of hydrogen, and the cost per kilometre is currently about the same as for combustion vehicles. If hydrogen production increases, the price of hydrogen fuel is expected to decrease.
In a fuel cell, hydrogen reacts electrochemically to produce electricity to power the car. Hydrogen is introduced to the anode, where it comes into contact with a catalyst that promotes the separation of hydrogen atoms into an electron and proton. The electrons are gathered by the conductive current collector, which is connected to the car's high-voltage circuitry, powering the onboard battery and/or the motors.
Fuel cell cars are quiet, very energy-efficient, produce no emissions, and have equivalent range and performance to gasoline counterparts. They are also not affected by outside temperature, so their range does not deteriorate in cold weather. Hydrogen fuel cell cars are available for sale or lease by major automakers in popular vehicle types, including sedans and compact SUVs.
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The fuel cell stack transforms chemical energy into electrical energy
Fuel cell cars are powered by hydrogen, the most abundant element in the universe. Hydrogen fuel cell cars are a type of electric vehicle, but they differ from traditional electric cars in the way they generate electricity. While electric cars store electricity in a battery, fuel cell cars generate their electricity on board using a fuel cell stack. This stack transforms chemical energy into electrical energy, powering the car's electric motors.
The fuel cell stack is the power plant of the fuel cell car. Hydrogen is fed into the fuel cell stack, where it undergoes a chemical reaction to produce electricity. This process is known as electrolysis, where electrical energy breaks down water into its separate hydrogen and oxygen components. The hydrogen enters the anode side of the fuel cell, where it comes into contact with a catalyst that promotes the separation of hydrogen atoms into electrons and protons.
The electrons are collected by a conductive current collector, which is connected to the car's high-voltage circuitry. This circuitry then powers the onboard battery and/or the electric motors that drive the car. The protons, along with the electrons and oxygen molecules, combine to form water vapour, which is emitted from the car's tailpipe. This process is emission-free, as the only waste produced is pure water vapour.
The fuel cell stack's ability to transform chemical energy into electrical energy makes fuel cell cars a unique type of electric vehicle. The electricity generated by the fuel cell stack powers the electric motors, allowing the car to operate without relying solely on a battery. This design differs from traditional electric cars, which store electricity in a battery that is charged from an external power source.
The construction of the fuel cell stack is similar to that of a battery, but it does not suffer from battery weight issues. The amount of energy stored in a fuel cell car is determined by the size of the hydrogen fuel tank, which can provide a range of 300-400 miles on a single refuelling. However, the range can be extended by adding a high-voltage low-capacity battery, similar to those used in hybrid vehicles, to provide supplemental power during acceleration.
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The power plant is the fuel cell
Fuel cell cars are powered by hydrogen, the most abundant element in the universe. Hydrogen fuel cell cars are a type of electric vehicle, but they differ from traditional electric cars in the way they produce electricity. While electric cars store electricity in a battery, fuel cell cars generate their electricity on board using a hydrogen fuel cell. This means they have their own power plant on board.
The power plant of a fuel cell car is the fuel cell itself. The fuel cell is where hydrogen reacts electrochemically with oxygen to produce electricity to power the car. The hydrogen is stored in an armoured carbon-fibre tank on board the vehicle, and fed into the fuel cell stack when needed. This stack does not burn the gas, but instead transforms the fuel's chemical energy into electrical energy. This process is similar to a battery, but without the weight of a traditional electric car battery.
The electricity generated by the fuel cell then powers the car's electric motors. The only waste product of this process is pure water vapour, meaning fuel cell cars are zero-emission vehicles. This makes them ideal from an ecological point of view, as they do not emit harmful gases such as CO2 or nitrogen oxides. However, the environmental benefits of fuel cell cars depend on how the hydrogen is produced. If the electricity used to produce the hydrogen comes from renewable sources, then hydrogen production has a neutral carbon footprint. However, if fossil fuels are used, this has an adverse impact on the climate footprint of the vehicle.
Fuel cell cars can carry enough hydrogen fuel for a range of 300-400 miles, and their tanks can be refuelled as quickly as a standard car's gas tank. However, hydrogen currently sells for considerably more than gasoline. Fuel cell cars can also be designed with plug-in capabilities to charge the battery, but most FCEVs today use the battery for recapturing braking energy, providing extra power during short acceleration events, and to smooth out the power delivered from the fuel cell.
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The car's high-voltage circuitry is fed by a current collector
Hydrogen fuel cell cars are powered by hydrogen, the most abundant element in the universe. Hydrogen fuel cell cars run on electricity, but they generate their power differently from battery-powered or plug-in hybrid cars. Hydrogen fuel cell cars use compressed hydrogen gas, which feeds into an onboard fuel cell stack. This fuel cell stack does not burn the gas but instead transforms the fuel's chemical energy into electrical energy, which powers the car's electric motors.
During this process, the hydrogen reacts electrochemically, and the hydrogen atoms separate into electrons and protons. The conductive current collector gathers these electrons, and this collector is connected to the car's high-voltage circuitry, feeding the onboard battery and/or the motors that drive the wheels. The high-voltage circuitry is an essential part of the car's overall electrical system, which is responsible for powering various components and systems within the vehicle.
The current collector plays a vital role in this process by efficiently gathering and directing the flow of electrons to the high-voltage circuitry. This circuitry then ensures that the electrical energy is distributed to the appropriate systems within the vehicle, such as the electric motors that drive the wheels and other auxiliary functions. The high-voltage circuitry's role in energy distribution contributes to the overall performance and efficiency of the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle.
The combination of the current collector and the high-voltage circuitry showcases the intricate design of hydrogen fuel cell cars, allowing them to harness the power of hydrogen through a carefully managed electrical system. This system's efficiency is crucial in ensuring that hydrogen fuel cell cars can provide a viable alternative to traditional internal combustion engines and other types of electric vehicles.
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Hydrogen fuel cells are more efficient than internal combustion engines
Hydrogen fuel cell cars are powered by the most abundant element in the universe: hydrogen. Hydrogen fuel cell cars are available for sale or lease by major automakers in popular vehicle types, including sedans and compact SUVs. Hydrogen fuel cell cars are quiet, very energy-efficient, produce no emissions, and have an equivalent range and performance to gasoline counterparts.
A fuel cell car can travel about 100 kilometres on one kilogram of hydrogen. A fuel cell car can travel about twice as far as a conventional car on an equivalent amount of fuel. Fuel cell cars can carry enough hydrogen fuel for 300-400 miles and their tanks can be refilled as quickly as a standard car's gas tank.
Hydrogen fuel cells are more efficient than traditional internal combustion engines because they convert chemical energy directly into electrical energy, reducing energy loss from heat. They also emit only water vapour, while traditional engines that run on fossil fuels emit greenhouse gases and pollutants. Hydrogen-powered vehicles can be sustainable, especially when hydrogen is produced from renewable sources. They offer a high-energy, low-emission alternative to fossil fuels.
However, some sources argue that hydrogen combustion engines are inefficient. Hydrogen combustion engines are said to have a lower efficiency than battery-powered trucks, which deliver an average tank-to-wheel efficiency of 75-85% compared to 40-45% for hydrogen combustion engines. Hydrogen fuel cells also age and become less efficient over time.
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Frequently asked questions
Fuel cell cars run on electricity, generated by hydrogen gas stored in a tank on the vehicle.
In a fuel cell car, hydrogen and oxygen react electrochemically to produce electricity to power the car. The hydrogen is stored in a reinforced tank inside the car.
Fuel cell cars can carry enough hydrogen fuel to travel 300-400 miles, with some models offering a range of 504 kilometres on a single tank.
Fuel cell cars are quiet, energy-efficient, and produce no emissions. They also have a similar range and performance to gasoline cars.
