Unleash The Power: Understanding Hydrogen Fuel Cars

A hydrogen fuel car is a vehicle that uses hydrogen to move. Motive power is generated by converting the chemical energy of hydrogen to mechanical energy, either by reacting hydrogen with oxygen in a fuel cell to power electric motors or, less commonly, by hydrogen internal combustion. Hydrogen burns cleaner than fuels such as gasoline or methane but is more difficult to store and transport because of the small size of the molecule.

Hydrogen vehicles use hydrogen to move

A hydrogen vehicle is a vehicle that uses hydrogen to move. Hydrogen vehicles include some road vehicles, rail vehicles, space rockets, forklifts, ships and aircraft. Motive power is generated by converting the chemical energy of hydrogen to mechanical energy, either by reacting hydrogen with oxygen in a fuel cell to power electric motors or, less commonly, by hydrogen internal combustion. Hydrogen burns cleaner than fuels such as gasoline or methane but is more difficult to store and transport because of the small size of the molecule.

Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles (HFCV for short) use the same kind of electric motor to turn the wheels that a battery-electric car does. But it's powered not by a large, heavy battery but by a fuel-cell stack in which pure hydrogen (H2) passes through a membrane to combine with oxygen (O2) from the air, producing the electricity that turns the wheels plus water vapor.

To scientists, hydrogen isn't actually a fuel but an energy carrier. Ignore that distinction, though, because HFCV drivers refill their vehicles' carbon-fiber high-pressure tanks at "hydrogen fueling stations".

Hydrogen vehicles have been sold in small numbers due to competition with battery electric vehicles. However, a new hydrogen vehicle will hit the market this year: the Honda CR-V e:FCEV is an adaptation of the popular compact crossover, with not only a hydrogen fuel cell (jointly developed with GM) but a larger battery that can be plugged in.

Motive power is generated by converting hydrogen's chemical energy to mechanical energy

A hydrogen fuel car is a vehicle that uses hydrogen to move. Motive power is generated by converting the chemical energy of hydrogen to mechanical energy, either by reacting hydrogen with oxygen in a fuel cell to power electric motors or, less commonly, by hydrogen internal combustion.

Hydrogen burns cleaner than fuels such as gasoline or methane but is more difficult to store and transport because of the small size of the molecule. As of the 2020s, hydrogen light-duty vehicles, including passenger cars, have been sold in small numbers due to competition with battery electric vehicles.

A fuel-cell vehicle is technically a series hybrid, which is why they are sometimes classified as fuel-cell hybrid electric vehicles (FCHEV). To scientists, hydrogen isn't actually a fuel but an energy carrier.

A hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle (HFCV) uses the same kind of electric motor to turn the wheels that a battery-electric car does. But it's powered not by a large, heavy battery but by a fuel-cell stack in which pure hydrogen (H2) passes through a membrane to combine with oxygen (O2) from the air, producing the electricity that turns the wheels plus water vapor.

A concept for a hydrogen-powered tractor has been proposed. A record of 207.297 miles per hour (333.612 km/h) was set by a prototype Ford Fusion Hydrogen 999 Fuel Cell Race Car at the Bonneville Salt Flats, in August 2007, using a large compressed oxygen tank to increase power.

Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles use an electric motor to turn the wheels

A hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle (HFCV) uses the same kind of electric motor to turn the wheels that a battery-electric car does. But it's powered not by a large, heavy battery but by a fuel-cell stack in which pure hydrogen (H2) passes through a membrane to combine with oxygen (O2) from the air, producing the electricity that turns the wheels plus water vapor.

Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles are technically a series hybrid, which is why they are sometimes classified as fuel-cell hybrid electric vehicles (FCHEV). To scientists, hydrogen isn't actually a fuel but an energy carrier.

Hydrogen burns cleaner than fuels such as gasoline or methane but is more difficult to store and transport because of the small size of the molecule. As of the 2020s hydrogen light-duty vehicles, including passenger cars, have been sold in small numbers due to competition with battery electric vehicles.

Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles are sometimes classified as fuel-cell hybrid electric vehicles (FCHEV). Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles are powered not by a large, heavy battery but by a fuel-cell stack in which pure hydrogen (H2) passes through a membrane to combine with oxygen (O2) from the air, producing the electricity that turns the wheels plus water vapor.

Hydrogen isn't a fuel but an energy carrier to scientists

To scientists, hydrogen isn't actually a fuel but an energy carrier. Hydrogen vehicles include road vehicles, rail vehicles, space rockets, forklifts, ships and aircraft. Motive power is generated by converting the chemical energy of hydrogen to mechanical energy, either by reacting hydrogen with oxygen in a fuel cell to power electric motors or, less commonly, by hydrogen internal combustion.

A hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle (HFCV) uses the same kind of electric motor to turn the wheels that a battery-electric car does. But it's powered not by a large, heavy battery but by a fuel-cell stack in which pure hydrogen (H2) passes through a membrane to combine with oxygen (O2) from the air, producing the electricity that turns the wheels plus water vapor.

Hydrogen burns cleaner than fuels such as gasoline or methane but is more difficult to store and transport because of the small size of the molecule. As of the 2020s hydrogen light duty vehicles, including passenger cars, have been sold in small numbers due to competition with battery electric vehicles.

Hydrogen vehicles include some road vehicles, rail vehicles, space rockets, forklifts, ships and aircraft. Motive power is generated by converting the chemical energy of hydrogen to mechanical energy, either by reacting hydrogen with oxygen in a fuel cell to power electric motors or, less commonly, by hydrogen internal combustion.

Hydrogen burns cleaner than gasoline but is harder to store and transport

Hydrogen burns cleaner than gasoline or methane but is more difficult to store and transport because of the small size of the molecule.

Hydrogen fuel cells pass pure hydrogen (H2) through a membrane to combine with oxygen (O2) from the air, producing the electricity that turns the wheels plus water vapor.

Hydrogen vehicles include some road vehicles, rail vehicles, space rockets, forklifts, ships and aircraft.

Hydrogen light duty vehicles, including passenger cars, have been sold in small numbers due to competition with battery electric vehicles.

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