Since the millenium, we have all been concerned about the “green” movement. One move is the new technologies that are coming out with the resarch into fuel cells, which is all about alternative fuels to power our car. Fuel cells produce an electric current – they are mechanical devices using hydrogen or hydrogen-containing fuel like methane. Fuel cells whilst being clean and quiet, they are highly efficient as sources of electricity. Extensive research by scientists shows much promise on some new fuel cells, which are smaller. The alternative fuel industry would benefit greatly from these.
President Bush announced the Hydrogen Fuel Initiave (HFI) program in 2003, as part of his State of the Union Address. Fully suported by legislation of the Energy Policy Act 2005 (EPACT 2005) and the Advanced Energy Initiative 2006 the aims are to develop fuel cell, hydrogen and infrastructure technologies in order to make the production of fuel-cell vehicles much more cost-effective and practical by the year 2020. Over one billion dollars has been dedicated by the United States towards the development and research into fuel cells up to now.
Inside a battery is where all of its chemicals are stored, which are converted into electricity. Once a battery loses all its power it becomes ‘dead’ so you either dispose of it, or if it is rechargeable, you put it in a charger to be powered up again. A fuel cell, however, never goes dead with a continuous flow of chemicals going into it, the electricity can flow out endlessly. Currently fuel cells use the chemicals hydrogen and oxygen. With the ongoing research into fuel cells, the focus is on making the fuel cells smaller and much more efficient. The production of alternative fuel vehicles is on the increase, so there is a demand for better energy sources, which will be seen in the future as information and technology advances. The first fuel cells that came out were large in size and unwieldy, but today are getting smaller and much more adaptable for the alternative fuel vehicle.
The fuel cell was introcuced to primarily reduce the amount of pollution. We are all aiming to do our best for the environment by becoming ‘greener’. By the comparisons into a fuel cell-powered car against a car powered by petrol or diesel and a car powered by battery, fuel cells can be seen to be more efficient and environmentally for motorists and their vehicles. Scientists are clearly devoted into spending as much time on research possible to bring about cleaner running, smaller sized engines.
Extensive fuel cell research is doing its part to reduce greenhouse gases into the air. A lot of funding is needed for research into fuel cells so that the future will see the majority of vehicles powered in this way, and less of the gas powered ones of today. Luckily, the government are now geared towards helping the research move more quickly, so the future of fuel cell powered cars could be nearer than we think!