So what's new?



Fuel cell vehicles are a refreshing alternative to the internal combustion engine that is currently the preferred method of powering our vehicles. Much like battery style electric vehicles, the vehicles are propelled by electric motors, but instead of storing this electricity a fuel cell vehicle generates its own electricity by means of a chemical process using hydrogen fuel and oxygen from the air.

Where does the power come from?

Pure nitrogen gas is the main way of powering the new style of vehicle, but other hydrogen rich alternatives, such as natural gas, methanol and gasoline also can be used if they are first converted into hydrogen gas by means of an internal component called the reformer.

Good news for the environment

A pure hydrogen fuelled vehicle would emit no pollutants; water and heat would be the only discharge. Other vehicles using a reformer would emit a very small emission, thus creating a small amount of air pollutants. In comparison to the conventional vehicles, these new vehicles will be twice as efficient as a similar sized vehicle of a conventional nature. The fuel cell vehicles will have the added advantage of further increasing efficiency by means of new technologies.

When will we see these fuel cell vehicles?

They are not expected to reach the mass market until 2010, but Progress and trials of such vehicles are already making headlines in the media. Nine automakers showcased their hydrogen-fueled and fuel cell vehicles on a publicity tour across the United States, visiting 31 cities in 18 states in 13 days. The Hydrogen Road Tour '08 began in Portland, Maine, and ended in Los Angeles, California, and was a collaboration of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the California Fuel Cell Partnership, the National Hydrogen Association, and the participating automakers with Linde and Air Products and Chemicals on hand to provide the hydrogen. There were fuel cell vehicles from General Motors Corporation, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Toyota, and Volkswagen, as well as the BMW Hydrogen Series 7, which burns hydrogen in an internal combustion engine. Tour highlights included two new hydrogen stations opening in Billerica, Massachusetts and Rolla, Missouri.

Trials are still underway for these vehicles to both bring down production costs and iron out and teething troubles before they are unleashed on the mass market, it's not just cars getting the fuel cell treatment but bikes, motorbikes, buses and aircraft as well as rockets. So let's hope these advances can do their bit to help cut global warming.