The Future And Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology
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by: ChloeGib | Total views: 47 | Word Count: 442
The world only has so much oil. One day, the world's well will dry up. For this reason, scientists are trying to develop tomorrow's technologies to power our cars. One of them might have already been found, and that is hydrogen fuel cell technology.
The first cells were perfected in the 1960s to work in NASA's space program. During the 1990s, cities started installing them in public buses. These days, they have begun to appear in some cars, but the costs of those cars presently make them too costly for most of us.
The cells are basically batteries which must be refilled from time to time, and are called polymer exchange membrane cells. The batteries break down the gas, creating an electric current that gives the car power. By-products of this process are heat and water, and they combine to put out steam. Ideally, this results in an automobile that is truly pollution-free.
These cells are very thin and can be stacked on top of each other like pancakes. More cells result in higher voltage, and since they are so small, the engineers are able to put a lot of power in the engines of the vehicles. By lowering our reliance on fossil fuels and cutting down on the gasses that contribute to global warming at the same time, the new advances might be able to solve two problems at one time.
Any hydrocarbon source can provide the gas. However, the source is usually some kind of natural gas. Since natural gas is a fossil fuel, that defeats the whole purpose of cutting our dependence on these substances.
Another source is water. By passing water through an electric current, the cells' energy source is supplied along with oxygen. Fueling stations could be set up just like gas stations. Some have suggested that this electrolysis procedure could be done in the car itself. The result would be a car that runs on water. However, another battery would be required to perform the electrolysis, and this battery would need to be recharged as well.
There are a couple of problems with the plan. The gas is extremely flammable, so in the event of an accident there are worries about potential explosions. Costs associated with developing the technologies themselves are very high. It will also be extremely expensive to set up the refueling stations for these vehicles. Before businessmen are willing to do that, the cars themselves will need to become more widespread.
Eventually, however, new technologies will rise up and replace the combustion engine. Solar power is one possibility. Another is hydrogen fuel cell technology. Natural and sustainable energy is becoming very popular. The future is coming, and it looks green.
About the Author
Go Go Green World, Inc. provides cutting edge hydrogen fuel cell technology such as the Europafilter. They are decreasing the worlds dependence on crude oil while increasing the efficiency of the vehicles you drive. The are continually researching better ways to eliminate pollution and keep the air clean. (http://www.gogogreenworld.com)
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