| The history of the fuel cell can be traced back to the | | | | manufactured anywhere there is water and electricity, |
| 19th century. Since then the development and usage | | | | production of potential fuel can be allocated in various |
| of fuel cells in a variety of applications have come a | | | | areas* Fuel cells operate at a higher efficiency than |
| long way. Fuel cells hold great promise for fueling | | | | diesel or gas engines which makes them an ideal |
| alternative fuel vehicles. Here is some of the history of | | | | source of efficient power for alternative fuel vehicles* |
| the development of fuel cells:* William Grove invented | | | | Most fuel cells operate silently, while internal |
| the fuel cell in 1839.* General Electric invented proton | | | | combustion engines do not* Fuel cells can operate for |
| exchange membrane fuel cells in the 1950s* Francis | | | | longer times than batteries, therefore to double the |
| Bacon demonstrated a 5kW alkaline fuel cell in 1959.* | | | | operating time, only the fuel needs to be doubled and |
| NASA's use of fuel cells during the Apollo space | | | | not the capacity of the unit itself* The maintenance of |
| missions in the 1960s was the first commercial use of | | | | fuel cells is relatively straightforward since there are |
| fuel cells.* Alkaline fuel cells have flown over 100 | | | | few moving parts in the systemDisadvantages* |
| missions and operated for more than 80,000 hours in | | | | Energizing fuel cells continues to be a major problem |
| spacecrafts operated by NASA.* The US Navy has | | | | while production, transportation, distribution and storage |
| been using fuel cells in submarines since the 1980s* | | | | of hydrogen remains difficult* Reforming hydrocarbons |
| Fuel cell buses are running in several cities around the | | | | via a reformer to produce hydrogen is technically |
| world, the largest being the European Union backed | | | | challenging and not actually environmentally friendly* |
| CUTE project (Clean Urban Transport for Europe).* All | | | | The refuelling and the starting time of fuel cell vehicles |
| major automakers have prototypes of alternative fuel | | | | are longer, while the driving range is shorter than in a |
| vehicles using fuel cells on the road-some have | | | | conventional vehicle* Fuel cells are normally somewhat |
| already been leased to customers.* Iceland has plans | | | | larger than comparable batteries or engines, however, |
| to convert its fishing fleet from diesel engines to | | | | the size of the units continues to decrease with |
| hydrogen fuel cells as part of a national project to | | | | research and testing* Fuel cells are currently |
| create a fossil fuel free economy* Several car | | | | expensive to produce, since most units are hand-made |
| manufacturers are hoping to produce their first | | | | and some use expensive materials* The technology is |
| semi-commercial models of fuel cell cars by 2005, yet | | | | not yet fully developed, therefore few products are |
| they will most probably not be mass produced until | | | | readily availableAlthough hydrogen fuel cells appear to |
| 2010.* Numerous fuel cell products will be coming to | | | | be the most promising source of alternative fuel, other |
| market-portable direct methanol fuel cells will power | | | | sources are being researched and tested. Alternative |
| mobile phones, laptops and cameras in the near | | | | transportation fuels provide economic advantages |
| future* A fuel cell is around 60% efficient at converting | | | | while also offering significant environmental benefits. |
| fuel to power, double the efficiency of an internal | | | | They offer air quality advantages through reduced |
| combustion gas engine-which makes it perfect for | | | | emissions and some fuels produce less greenhouse |
| alternative fuel vehicles.Fuel cells have several | | | | gas emissions than gasoline. There's significant |
| advantages over conventional power sources like | | | | research being conducted worldwide. Canada, for |
| internal combustion gas engines or batteries. | | | | example, is recognized as a world leader in the |
| Additionally, there are disadvantages facing | | | | development and use of alternative transportation |
| manufacturers hoping to commercialize fuel cells. See | | | | fuels with more than 170,000 alternative fuel vehicles in |
| how they stack up as the next best fuel for alternative | | | | use across Canada. Some of the most promising |
| fuel vehicles.Advantages* Fuel cells reduce pollution | | | | alternative fuel sources being suggested for future use |
| that is caused by the burning of fossil fuels-their only | | | | in motor vehicles are:* Ethanol |
| by-product is water* If the hydrogen used in the fuel | | | | * Propane |
| cell comes from the electrolysis of water, then using | | | | * Natural gas |
| fuel cells will eliminate greenhouse gases* Because | | | | * Biodiesel |
| fuel cells don't need conventional fuels like oil or gas, | | | | * Electricity |
| they eliminate economic dependence on politically | | | | * HydrogenAt this point, it's anyone's guess what the |
| unstable countries* Since hydrogen can be | | | | future holds for alternative fuel vehicles. |