Every trip to the gas station seems to be more painful on the wallet. With outrageous gas prices and the talk of oil running out, what is next in getting where we need to go? The mobility that motor vehicle travel has brought to millions over the past hundred years has also carried some unfortunate side effects. Millions of Americans now breathe in unhealthy air and fossil fuel emissions are having a measurable effect on the Earth's climate, and oil imports are approaching their highest levels in U.S history. Alternatives to oil have been around for years, but recently people are taking a more serious look. A new technology, fuel cell(FC) vehicles, promises clean and efficient travel for the 21st century, and these cars could soon be on the roads of Asia, Europe, and the United states. Fuel cell vehicles can help mitigate these problems through their high efficiency, zero emissions, and their use of non petroleum fuels.
So what exactly is a fuel cell? According to an article by Spencer Reiss from Salon.com, hydrogen and oxygen go in one side; water and electric power come out the other. (Why couldn't I think of that?) It is quiet and squeaky clean, as long as you don't mind a puff of steam. With slightly more technology, one can even substitute methanol or propane for pure hydrogen. .
According to an online article from the Union of Concerned Scientists(UCS), fuel cells have captured the attention of policy makers and environmentalists because this technology can achieve important energy and energy goals. The interest that major automakers are showing in fuel cells, however, suggests that they believe fuel cells will also meet consumer needs. Many of the major world automobile manufactures have launched programs to develop fuel cell vehicles. At the same time, these vehicles must overcome important cost and infrastructure hurdles if they are to become a viable competitor to the conventional gas vehicle(USC).
