Hydrogen Fuel Cells — Clean Energy for Cars of the Future?
The advantages of hydrogen fuel cell technology are huge because it releases no emissions at all. Hydrogen is a potential catalyst for energy for utilities as well as for transportation, though several problems are holding up hydrogen as a practical application for fueling transportation:
Hydrogen fuel cells are fragile, especially at cold temperatures, which creates a problem for vehicle use on bumpy roads and in northern climates.
Hydrogen fuel cells are a considerably more expensive technology than combustion engines, which limits their affordability for a wide range for consumers.
A larger volume of hydrogen is needed to get the same amount of energy compared to gasoline, so currently the hydrogen needs to be compressed, which in turn takes more energy, lessening its eco-friendly potential.
Special refueling stations have to be built around the country, adding to the cost to introduce the technology.
The use of hydrogen fuel cells in vehicles is an area of development worth watching for. Researchers are working to overcome its challenges, and it’s possible that technology could reach the point where hydrogen fuel cells can be implemented in the future.