Fuel Cell

Applications in
Automobiles

Introduction
A

Fuel cell vehicle or Fuel Cell Vehicle

(FCEV) is a type of hydrogen vehicle
which uses a fuel cell to produce
electricity, powering its on-board
electric motor. Fuel cells in vehicles
create electricity to power an electric
motor using hydrogen (produced in one
of several ways) and oxygen from the
air.

Construction
FCVs

look like conventional vehicles from the

outside, but inside they contain technologically
advanced components not found on today's
vehicles.
The most obvious difference is thefuel cell
stackthat converts hydrogen gas stored onboard
with oxygen from the air into electricity to drive
the electric motor that propels the vehicle.
The major components of a typical FCV are
illustrated below.

Cars with FC
Hyundai

Tucson-ix35 FCEV (2010)

BMW 1 series-fuel cell hybrid (2010)
Mercedes-Benz-F800-(2010)
Mazda 5Hydrogen RE Hybrid (2009)
Fiat Panda-HyTRAN (2009)
Audi Q5-FCEV (2009)
Nissan X-Trail-FCV (2009)
Volkswagen Caddy-Maxi HyMotion (2009)
Mercedes-Benz B-Class-F-Cell (2009)

Buses with FC
There are also demonstration models of
buses and in total there are over 100 fuel
cell buses deployed around the world today.
Most of these buses are produced by UTC
Power, Toyota, Ballard, Hydrogenics, and
Proton Motor.
Fuel cell buses have a 30-141% higher fuel
economy than diesel buses and natural gas
buses

Other Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCV)

Forklifts
Motorcycles
Airplanes
Boats
Submarines

and bicycles

Advantages of FCV
Fuel

cell vehicles (FCVs) have the

potential to significantly reduce our
dependence on foreign oil and lower
harmful emissions that contribute to
climate change.
FCVs run on hydrogen gas rather than
gasoline and emit no harmful tailpipe
emissions.

Disadvantages
Production
One of the biggest disadvantages of hydrogen fuel cell cars is the way
that hydrogen is produced. Currently, hydrogen is produced using coal,
nuclear power, oil, or natural gas.
Cost
The best method of producing hydrogen is to use wind and sunlight to
power the process of electrolysis. Electrolysis uses water to produce
hydrogen by separating it from the elements of oxygen. Although this
method doesn't generate any pollution, it is rarely used because it will
cost too much money to implement widely.
Infrastructure
Another disadvantage of switching to hydrogen fuel cell cars is that it
would require a whole new infrastructure. Although hydrogen fueling
stations could be put into existing gas stations, it would take years to
do so.