Fuel Cell Vehicles
Vehicles For Tomorrow
What Is a Fuel Cell Vehicle
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 release emissions. Several challenges must be overcome before these vehicles will be competitive with conventional vehicles, but the potential benefits of this technology are
How it Works
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 the fuel cell attack that 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.
Cost
FCVs are currently more expensive than conventional vehicles and hybrids, but costs have decreased significantly and are approaching DOE's goal for 2017 (see graph). Manufacturers must continue to lower production costs, especially for the fuel cell stack and hydrogen storage, for FCVs to compete with conventional technologies.
Benefit Humans and Buisnesses
- Fuel cells have a higher efficiency than diesel or gas engines.
- Most fuel cells operate silently, compared to internal combustion engines. They are therefore ideally suited for use within buildings such as hospitals.
- Fuel cells can eliminate pollution caused by burning fossil fuels; for hydrogen fueled fuel cells, the only by-product at point of use is water
- If the hydrogen comes from the electrolysis of water driven by renewable energy, then using fuel cells eliminates greenhouse gases over the whole cycle.
- Fuel cells do not need conventional fuels such as oil or gas and can therefore reduce economic dependence on oil producing countries, creating greater energy security for the user nation.
- Since hydrogen can be produced anywhere where there is water and a source of power, generation of fuel can be distributed and does not have to be grid-dependent.
How much is this technology?
The fuel cell vehicles is worth $57,500 or $499 a month
Website: http://www.wsj.com/articles/toyota-prices-new-fuel-cell-vehicle-1416272427
Our Thoughts Of The Technology
My thoughts of the technology is that it does have good benefits, but it cost to much