In the past, I gave some tips on teaching
about fuel cells. The main advantage of fuels cells over rechargeable batteries
is energy density: Rechargeable batteries must carry with them all components
of the oxidation-reduction reaction that generates current. In contrast, fuel
cells vehicles are lighter because (like combustion engines) they only need to transport
the reducing agent (what is referred to in plain English as “fuel”).
Unfortunately, most fuel cells only run on hydrogen. This article containing
this chart sums up why they hydrogen economy is much less sustainable when it
is compared with current electric vehicle technology. Nonetheless, the fact
that fuel cells are so remarkably efficient at converting chemical energy
merits research into cells that run on fossil fuels. This article is well over
a year old, but it is noteworthy that this company is pursuing research into
fuel cells that run on natural gas. The Redox Company currently proposes using
these fuel cells for generating electricity in residences and businesses.
However, given the cost-effectiveness of natural gas cars, the next logical
step is to apply this technology to transportation.