Power cells use hydrogen to generate
electricity. The hydrogen is
passed through an electrode, which strips the electrons off the
hydrogen atoms. The hydrogen ions (hydrogen atoms without an electron)
then flows to another electrode thorough which oxygen is passed. A
chemical reaction follows which combines the hydrogen ions with oxygen
to produce water. Unlike normal batteries, which eventually lose their
power, the electricity generated is continuous. You only have to
replenish the hydrogen supply, like you have to fill your gas tank to
keep your car engine going.
A single power cell only produces a small amount of electricity. To
generate electricity to any amount of consequence requires a
combination of power cells working together. As with solar cells, when
enough power cells are combined then the energy they produce can be
highly effective. However, to power a car would require a combination
of hundreds or even thousands of cells. Such a large number of cells
require the problems of storage, stability, temperature and pressure to
be overcome. The more cells are combined, the more space they take up
and the hotter they get.
Current hydrogen power cells are not cost-effective in their production
of electricity nor have they proven to be particularly long lasting.
Both these factors bump up the price of owning and using them. In
addition to these factors there is the issue of storing hydrogen.
Experiments with airships, which flew with the aid of giant hydrogen
balloons, in the 1920s and 30s showed how dangerous the storage of
hydrogen can be. As restrictive as these issues may seem we can expect
that they will be overcome as power cell technology advances.
It is entirely feasible that, in the not too distant future, our cars
will be running on clean and efficient electricity generated by
hydrogen power cells. And where will we get all the hydrogen required
to power the thousands of cells in each car?
You guessed it.
Water.
As the price of oil and gasoline rises
and rises an increasing number
of people are arguing that Power Cells have the potential to cure the
fuel requirements of our cars. They make the point that power cells can
be clean and efficient alternatives to the combustion engine used in
our vehicles. The point is also made that the use of power cells have
the extra benefits of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and so help
towards solving the problem of global warming. Unlike the current
engines in our cars, which produce poisonous gases and fumes, the only
by-products of the use of power cells are heat and water. These
arguments all sound very persuasive and have a ring of truth about
them.
