I don't understand how this type of vehicle works compared to a gasoline-powered vehicle. What are some of the advantages and disadvantages to using fuel-cell powered vehicles. How does the fuel cell powered vehicle work? Thanks for answering any of my questions!!
A fuel cell, and I assume you mean a Hydrogen Fuel Cell, uses Hydrogen (H2) and Oxygen (O2) molecules to create electricity to run an electric motor in a vehicle, rather than internal combustion engine. In a nutshell, H2 goes in one end, it splits the electron from nucleus (not the splitting an atom) and that electron (negative charge) is lead through a circuit. When there's a flow of electron, you have a current and therefore electricity. The nucleus goes through some 'electrolytes' inside the fuel cell and meets the electron after its gone through the circuit. The hydrogen atom is complete again and is met with O2 to create water. Although this is an efficient process and only produces water and heat, it's still not economically viable YET. Hydrogen is a very rare element but it is possible to produce it using a process called Hydrogen Electrolysis. It basically takes water, H20, and splits the hydrogen and oxygen atoms in the molecules. However to do this, you need quite a lot of electricity which is where the downfall of Hydrogen Fuel Cells are at the moment. The energy required to produce Hydrogen, is far greater than the energy you get from using hydrogen as a fuel. When people say 'Why don't we use hydrogen cars blah blah blah?' it's because they haven't done their research and haven't thought about the whole process. Hydrogen WILL be the way in the future once it's possible to produce hydrogen using less energy than it gives. Like petroleum now, although that is only about 3% efficient. You'll also hear idiots saying stupid things like 'Hydrogen is too dangerous to contain on a car'. That argument is stupid and also that person hasn't thought about what he's saying. Cars run on natural gas or lpg (liquid petroleum gas) these days and that gas is just as volatile. Petrol itself is almost as dangerous and we love that stuff. We love it so much kids burn it for fun.
Fuel cells basically generate electricity from the fuel, and the electricity is used to operate electric motors that drive the wheels. The advantages are that fuel cells are extremely efficient for the amount of fuel input (internal combustion gasoline engines waste more than 96% of the energy in the gasoline, literally throwing it away). The main disadvantages is that fuel cells wear out faster than internal combustion engines, and they're a lot larger for the same amount of power output.
