| The world in its run for progress and mechanization | | | | the rate of pollution. Hydrogen fuel cells if used as |
| has almost exhausted all non-renewable energy | | | | internal combustion engines for cars can reduce the |
| sources that Mother Earth had provided. Global | | | | petroleum dependency and environmental pollution. |
| warming, depleted water sources and increased | | | | • Not just for cars, they can also be used to |
| pollution have paused serious threat to the well-being | | | | power remote areas, provide electricity where roads |
| of mankind. We are now looking desperately for | | | | have not yet been built and in general alleviate the living |
| renewable energy sources and alternate fuel. In our | | | | conditions. It can also be used as a portable source of |
| tryst the latest addition is hydrogen fuel cells. | | | | energy. |
| Developed as a part of the space program initially, | | | | It is estimated that this alternative energy source may |
| more and more car manufacturers are now edging | | | | replace the traditional batteries all together in the next |
| towards adopting Hydrogen Fuel Cells to power the | | | | 50 to 100 years. If it has been successful in the space |
| cars. | | | | programs, it is quite evident that it will leave its mark in |
| What are Hydrogen Fuel Cells? | | | | day-today life as well. Different government and |
| The hydrogen fuel cell is same as our battery cells | | | | environment agencies are also supporting the use of |
| except for the fact that the power is produced only | | | | hydrogen fuel cells. However with all boons comes its |
| when hydrogen is fed to the fuel cell. The electricity | | | | accompanying bane. To produce hydrogen we need |
| produced is dependent on the rate of Hydrogen flow | | | | energy. Fossil fuels are widely used to produce that |
| to the cell and also on size of the hydrogen fuel cell. | | | | energy. Now as we all know fossil fuel too is a |
| What are the advantages of Hydrogen Fuel Cells? | | | | non-renewable energy source. So the need of the |
| • Although along with electricity it produces heat | | | | hour is a lot more research so that we can get |
| and water, the hydrogen fuel cells produce a lot less | | | | hydrogen from a renewable energy source in order to |
| heat than the traditional rod cells. | | | | power hydrogen fuel cells in generating electricity. |
| • Hydrogen fuel cells are a lot more efficient than | | | | However there is no denying the fact that today we |
| the gasoline engines by about 20 to 30%. | | | | need such energy alternatives like hydrogen fuel cells |
| • These cells can be created in different sizes and | | | | that are customizable, can be used everywhere, can |
| as a result can be used to power smaller instruments | | | | power anything from a small walkman to a town and |
| like an MP3 player to factory buildings and towns. | | | | the best of all reduces pollution and generated less |
| • For the automobile industries the biggest | | | | heat. As we all know it is time that we do away with |
| challenge today are its dependence on gasoline and | | | | global warming! |