| The recent spike in global oil prices has spurred auto | | | | for the early design of the water fuel cell. His water |
| companies into fast-tracking their research on the | | | | fuel cell system was primarily designed to convert |
| development of alternatives to using oil as the primary | | | | water into its component elements, hydrogen and |
| fuel for cars and other vehicles. With gas prices | | | | oxygen, and was also designed to use considerably |
| costing $5 a gallon or more, automakers are feeling | | | | lesser amounts of energy. However, a considerable |
| the pressure to develop cleaner, more fuel-efficient | | | | number in the scientific community and auto industry |
| and less-polluting vehicles. Water, ethanol and biomass | | | | circles initially questioned the validity of Meyer's design, |
| are seen as the leading alternatives to using fossil | | | | and disagreed with his views. The first water fuel cell |
| fuels. | | | | design was claimed as being able to produce more |
| Cars That Run On Water | | | | amounts of energy than it consumes; however this |
| Water is a natural resource that is plenty and | | | | had yet to be fully determined by scientists and had |
| easily-accessible. It is a resource that man cannot | | | | been given a cold reception by many skeptics. |
| surely live without, and is used to quench our thirst and | | | | How A Water Fuel Cell Operates |
| water our gardens to grow plants and vegetables. | | | | A water fuel cell, according to its developers, operates |
| Water is also being eyed as a possible alternative fuel | | | | in the same way as a battery does. However, unlike |
| source for cars as well. According to scientists, the | | | | standard batteries, a water fuel cell will not run out of |
| molecular makeup of water makes it a perfect | | | | energy, or should necessitate the need for constant |
| alternative to running the engines of cars, with its | | | | recharging. This fuel cell in fact produces energy in the |
| molecular structure generally composed of two atoms | | | | form of electricity and heat for as long as it is supplied |
| hydrogen and one atom oxygen. When water's | | | | with its main fuel source, water. A water fuel cell |
| molecules are separated or divided into its component | | | | consists of two electrodes packed in around an |
| atoms and oxidized for use as fuel afterwards, the | | | | electrolyte. As oxygen enters one electrode and |
| result is the creation of an energy source that is | | | | hydrogen passes through the other, it generates |
| two-and-a-half times greater and more efficient than | | | | electricity, water and heat. As hydrogen is fed into the |
| gasoline or diesel. Its byproduct as well is much safer | | | | fuel cell's "anode", air or oxygen as well enters through |
| and pollution-free, as it only emits water vapor. While | | | | the fuel cell's cathode. Because a water fuel cell |
| the process of separating the components of water is | | | | generally relies on chemistry rather than on |
| still considered an expensive one, it however remains a | | | | combustion, its resulting emissions are much smaller |
| very promising material for powering a car's engine. | | | | and definitely cleaner than the combustion created by |
| The Early Development Of A Water Fuel Cell | | | | a gas or diesel-powered vehicle. |
| An American named Stanley Meyer was responsible | | | | |