Can you explain in simple terms how does a Hydrogen Fuel cell vehicle work?

Question

And which auto-maker is going to be the first to take advantage of rising gasoline prices and actually manufacture Hydrogen powered cars?

Answer 1

Oxygen and hydrogen combine using a platinum catalyst to form electricity and water.  For a diagram, see:

http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/...

Normally hydrogen and oxygen burn to form water and heat.  The fuel cell still "burns" (oxidizes) the hydrogen, but most of the energy is electricity.

Making a hydrogen powered car is not the issue.  Making one that is economical, easy to fuel, reliable, etc. is the problem.  The most efficient way to carry energy from point A to point B is a liquid hydrocarbon (i.e., gasoline).

Internal combustion engines have had 100 years to work out all the bugs.  It is unlikely that hydrogen fueled vehicles will ever be competitive.

So ... no car maker.

Answer 2

a fuel cell is an electrochemical energy conversion device. A fuel cell converts the chemicals hydrogen and oxygen into water, and in the process it produces electricity.

A fuel-cell stack that could power an automobile.  

The other electrochemical device that we are all familiar with is the battery. A battery has all of its chemicals stored inside, and it converts those chemicals into electricity too. This means that a battery eventually "goes dead" and you either throw it away or recharge it.

With a fuel cell, chemicals constantly flow into the cell so it never goes dead -- as long as there is a flow of chemicals into the cell, the electricity flows out of the cell. Most fuel cells in use today use hydrogen and oxygen as the chemicals.

/http://www.fuelcellstocks.com/fuelcellve...

Answer 3

A picture is easiest. Basically Hydrogen and oxygen gases are fused together with a catalyst (ie platinum) and electricity, heat and water are produced. A rechargeable cell is recharged when the  electric current is reversed, the water is then electrolised back into the gasses hydrogen and oxygen. Its storage capaicity is therefore similar to a deep cycle battery.

Answer 4

Hydrogen in its natural element produces electricity and Yes  i heard about $ 500,000 for a production vehicle (and Hydrogen fuel is very expensive,so who is going to buy that?  The oil will eventually run out ,its only a matter of time,so why not bring back the EV-1 as that's a working example of clean technology.General motors have reported a loss of over 40 billion dollars last year so why dont they  bring back the EV-1 they definetly need a change in direction (and the whole world does as the oil is running  out and becoming very expensive)