Hydrogen Fuel Cells combine elemental H2 gas with oxygen from air to create an electric current and pure H2O. As with the nitrogen, this is a very efficient reaction. The fuel cells, many of which are put next to each other to make a 'stack', each have two semi-porous electrodes separated by a liquid electrolyte. The interior side of the electrodes are coated in a platinum catalyst. When the two elements come in contact with the catalyst and the electrolyte as the seep through the semi-porous electrode, they each ionize. The H+ ion is is then attracted to the 2-minus charged oxygen ion. They combine to form pure water and this is drained from the fuel cell. The electricity created runs through the circuit connected to the electrodes.
One of the biggest developers of the fuel cells is the US Department of Energy. Through the DOE, fuel cells were used on space missions (astronauts could even drink the water produced) and with their funding, fuel cells are being tested and implemented as stationary power stations.
Ballard Power Systems is one of the largest companies in the field of fuel cells. They develop fuel cell powered vehicles, power stations, portable generators, and marine generators. Pictured at left are two of their fuel cell powered cars and the sketch of their production bus.
Humboldt State University's Schatz Energy Research Center has developed a small fuel cell powered car of their own. By their estimates, the vehicle, which resembles a golf cart, gets the equivalent of about 125 miles per gallon of gasoline in hydrogen fuel.
