It is estimated that passenger vehicles consume about 6 million barrels of oil every day in the U.S., and about 85% of this oil comes from foreign imports. This oil that is burned then emits tons of carbon dioxide into the air, polluting our lungs and contributing to global warming.

This increases our carbon footprint and greatly damages our natural resources. One of the best ways to decrease greenhouse gas emissions is to use fuel cell technology.

What is a fuel cell car?

A fuel cell car is a vehicle that uses chemicals such as hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity. This is very similar to how a battery creates electricity.

How does a fuel cell car work?

A fuel cell car uses fuel cell technology to produce the electricity that powers a car. The fuel cell channels hydrogen and oxygen on each of its ends during an electrochemical energy conversion, which then creates electricity. This entire process produces water vapor and heat instead of carbon dioxide emissions.

To learn more about how a hydrogen fuel car works click here.

What are the advantages of having a fuel cell car?

There are several benefits of having a fuel cell car:

• They emit no greenhouse gases because they produce water vapor
• Reduce fuel consumption by 30% to 90%
• Operate mainly on hydrogen, and hydrogen is a renewable energy source
• They are simpler to design because they have no moving parts
• If 20% of cars used fuel cell technology we could reduce oil consumption by 1.5 million barrels a day
• They produce continuous energy as long as they have hydrogen
• Decrease our reliance on petroleum products
• Does not require recharging like regular batteries

Are there any drawbacks?

Even though fuel cell technology would greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, there is one main drawback to having a fuel cell car: the price. Fuel cells are very expensive as compared to other types of green energy sources.

What are my options if I want to get a fuel cell vehicle?

Fuel cell cars are slowly becoming more popular in the car market. Currently the two most recognized manufacturers of fuel cell vehicles are Honda and General Motors.

Fuel cells are the answer to our economy’s expensive foreign oil imports. They rely on renewable energy sources and also help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. To read more about fuel cell technology you can visit the Fuel Cells 2000 website.