Automobiles fuel-cell-powered cars

Fuel cells will soon be a viable alternative to the gasoline-powered internal combustion engine, and, beyond 2010, they can be expected to be the primary automotive power source. Buses are fuel cell-powered, and cars are next. A motivation driving fuel cell development for automotives is tougher emission standards required in several eastern states and California. Another motivation is to enhance national security with energy independence. U. S. automobile manufacturers plan to have fuel cell-powered cars on the market by 2004. Thermoplastic elastomers coated with a platinum catalyst compose the fuel cell membrane electrode, referred to in Sec. 10.3.1.3. 

One potential application for fuel cells is as an alternative power source for automobiles. However, as the Chemistry and Technology feature at the end of this chapter explains, scientists must resolve some fundamental challenges before fuel cells power the cars we drive. 

Almost all the major automobile manufacturers around the world are developing fuel cell powered vehicles the bulk of it being passenger cars. These development ranges from fuel cell-battery to pure fuel cell to fuel cell-super capacitor hybrid, fuel cell-ICE hybrid drive systems. 

Automobile manufacturers have invested heavily in fuel cells. Buses powered by fuel cells are on the road, and prototype cars are being tested. The chances are excellent that there is a fuel-cell car in your future. 

As mentioned earlier, separation of C02 at concentrated sources is easier than from the environment, and carbon capture at upstream decarbonizes many subsequent economic sectors. However, it does require significant changes in the existing infrastructure of power and chemical plants. Furthermore, approximately half of all emissions arise from small, distributed sources. Many of these emitters are vehicles for which onboard capture is not practical. Thus, unless all the existing automobiles are replaced by either hydrogen-powered fuel cell cars or electric cars, the capture of C02 from the air provides another alternative for small mobile emitters. 

There is now a great interest in developing different kinds of fuel cells with several applications (in addition to the first and most developed application in space programs) depending on their nominal power stationary electric power plants (lOOkW-lOMW), power train sources (20-200kW) for the electrical vehicle (bus, truck and individual car), electricity and heat co-generation for buildings and houses (5-20 kW), auxiliary power units (1-100 kW) for different uses (automobiles, aircraft, space launchers, space stations, uninterruptible power supply, remote power, etc.) and portable electronic devices (1-100 W), for example, cell phones, computers, camcorders [2, 3]. 

Even these ideas (which have been in the open literature since 1993) did not tempt U.S. automotive makers to switch to fuel cells as the power source for electric cars. The lead was finally taken by Daimler-Benz, in Germany, the first manufacturers of passenger automobiles with internal combustion engines in the world. In 1996 this company demonstrated fuel cell-driven passenger cars with methanol as the originating liquid to be taken on board and re-formed to hydrogen. This fuel is then used in fuel cells to power the cars electric motors.14... 

Daimler-Chrysler s NECAR IV may be a preview of the future of automobiles. The NECAR IV is a compact car that is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell (HFC). This model can reach speeds of 90 mph (145 km/h), carry up to five passengers and cargo, and travel 280 miles (450 km) before refueling. It runs on oxygen from the air and pure hydrogen supplied in a tank. Its exhaust is water, making it pollution free. 

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