Hydrogen Fuel Cell Cars: On the Way to a Greener Revolution

With the present environment drives and issues such as pollution and global warming, "greener" alternatives have been given the hype and have been patronized by more people in this day and age. It is no wonder then that environment-friendly alternatives have been slowly established even by different prestigious companies worldwide. The car industry for instance, is doing its part in the green revolution by coming up with environment-friendly products such as hydrogen fuel cell cars.

Hydrogen fuel cell cars have been around the market for the past few years, and their sudden rise of demand in the market can be attributed to the impetus of what is now called the green revolution. Indeed, more and more companies seek to provide ways to help clean if not lessen pollution in the environment. Hydrogen fuel cell cars can be considered a breakthrough for environmental science as it provides cars that have the previously-thought impossible property to be friendly to the environment.

Hydrogen fuel cell cars have two salient points which contribute to its "green" reputation: the use of environment friendly Fuel Cells, and the utilization of Hydrogen (previously thought to be not feasible years ago) as its energy source providing motive power. Hydrogen fuel cell cars are part of a sub-category of what environmentalists like to call hydrogen vehicles. The core mechanism of hydrogen vehicles lies on whether it relies on the combustion of Hydrogen, or the electrochemical conversion of Hydrogen which happens in a fuel cell. The latter description is characteristic of hydrogen fuel cell cars.

The hydrogen needed as fuel for hydrogen fuel cell cars is usually acquired through varied methods like thermolysis and electrolysis. In thermolysis, raw products such as natural gas, biomass, or coal is used in hydrogen extracting processes that employ the use of the thermal properties of each of these raw products. Sometimes, microbial waste products dubbed as biohydrogen can also be a source of Hydrogen. The more noted and famous method of extracting Hydrogen is electrolysis. Electrolysis is employed by the application of an electric current through water, splitting it into Hydrogen and Oxygen atoms.

The use of fuel cells signifies a drastic change from cars with typical internal combustion engines. Not unlike cars that are run by electric batteries, these cars are also run by electric motors. The difference lies in their source of electricity. While electric-battery vehicles get their electricity from an external source which is stored in a battery, Hydrogen fuel cell cars are able to generate electricity. Fuel cells within the car are able to create electricity by a chemical process utilizing oxygen from the air and with Hydrogen as fuel stored in high-pressure tanks onboard the car.

Hydrogen fuel cell cars, since these utilize only Hydrogen as fuel and Oxygen from the air, are best known to emit no pollutants at all. Its byproducts will only be water and heat. This very property of the car makes it all the more appealing to environmentalists and common people alike due to its energy saving mechanisms and its environment-friendly capabilities. With years of scientific research, we will only count a few years before this science of environment-friendly cars is perfected. It seems we are well on our way to a "greener" revolution.

Cars That Run on Water Tip #1

No matter what anybody tells you, there is not yet a water powered car in production. That is an urban myth that reached its peak with Stanley Meyer who claimed that he drove one hundred miles using only four ounces of water (he was later convicted of fraud). The water powered engine hasn't even been invented yet. Scientists are still trying to figure out if it is even possible.

Cars That Run on Water Tip #2

Many major car manufacturers are embracing the idea of the hydrogen car. BMW hopes to release a hydrogen car to the public by 2008 (or 2010 at the latest) and other manufacturers like Toyota are also making plans to release hydrogen car lines. Of course the debate over using hydrogen in cars is still raging and nothing has been settled yet.

Cars That Run on Water Tip #3

While both a water based engine and a hydrogen engine will do wonders for fuel emissions and the environment, one of the major reasons people want them is to improve their fuel mileage. Of course, gas mileage can be improved right now. You can improve your gas mileage drastically just by driving sensibly and making sure your car is maintained properly.