y. Unlike batteries fuel cells don't rundown or require recharging. It will produce energy in the form of electricity as long asfuel is supplied(Little, Authur). The main fuel of the cells is liquid hydrogen. On March17,1999, DaimlerChrysler unveiled the NECAR 4, the first fuel powered car. Thecompact car seats five passengers. Although DaimlerChrysler claims to lead the fuel cellcar industry, Ford Motor co. officials say they will have a driveable version of their fiveseat compact car, the P2000, this spring. In the first section the energy source will be defined and described. The threesub-sections are; how they work, current us, and the future of fuel cells. In the secondsection the two criteria chosen will be defined. The two criteria are environmentalfriendliness and reliability. In the third and final section the two chosen criteria will beapplied to the energy source. Section I.To understand fuel cells you need to know how they work, how they are beingused today, and how they will be used in the future. How they work.In principle, a fuel cell operates like a battery. Unlike a battery, a fuel cell does notrun down or require recharging. It will produce energy in the form of electricity and heatas long as fuel is supplied. A fuel cell consists of two electrodes sandwiched around anelectrolyte. Oxygen passes over one electrode and hydrogen over the other, generatingelectricity, water, and heat. Hydrogen fuel is fed into the "anode" of the fuel cell. Oxygen(or air) enters the fuel cell through the cathode. Encouraged by a catalyst, the hydrogenatom splits into a proton and an electron, which take different paths to the cathode. Theproton passes through the electrolyte. The electrons create a separate current that can beutilized before they return to the cathode, to be reunited with the hydrogen and oxygen ina molecule of water (Little,Aurthur).Current Use. To understand fuel cells you need the current use and ...
