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What is a fuel cell vehicle and why should I be interested?
It's an alternative to the internal-combustion engine that doesn't rely on impractical battery power. Given that fossil fuels are predicted to run out in the next 30 years, it offers a realistic hope for the future of personal transportation.
How does it replace the internal-combustion engine?
The motive unit is an electric motor powered by a fuel cell. The fuel cell is a clever, but essentially simple, device that produces electricity by a chemical reaction between hydrogen gas and air. During the reaction, electrons - the particles that hurtle through wires to give us electricity - are given off and collected to be used to power an electric motor. The only by-product of this process is harmless water.
How does it work?
The chemical reaction to make the electricity takes place across a platinum catalyst - a bit like the device that scrubs the muck out of a petrol engine's exhaust. But instead of being tubular to fit inside an exhaust pipe, the fuel cell is very thin, just 1.3 millimetres thick. Each cell generates about 1 volt of electricity, so the cells are connected together in series. A family car needs about 200 volts, so a typical stack would contain 200 cells.
When will I be able to buy one?
There's a race on among all the major manufacturers to get the first fuel-cell car to market. Honda appears to be in the lead at the moment with a promise for 2003, but General Motors and DaimlerChrysler aren't far behind: GM says it will have the technology 'market-ready' by 2004. They are more likely to be sold to fleets than to the man in the street, however, because of the difficulties of refuelling. Car makers and oil companies will start examining the practical issues this autumn in California when a test fleet of 50 fuel-cell cars and vans starts operating under the California Fuel Cell Partnership.
See also: The power of the future?Driving a fuel cell Vauxhall Zafira
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