Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles Essay Example for Free

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles Essay The first hydrogen fuel cell was invented in 1839 by William Groves who conducted an experiment that proved electric current could be produced from a electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. He named the invention a gas voltaic battery. For 120 years the technology layed dormant until 1959 when a modified farm tractor was produced with 15 kilowatt fuel cell. In 1966 the first hydrogen fuel cell road vehicle was made, it had a range of 120 miles and a maximum speed of 70 mph. Due to high production costs the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle program was canceled. For thirty years the hydrogen fuel cell was used for space exploration. In 2003 a government initiative was announced to promote the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. Hydrogen fuel cells can significantly reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses and theoretically could replace the internal combustion engine. There are a variety of challenges that face further development of the fuel cell vehicle. As of 2014 a total of about 60 hydrogen refueling stations are avaliable to the public worldwide. In the Unitied States there are 12 hydrogen refueling stations 10 of which are located in California. Hydrogen fuel costs 400% more to produce than gasoline. There is a high amount of energy that is needed to make hydrogen into fuel. Hydrogen fuel is stored pressurized form in complex storage tanks. The fuel is kept at a low temperature if hydrogen fuel comes into contact with human skin it can cause immediate frost bite. When there is an improperly designed or damaged valve in a hydrogen vehicle it can cause the tank to over pressurize and explode. Hydrogen fuel is extremely flammable if it comes into contact with an oxidizer such as oxygen it immediately catches fire and burns with an invisible flame. In a car accident a ruptured tank can explode from depressurization. Hydrogen fuel can leak into a cars interior, the driver would be unaware of the odorless gas and be breathing no oxygen if the air conditioning is on recycle causing loss of conciseness or asphyxiation. As of 2014 the range of a hydrogen vehicle is 100 miles on average to 300 miles maximum. A 20 gallon gasoline tank is the equivalent of an 80 gallon hydrogen fuel tank. The National Research Council reported in February 2004 The DOE should halt efforts on high pressure tanks and cryogenic liquid storage. They have little promise of long term practicality for lite duty vehicles. In 2015 Toyota will release its first production hydrogen fuel cell mid size sedan for the price of $70,000. Honda has a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle at the cost of $120,000. There are prototype hydrogen fuel cell vehicle models being produced by a number of auto makers. A May 2008 scientific study in Wired News reported experts say it will be 40 years or more before hydrogen has any meaningful impact on gasoline consumption or global warming, and we cant afford to wait that long. In the meantime, fuel cells are diverting resources from more immediate solutions.