While hybrid cars use a combination of electricity with fossil fuels, the result has only a relatively small increase in fuel efficiency. Electric cars become more popular, but they have a very limited range when compared with gas engines. Natural gas has provided heat in the house for decades, but are used in cars has been limited due to concerns over the pressure.
This leaves fuel cells as the best opportunity possible to produce a practical energy source for vehicles that have a variety of gas engines, but provides clean energy alternatives. A solid oxide fuel cells generate electricity from the oxidation of fuel source. Conversion is provided in an electrochemical cell to create a highly efficient method of generating electricity for vehicles that are both stable, has little emissions and relatively low cost.
The development of technology dates back to the 20th century, but the program got a significant boost in nearly a decade ago when more government incentives be used to help promote the program. Today, fuel cell cars are still in the experimental stage although it has evolved significantly over the last 10 years. The increase in oil prices has helped to broaden interest in the development of fuel cells.
The major technical problems that must be overcome with the cell centers on the high operating temperature needed to produce the electrical current. This result is a longer start up time for the fuel cell that includes mechanical and chemical issues that have yet to be fully fleshed out.
Current research to improve the fuel sources is currently being conducted by several companies around the world. The main effort is to reduce the temperature needed to provide the electrical current from the cell which would significantly reduce the cost of the materials needed to house the fuel cell.
One of the more promising areas of research, though it is still in the initial stages is to combine gas turbines to the cell to help augment the chemical reaction. This would be a similar step to the current hybrid vehicles on the market which combine electrical batteries and a gas powered engine.
There are many different chemicals including fossil fuels that are being tested, particularly natural gas and diesel fuels to try and reduce the temperature but these fuels have their own issues which interfere with the electrical process of the cell itself.
With the growing need for renewable energy sources around the world, solving the final issues of the fuel cell may revolutionize the way vehicles are powered leading to a cleaner, healthier environment with more resources being used to solve other energy concerns.
Michael Vargas is the founder and principal consultant of Atlas Project Support. Mr. Vargas has more than 10 years of construction and energy accounting and utilization experience, and is a Certified Business Energy Professional through the AEE, a California Energy Commission Certified Energy Plans Examiner, LEED Green Associate and GBCI Advisory Panel Member.. Mr. Vargas also holds a BSBA from SDSU, MBA and MPM from Keller Graduate School. For more information contact Michael at mvargas@myatlasproject.com or via the web at http://www.myatlasproject.com.