DETROIT – Despite being hailed as the future replacement for the internal-combustion engine, fuel cell technology still has a long way to go, experts said last week.
Fuel cells create electricity through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. Due to the combustibility of pure hydrogen, however, automakers are developing fuel cells that use gasoline, methanol, propane or natural gas. Though these systems produce some pollutants, they burn far cleaner than conventional internal-combustion engines.
Among the main challenges with fuel cells – as with most alternative fuels – is the lack of a fueling infrastructure. According to an Associated Pres report yesterday, among the goals of the partnership announced at the North American International Auto Show last week, called Freedom CAR, is to develop such an infrastructure
``Because the government is going to focus on hydrogen as the ultimate fuel, the debate over whether we use gasoline, methanol or hydrogen becomes less important,'' said Thaddeus Malesh, an expert on fuel cell technology with J.D. Power and Associates. ``They can let the manufacturers focus on using hydrogen, which is the cleanest and most effective fuel.''
The fuel cell partnership, announced by Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham, replaces a Clinton administration program to develop high-mileage vehicles. Environmental groups such as the Sierra Club have voiced support for the development of fuel cells. But, according to AP, they are skeptical of the motives of Freedom CAR, believing it is just a way to stall legislation that would raise fuel economy standards.
Another challenge facing automakers is cost. When the first prototype fuel cell vehicles were shown in the late 1990s, the automakers estimated the engines would cost roughly 100 times more than an internal combustion engine, according to AP, which added that has been reduced to 90 percent – still prohibitively high.
Aside from the lack of an infrastructure and high cost, not enough is known about how fuel cell vehicles will operate in real world situations, Ap reported, adding that fuel cell vehicles will be put through real life applications beginning next year in California in response to the state's zero emission regulations. Each of the U.S. automakers plans to produce limited numbers of fuel cell vehicles, according to AP, mostly powered with gasoline or natural gas, in the next year or so, but 2010 is still the earliest any of them will estimate hydrogen powered fuel cell vehicles could be available.
