| Zero emission vehicles are the future. One that we | | | | hydrogen to a fuel cell. One way is to simply put |
| haven’t seen much of is the fuel cell powered | | | | hydrogen gas and also air into the fuel cell itself. In |
| vehicle. Fuel cells have been used on space crafts for | | | | order to carry hydrogen gas like this, it needs to be |
| many years. A vehicle that is considered zero | | | | compressed. This is usually to about 3000 lbs per |
| emissions is one where the fuel cell is fueled by | | | | square inch. In order to do this, special containers |
| Hydrogen, and it has to be 100% hydrogen. | | | | need to be used. |
| Fuel cell vehicles turn hydrogen fuel and oxygen into | | | | Another way of providing hydrogen gas is to hold it |
| electricity. Cars with an electric motor can then be | | | | on the car in the form of a liquid. In order to create |
| powered by using this electricity. This can be | | | | hydrogen it needs to be made cold and also |
| compared to traditional vehicles where the electricity | | | | compressed. Hydrogen in liquid form is VERY cold. It |
| from batteries power the motor in an electric vehicle. | | | | is around 423 degrees below zero. The containers |
| The combination of oxygen and hydrogen produces | | | | that hold this freezing cold liquid need to be well |
| energy and water. In fuel cells, this can be | | | | insulated and kept very safe. By warming up the |
| accomplished without using any burning or | | | | liquid, or even lowering the pressure, you can release |
| combustion. | | | | the gas into a fuel cell which will be able to power |
| These cars are considered zero emission vehicles | | | | the vehicle that it is in. |
| because the exhaust from these cars comes out | | | | Another very popular method of getting hydrogen to |
| as water vapor and steam. If the fuel cells didn’t | | | | a fuel cell is using a reformer. A reformer is a device |
| get as hot as they do, water would just pour out of | | | | that can take out the hydrogen from hydrocarbon |
| the exhaust pipe. But fuel cells get VERY hot, so it | | | | fuels. These are methanol or gasoline. When |
| comes out as water vapor or steam. We have | | | | something other than hydrogen is used, the fuel cell |
| known of this technology for a long time though. | | | | is no longer zero-emission but it still may have |
| Think of it like a space shuttle. Space shuttles are | | | | extremely low emissions. |
| fueled with liquid oxygen and also liquid hydrogen. | | | | It is common to hear people talking about how fuel |
| Then they are mixed together and ignited to cause a | | | | cell vehicles could be the future. What people |
| ridiculously hot fire which then propels the spacecraft | | | | don’t know is how far away we are from |
| into their air because of the expanding gases. This is | | | | making these reasonably priced. High class families |
| what causes them to fly. | | | | would have trouble affording these vehicles. |
| We know of a number of ways that can provide | | | | |