June 8 2010
Well, not quite.
Fuel cell technology has come a long way from its cumbersome, complicated and expensive beginnings.
Cumbersome: stacked cells typically took lots of space, as the "
microwave-oven-sized" fuel-cell stack amply demonstrates.
Complicated: quite a number of
different kinds of fuel cells have been developed with varying probabilities of enjoying commercial success -- which depends, by the way, on a refueling station infrastructure.
Expensive: platinum, the traditional catalyst used in fuel cells, is among the most expensive materials on earth.
A couple of university research groups are aiming for cheaper alternatives to generate H2 from water using fuel cells. One group uses a molybdenum oxo catalyst, the other group eliminates metals altogether by using a combination of a polymer (Gore-Tex) coated with a composite material.
Pretty neat, but how long might it take before either of these show up in your auto dealer's showroom.
Category:
Words to the WiseFiled under:
Energy/Fuel,
Transportation