Hydrogen fuel cells are the wave of the future. At least that’s what many would like you to believe. They are right because a hydrogen fuel cell is a novel way to power a car. The car would require no gasoline, it would run on hydrogen and its only waste would be water, a natural and safe emission. However, it is not perfect science by any means and too many times all the great advantages are talked about without discussing the disadvantages of hydrogen fuel cells.
With anything, there will be drawbacks. If it was such a perfect technology, don’t you think every car would have one by now? In addition to being expensive, the hydrogen fuel cell creates certain problems that have yet to be fully addressed.
These are the three main disadvantages of hydrogen fuel cells:
1. It is big and cumbersome. Your gas tank already uses up a good chunk of your car, but a hydrogen fuel cell will be three times the size of a gas tank. But that is not all. The fuel cell has to be isolated to keep it safe and secure.
2. Security issues. Liquid hydrogen has the ability to freeze air. There have also been reports of accidents involving the fuel cell itself. Sometimes a valve becomes clogged when there is too much pressure in the cell. The only place to go is outside, and the cell explodes. There is no way of knowing if this issue can be fixed yet, but there are many working on it. In a car accident, the tank could rupture, but the good news is that the hydrogen will evaporate quickly. However, it is a more serious condition in a closed area like a garage.
3. Hydrogen evaporates. Strange but true. Insulation is not a perfect process, and hydrogen evaporates out of the cell at about 1.7 percent per day. This means that eventually the cars will need a fill. What? Did you think you would never have to use a pump again? The other problem with this is that gas stations do not sell hydrogen. You will have to find a custom service station or work something out with the car manufacturer. Cars that are blends of fuel cells and gasoline will never have to worry about getting stranded.
General Motors Co. currently has the Chevy Equinox Fuel Cell, one of the first fuel cell vehicles of its kind. If you are considering purchasing such a vehicle, talk to the manufacturer about the disadvantages of hydrogen fuel cells. Having the technology, they are aware of the dangers of hydrogen fuel cells and have started working to improve them.
The good news is that auto companies are working to make this a safer environment by creating fewer emissions, and the more we learn about alternative methods, the better the Earth is for it. Just don’t go blindly in one direction without asking questions. Learn about the disadvantages of hydrogen fuel cells before you agree to use them.
