Fuel Cells & Alternative Fuel Vehicles
FUEL CELLS & ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLESThe history of the fuel cell can be traced back to the 19th century. Since then the development and usage of fuel cells in a variety of applications have come a long way. Fuel cells hold great promise for fueling alternative fuel vehicles. Here is some of the history of the development of fuel cells:William Grove invented the fuel cell in 1839. General Electric invented proton exchange membrane fuel cells in the 1950s Francis Bacon demonstrated a 5kW alkaline fuel cell in 1959.
NASA's use of fuel cells during the Apollo space missions in the 1960s was the first commercial use of fuel cells. Alkaline fuel cells have flown over 100 missions and operated for more than 80,000 hours in spacecrafts operated by NASA. The US Navy has been using fuel cells in submarines since the 1980s Fuel cell buses are running in several cities around the world, the largest being the European Union backed CUTE project (Clean Urban Transport for Europe). All major automakers have prototypes of alternative fuel vehicles using fuel cells on the road-some have already been leased to customers. Iceland has plans to convert its fishing fleet from diesel engines to hydrogen fuel cells as part of a national project to create a fossil fuel free economy Several car manufacturers are hoping to produce their first semi-commercial models of fuel cell cars by 2005, yet they will most probably not be mass produced until 2010.
Numerous fuel cell products will be coming to market-portable direct methanol fuel cells will power mobile phones, laptops and cameras in the near future A fuel cell is around 60% efficient at converting fuel to power, double the efficiency of an internal combustion gas engine-which makes it perfect for alternative fuel vehicles. Fuel cells have several advantages over conventional power sources like internal combustion gas engines or batteries. Additionally, there are disadvantages facing manufacturers hoping to commercialize fuel cells. See how they stack up as the next best fuel for alternative fuel vehicles.AdvantagesFuel cells reduce pollution that is caused by the burning of fossil fuels-their only by-product is water If the hydrogen used in the fuel cell comes from the electrolysis of water, then using fuel cells will eliminate greenhouse gases Because fuel cells don't need conventional fuels like oil or gas, they eliminate economic dependence on politically unstable countries Since hydrogen can be manufactured anywhere there is water and electricity, production of potential fuel can be allocated in various areas Fuel cells operate at a higher efficiency than diesel or gas engines which makes them an ideal source of efficient power for alternative fuel vehicles Most fuel cells operate silently, while internal combustion engines do not Fuel cells can operate for longer times than batteries, therefore to double the operating time, only the fuel needs to be doubled and not the capacity of the unit itself The maintenance of fuel cells is relatively straightforward since there are few moving parts in the system DisadvantagesEnergizing fuel cells continues to be a major problem while production, transportation, distribution and storage of hydrogen remains difficult Reforming hydrocarbons via a reformer to produce hydrogen is technically challenging and not actually environmentally friendly The refuelling and the starting time of fuel cell vehicles are longer, while the driving range is shorter than in a conventional vehicle Fuel cells are normally somewhat larger than comparable batteries or engines, however, the size of the units continues to decrease with research and testing Fuel cells are currently expensive to produce, since most units are hand-made and some use expensive materials The technology is not yet fully developed, therefore few products are readily available Although hydrogen fuel cells appear to be the most promising source of alternative fuel, other sources are being researched and tested. Alternative transportation fuels provide economic advantages while also offering significant environmental benefits.
They offer air quality advantages through reduced emissions and some fuels produce less greenhouse gas emissions than gasoline. There's significant research being conducted worldwide. Canada, for example, is recognized as a world leader in the development and use of alternative transportation fuels with more than 170,000 alternative fuel vehicles in use across Canada. Some of the most promising alternative fuel sources being suggested for future use in motor vehicles are:Ethanol Propane Natural gas Biodiesel Electricity Hydrogen At this point, it's anyone's guess what the future holds for alternative fuel vehicles.? 2004 AllAboutHybridCars.com. Any reproduction of this article in any manner is prohibited without the consent of AllAboutHybridCars.com.
We give permission to use this article on your website or e-zine if you reproduce it exactly as it appears here including this notice. Visit www.AllAboutHybridCars.com/eBook.htm to order your FREE report, "7 Critical Facts Everyone should Know Before Buying a Hybrid Car.".
Andrea Susan Glass, founder of WritersWay and All About Hybrid Cars, helps clients reach their writing and marketing goals with effective articles, press releases, newsletters, Web site copy, eBooks and books. An award-winning author for "Street Smart Secrets to Auto Care You Can Trust," she has written books, eBooks and articles on subjects ranging from animals and auto repair to singles and spirituality.Hydrogen Cars Are Not All Hot Air
Ever hear of hydrogen cars? This new breed of cars being developed far exceeds the current gasoline-electric hybrid cars as far as cleaning up the environment and lessening the U. S. dependence upon foreign oil. Automakers expect to have hydrogen cars in the showrooms in the next 5 ? 10 years.So, what's all the hoopla about hydrogen? Plenty. Hydrogen is the most plentiful element in the universe.
With such abundance, there is no change of running out unlike the fossil fuels. If you remember your high school chemistry, you'll know that water is made up of two parts hydrogen and one part water. That means that hydrogen can be created for hydrogen cars by splitting water via electrolysis. It only means that by using fuel cells to power hydrogen cars, that hydrogen and oxygen can be run through a cell (generating electricity and heat) and joined together at the end of the process to produce its only bi-product, water.This means that hydrogen fuel cell powered cars will only dispense...
Hydrogen Cars Are Not All Hot Air
Electrolysis > Hydrogen Cars Are Not All Hot Air
Clear Energy, Inc Defines Sully Direct Current (SDC)™
(ContentDesk) July 11, 2006 -- To break the confusion about the Sully Direct Current (SDC)", Clear Energy, Inc, (www.SullyDC.com) offers a detailed explanation of how the technology works.
The recent advancements in laser technology have greatly reduced discomfort and have expanded into...
New Advancements in Laser Hair Removal Technology
Electrolysis > New Advancements in Laser Hair Removal Technology
Hydrogen Cars Are Not All Hot Air
Ever hear of hydrogen cars? This new breed of cars being developed far exceeds the current gasoline-electric hybrid cars as far as cleaning up the environment and lessening the U. S. dependence upon foreign oil. Automakers expect to have hydrogen cars in the showrooms in the next 5 ? 10 years.So, what's all the hoopla about hydrogen? Plenty. Hydrogen is the most plentiful element in the universe.
With such abundance, there is no change of running out unlike the fossil fuels. If you remember your high school chemistry, you'll know that water is made up of two parts hydrogen and one part water. That means that hydrogen can be created for hydrogen cars by splitting water via electrolysis. It only means that by using fuel cells to power hydrogen cars, that hydrogen and oxygen can be run through a cell (generating electricity and heat) and joined together at the end of the process to produce its only bi-product, water.This means that hydrogen fuel cell powered cars will only dispense...
Hydrogen Cars Are Not All Hot Air
Electrolysis > Hydrogen Cars Are Not All Hot Air
Fuel Cells & Alternative Fuel Vehicles
FUEL CELLS & ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLESThe history of the fuel cell can be traced back to the 19th century. Since then the development and usage of fuel cells in a variety of applications have come a long way. Fuel cells hold great promise for fueling alternative fuel vehicles. Here is some of the history of the development of fuel cells:William Grove invented the fuel cell in 1839. General Electric invented proton exchange membrane fuel cells in the 1950s Francis Bacon demonstrated a 5kW alkaline fuel cell in 1959.
NASA's use of fuel cells during the Apollo space missions in the 1960s was the first commercial use of fuel cells. Alkaline fuel cells have flown over 100 missions and operated for more than 80,000 hours in spacecrafts operated by NASA. The US Navy has been using fuel cells in submarines since the 1980s Fuel cell buses are running in several cities around the world, the largest being the European Union backed CUTE project (Clean Urban Transport for Europe). All major...
Fuel Cells & Alternative Fuel Vehicles
Electrolysis > Fuel Cells & Alternative Fuel Vehicles
Elite Med Spa Franchise Launched to Provide Affordable and More Comprehensive Medical Spa Offering
Tampa, FL (ContentDesk) February 16, 2006 -- Elite Med Spa Development Group, LLC today announced that it will franchise its medical spa concept, which has already been profitable at two locations.
The decision to franchise was based on the market demand for an affordable medical spa business that offered a wide range of patient solutions as opposed to simply offering laser hair removal or another single patient solution.
Additionally, according to industry analysts, the billion-dollar-plus medical spa industry is poised for significant growth over the next couple of years.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060214/FLTU010 )"We are pleased to offer our patients, franchisees and partners a truly affordable and more comprehensive solution in a robust marketplace," said Chris J. Gregg, founder and president of Elite Med Spa.
"Elite Med Spa will continue to focus...
Elite Med Spa Franchise Launched to Provide Affordable and More Comprehensive Medical Spa Offering
Electrolysis > Elite Med Spa Franchise Launched to Provide Affordable and More Comprehensive Medical Spa Offering