Fuel Cell Cars
Fuel cell cars are not widely distributed at this point, but many experts believe that fuel cell cars will change the entire transportation industry within the next few years. Fuel cell cars are slightly different from the hybrid cars and electric cars that have become more popular. Hybrid and electric cars use electric motors, but they do not produce their own energy. They must be charged in some way. Fuel cell cars use fuel cells that create their own energy using chemical reactions that involve hydrogen and oxygen.
Types of fuel cell cars
Fuel cell cars have been manufactured by a few notable car companies. These companies include Honda, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Chevy. One example of a fuel cell car is the Chevy Equinox made to run on hydrogen created in the vehicle's fuel cells. These care manufacturers have a vested interest in designing and producing fuel cell cars, as they need to remain competitive in the future automotive market. Manufacturers that are able to produce more efficient and cost-effective vehicles will be able to compete, while manufacturers that do not produce these vehicles will not be able to compete with the sales of more traditional vehicles.
Fuel cell transportation
Fuel cell cars are not the only vehicles that may one day run on fuel cells. This technology is being examined for use in mass transportation and industries that use vehicles for deliveries. Companies such as FedEx are already using hybrid delivery vehicles to reduce emissions, improve fuel efficiency, and remain competitive. Fuel cell vehicles could be developed to serve these same commercial purposes, further reducing costs and making these industries more environmentally friendly. Fuel cell cars may be developed for use as taxis in major cities. In cities such as New York, taxis make up a large portion of the traffic in congested areas. Using fuel cell cars for taxis would help reduce pollution and reliance on gasoline for transportation needs.
Fuel cell technology may one day be applied to locomotives and other transportation vehicles. Some hybrid locomotives already exist; applying fuel cell technology to these vehicles would make them even more efficient and allow manufacturers to reduce emissions and cut down on reliance on foreign oil.
Environmental benefits
These environmental benefits of fuel cell cars are what has prompted manufacturers to start seriously considering their production, along with other benefits. When a gasoline-powered vehicle is operating, emissions that include carbon dioxide are released from the tailpipe. Some emissions are regulated and vehicles must be inspected to ensure that they are not releasing emissions beyond established levels. However, carbon dioxide is not regulated, which means there is no piece of equipment that reduces the amount of carbon dioxide given off by a vehicle. Carbon dioxide is thought to contribute to the breakdown of the ozone layer and other environmental problems. Since fuel cell cars use chemical reactions involving hydrogen and oxygen to produce energy, emissions are reduced and less harm is done to the environment.
There are also benefits related to fuel costs and reliance on foreign oil when choosing to use fuel cell cars. Because some countries rely so heavily on oil imported from elsewhere, prices continue to increase. Gasoline-powered cars are only about twenty percent fuel efficient, so it's difficult to reduce the amount of fuel they consume. Hybrid cars help increase fuel efficiency and have environmental benefits, but they still use some fuel for propulsion. Using fuel cell cars can cut down on reliance on foreign oil and also make oil less costly because of reduced demand. As more people learn about fuel cell cars and eventually purchase them, there will be less of a demand for the gasoline-powered cars remaining on the road.
