Racing With HydrogenFuel Cell Cars

Hydrogen is #1 on the Periodic Table

↓

Hydrogen

Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe.

Hydrogen does not exist in nature by itself, but it is found as part of a compound in abundant and diverse resources such as the fossil fuels natural gas and coal.

• What is the most abundant compound on earth?

Water = H2O

Two Hydrogen Atoms One Oxygen Atom

Electrolysis: The process of using an electrical current to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.

When the electricity needed for electrolysis is generated using wind or solar power, for example, electrolysis can be a clean and renewable way to produce hydrogen.

wind farm solar panels

Electrolysis

Challenge = Cost

Hydrogen can be produced at small stations…or at large plants and

delivered to users.

Hydrogen Storage

compressed hydrogen gas tank

liquid hydrogen tankmetal hydrides

carbon nanotubes

Hydrogen can be stored as a gas, liquid, and even in a chemical compound.

The Hydrogen Storage Challenge:

To store enough hydrogen on-board a vehicle to enable drivers to travel 300-350 miles before refueling

Hydrogen storage tanks

Hydrogen Delivery

Hydrogen pipelines exist only in

certain regions of the country.

Once hydrogen has been easily produced and safely stored, it can

generate electricity using a fuel cell.

Hydrogen-powered fuel cells can supply energy to power anything from automobiles to homes to computers.

Picture it…

Hydrogen is a clean form of energy. It can be used in fuel cells to create

electricity with the only byproducts being water and heat.

What do you think?

• Most cars burn gasoline.

• What comes out of the car exhaust pipes?

Carbon dioxide carbon monoxide unburned carbon water

• What other fuels could be used?

1.

2.

3.

• Are they cleaner?

What do you think?

Solar energy

electricity

propane

YES

One Answer -- Fuel Cells

• They use hydrogen as a fuel

• Their fuel cell passes the gas through a proton exchange membrane or PEM

Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Is it GREEN ?

The Hydrogen Car

www.gm.com

The Hydrogen Car – A Review

• What exhaust comes out?

• How does it compare to our cars?

Water H2O

It is cleaner !!!

• Let’s try out a model of the fuel cell car that burns hydrogen.

• It has been charging up by separating water into hydrogen and oxygen.

• Do you think it will move for us today?

The Hydrogen Car

The Hydrogen Car – Data

•How long did the car run on one fill up?

What have we learned ?

• Is the hydrogen car an alternative to our gasoline or diesel cars and trucks?

A Look at the Data

From www.fuelcells.org