What is a fuel cell?
A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that uses hydrogen and oxygen from the air to produce electricity, with water and heat as its by-products.
Where does hydrogen come from?
Currently, most hydrogen is produced from fossil fuels, specifically natural gas. Electricity—from the grid or renewable sources such as wind, solar, geothermal, or biomass—is also currently used to produce hydrogen. In the longer term, solar energy and biomass can be used more directly to generate hydrogen.
Is hydrogen safe?
YES! The fact is that hydrogen is equally as safe, if not safer, than alternative fuels (i.e., gasoline, diesel, lithium-ion batteries, natural gas.) Why? Today's high-strength carbon fiber hydrogen tanks are put through rigorous testing, including being blasted with 50-caliber ammo and the most stringent international crash test standards. According to www.energy.gov, a leading authority on the national policies regarding energy and safety, hydrogen fuel tanks are subjected to twice the maximum pressure expected under normal service conditions to ensure they do not fail. To further ensure safety, these tanks undergo cycling tests in which they are pressurized and depressurized many more times than they would be during their lifetime on a vehicle. Worldwide, it has been estimated that millions of high-pressure composite tanks are in use in various commercial and industrial applications, and the overall safety record of these tanks has been excellent.
How is hydrogen better for the environment?
Hydrogen is the most abundant element on Earth. The byproduct of an HFCEV is water and heat. It offers zero pollution while reducing our carbon footprint and greenhouse gas effects. Earth's natural greenhouse effect is critical to supporting human, animal, and plant life. Human activities, primarily burning fossil fuels and clearing forests, have intensified the natural greenhouse effect, causing the Earth's atmospheric temperature to rise. By utilizing hydrogen as a fuel source, we are protecting our Earth, our health, and future generations' health.
What is a zero-emission vehicle?
A zero-emission vehicle is powered by an energy source that emits no product waste to pollute the environment or disrupt the climate.
What is the difference between Electric Vehicles and Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles?
Electric Vehicles (EVs) store electricity in a lithium-ion battery to power the vehicle, which often results in:
Extensive recharging times
Limited driving range contributing to "range anxiety."
Batteries are non-recyclable
Limited disposal options for lithium-ion batteries
Environmentally toxic pollutants impacting landfills
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (HFCEVs) are electric vehicles powered by electricity, like BEVs. However, the electricity is produced by a chemical process inside the fuel cell delivering electricity to the motor. Benefits to HFCEVs:
Same benefits as EVs: quiet operation, zero-emissions
High quality, reliable power
Fuel Cell Plates are recyclable
Not effected by outside temperature
Refueling time of less than 5 minutes (@ 350 to 700 bar)
Driving range comparable to that of a fossil fuel powered vehicle
Ability to be sourced from fossil fuels, such as natural gas or propane, or renewable fuels, including anaerobic digester gas and landfill gas. Hydrogen can also be produced by water electrolysis powered by electricity from renewables such as solar, wind power, nuclear energy, and the electric grid.
What is driving range of a HFCEV?
The driving range of HFCEV is comparable to fossil fuel vehicles. Based on tank size, the driving range can be up to 500+ miles.
How does hydrogen fuel cell technology work?
RONN uses Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC), which utilize hydrogen fuel and oxygen from the air to produce electricity. Fuel cells do not need to be recharged like batteries but continue to deliver electricity as long as a hydrogen fuel source is provided. Due to their high efficiency, fuel cells are very clean, with their only by-products being electricity, heat, and water. Also, as fuel cells do not have moving parts, they operate near silence. Scientifically, compressed hydrogen is stored in the vehicle via ultra-safe carbon fiber tanks. Hydrogen is fed into a "stack" of fuel cells, consisting of an anode (-) and cathode (+) separated by an electrolyte and exposed to atmospheric oxygen. The anode causes hydrogen electrons' release that travels towards the positive cathode to create an electric current. Hydrogen ions, missing an electron, are directed to the cathode via an alternate route to regain electrons, combining with oxygen to become water molecules.
PEMFCs use a polymer membrane as an electrolyte and precious metal, typically platinum, as a catalyst. What distinguishes these fuel cells from others is the PEMFC's ability to operate at cooler temperatures relative to other fuel cells, between 80 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Pure hydrogen gas is the typical fuel for PEMFCs due to their precious metals and lower operating temperatures. They can handle significant and sudden shifts in power output, making them well-suited for cars and other specialty vehicles such as forklifts that need to start up or accelerate quickly. Additionally, PEMFCs can be scaled in stationary applications for use in telecommunications, data centers, and residential markets.
How are fuel cells currently used?
At the state and local levels, fuel cells are helping meet environmental goals, boosting reliability and resiliency to ensure constant power while saving taxpayer dollars and industry investment. This includes primary and backup power to:
Motive Uses
Fuel cell Vehicles (FCVs) – typically replicate today's driving experience: a range of approximately 300 miles per hydrogen fueling, refuel at a pump in 3-5 minutes
Fleet Delivery Vehicles
Commercial Stationary Uses
Fuel Cell units have flexible siting; can be placed in various locations indoors/outdoors
Able to provide primary, supplemental, or backup power
Can be grid-tied or can operate independently from the grid
Compatible with solar, wind, batteries, and other renewable/conventional technologies
Off-grid equipment for security, energy exploration, recreation
What other companies are using hydrogen fuel cell technology?
Mercedes, Honda, Hyundai, and Toyota, to name a few, incorporating hydrogen fuel cell technology as more and more countries (China, India, France, Norway) are mandating the partial or complete elimination of new fossil fuel vehicle sales as early as 2019. Wal-Mart and Amazon have also announced that they will be utilizing hydrogen technology to power their forklifts. In the U.S., states such as California and Shell Oil, Co. are actively participating in the development of the hydrogen refueling station infrastructure to aggressively pave the way for hydrogen fuel cell technology in the United States.
Where is the U.S. in terms of hydrogen technology?
The fuel cell footprint is growing in the U.S. on a variety of levels. The industry consists of large and small companies located in states across the country, representing the entire spectrum from components to systems to integrators and end-users. Installations and deployments are increasing every year, in number and megawatts (MW). Cities are adopting fuel cells to power essential services when the grid goes down. Railroad and telecom companies use fuel cells to power communication towers and signaling infrastructure. Major corporations are not only installing hundreds of fuel cell systems to power retail sites, data centers, and other facilities; they are also deploying fuel cell-powered forklifts in warehouses and distribution centers across the country. Fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) are available for purchase or lease in California, and fuel cell buses are in operation in several states. It is the support and investment by state governments that have propelled fuel cell and hydrogen technologies in certain parts of the country.
Will a Fuel Cell Vehicle explode in an accident?
Unfortunately, anything is possible when any fuel interacts with unpredictable elements (fire, air, etc.) during an accident. However, let us first address what happens to gasoline in this scenario. Gasoline leaks out and pools beneath the vehicle, creating a dangerous and ready fuel source for a long burn. It does not escape into the atmosphere the same way that hydrogen does, making gasoline significantly more hazardous in the event of a crash. If a hydrogen tank is compromised during impact, the hydrogen instantaneously dissipates into the atmosphere, as hydrogen is 16x lighter than air. Another added precaution is that hydrogen fuel tanks are significantly more durable than traditional gasoline tanks, as proven in the thorough crash and ballistics testing.