1. Hydrogen Storage: Hydrogen fuel is typically stored in a high-pressure tank onboard the car.
2. Fuel Cell Stack: The heart of the hydrogen fuel cell car is the fuel cell stack. It consists of multiple individual fuel cells sandwiched together and connected in series.
3. Fuel Cells Reactions: Inside each fuel cell, two main reactions occur at the anode and cathode with the presence of an electrolyte:
- At the anode (negative electrode): Hydrogen gas (H₂) is split into hydrogen ions (H+) and electrons (e-).
- At the cathode (positive electrode): Oxygen gas (O₂) combines with electrons (e-) and hydrogen ions (H+) to form water (H₂O) as the only emission.
4. Electricity Generation: The result of these reactions is the production of an electrical current, similar to how batteries generate electricity. This electricity powers the car's electric motor.
5. Electric Motor and Powertrain: The electric motor converts the electrical energy generated by the fuel cells into mechanical energy, which drives the wheels of the car.
6. Water Emission: The only emission produced by the car during this process is water vapor, which is released into the atmosphere through the exhaust system.
7. Efficiency and Refueling: Hydrogen fuel cell cars are highly efficient in energy conversion, with minimal energy loss during the process. Refueling hydrogen takes a few minutes, similar to refueling conventional gasoline or diesel vehicles.
8. Fuel Infrastructure: While there is a growing network of hydrogen fueling stations worldwide, the infrastructure is still developing compared to traditional fuel stations, which might impact the availability of hydrogen in certain regions.
9. Storage Tanks: Storing hydrogen is challenging due to its low density. Advanced storage technologies are constantly being developed to improve hydrogen storage capacity and safety on vehicles.
Remember, this is a simplified overview, and actual fuel cell car technology involves complex engineering and integration of various systems and components.
