Fuel cells are a clean way to generate energy using hydrogen as the “fuel.” When hydrogen combines with oxygen in the cell, a chemical reaction creates electricity, with water as a byproduct. Fuel cells have been used for a variety of purposes, including backup power for hospitals, schools, office buildings and power plants. Vehicles powered by fuel cells are among four types of “green” cars currently under development, says Keith Wipke of the National Renewable Energy Lab. None requires plugging in, unlike currently available evs.
• Conventional cars with “clean” technology: Automakers are working to minimize the engine’s use of fuel while adding emission-control devices.
• Mild hybrids: Electric/gas cars that combine an internal combustion engine with an electric motor and battery pack. Typically, drivers cannot operate such cars on the electric motor alone but achieve increased performance by using the brakes, which generate energy that the motor can store and reuse. Currently available models include the Honda Insight and the Toyota Prius.
• Dual-mode hybrids: In this system, drivers can switch back and forth between the engine and electric mode. Automakers are still working to make the technology affordable in a consumer car.
• Fuel-cell cars: Purely electric vehicles and, as the only ones without an internal combustion engine, the cleanest. Most major auto companies are working on some model of fuel-cell car today. A pure fuel-cell vehicle has no energy-storage capacities; a hybrid fuel-cell vehicle works in tandem with an electric motor and battery. The latter is HyperCar’s approach.
