The Disadvantages of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Cars

Every year, millions of American cars release toxic exhaust fumes into our atmosphere. Emerging technology suggests that hydrogen fuel cell cars may be a solution to this problem. Although these cars are beneficial in various ways, they do have a number of disadvantages. This article will discuss the numerous disadvantages of using hydrogen fuel cell cars.

Production

One of the biggest disadvantages of hydrogen fuel cell cars is the way that hydrogen is produced. Currently, hydrogen is produced using coal, nuclear power, oil, or natural gas. These methods produce a substantial amount of pollution such as carbon dioxide. That means that the production of hydrogen fuel cells for cars would cause at least the same amount of pollution as existing cars do by burning gasoline. Though there are other ways to produce hydrogen, this leads to the next disadvantage.

Cost

The best method of producing hydrogen is to use wind and sunlight to power the process of electrolysis. Electrolysis uses water to produce hydrogen by separating it from the elements of oxygen. Although this method doesn't generate any pollution, it is rarely used because it will cost too much money to implement widely.

Infrastructure

Another disadvantage of switching to hydrogen fuel cell cars is that it would require a whole new infrastructure. Although hydrogen fueling stations could be put into existing gas stations, it would take years to do so. Also, there is currently no distribution channel widespread enough to get hydrogen all over the country. These new pipelines would take hundreds of millions of dollars and as many as 15 years to build.

Electric motors

Hydrogen fuel cell cars require electric motors in order to work. These motors are produced using copper. Unfortunately, the supply of copper is too limited to manufacture hydrogen fuel cell cars in mass quantities. Although aluminum has been considered as a good replacement for copper, they take up too much space inside the motor.