What is a Fuel Cell?

A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that contains two electrodes (an anode and cathode) and an electrolyte; it uses a chemical reaction to produce electricity much like a battery. However, unlike a battery, a fuel cell never "goes dead" and never needs recharging. It will continue to produce power as long as it has a constant supply of fuel and oxygen.

And what is this constant supply of fuel? Hydrogen--the most abundant element on planet earth. Because of their nature, individual fuel cells generate only a small amount of DC electricity, approximately 0.7 volts. In order to make them practical for use, many cells are packaged together into a fuel cell stack. For example, the fuel cell stack in the Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell Vehicle contains over 400 individual series connected cells.

Fuel Cells: A Quick History

The very first fuel cell was built in 1889 by Welsh scientist Sir William Grove. He discovered that immersing the ends of two platinum electrodes in sulfuric acid and each of the other two ends in separate sealed containers of oxygen and hydrogen would cause a constant flow of current. He combined several of these cells in a series circuit and created what he called called a "gas battery."

The development of fuel cells continued on and off with little fanfare for the next 75 years while various scientists discovered new and better electrodes, electrolytes and reactants. It wasn't until the 1960s when the U.S space program chose fuel cells over risky nuclear and bulky and expensive solar energy that fuel cells garnered serious interest.

The space program also gave fuel cell development a kick-start as engineers saw that they proved reliable and could play a practical and realistic role as generators of power for all manner of electrical devices. It was only a matter of time until eyes turned toward pressing them into service for clean, quiet and petroleum-free automotive propulsion.

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