The technical name for a fuel cell is an electrochemical energy conversion device. A fuel cell converts the chemicals hydrogen and oxygen into water, and in the process it produces electricity. Other electrochemical devices that are in use these days and for many decades is the well-known battery. The distinguishing difference between a simple battery and a fuel cell is that all the chemicals are stored inside the battery. The battery in turn converts those chemicals into electricity but in due course it “goes dead” as the chemicals are used up and at times you can either throw it away or recharge it.

Then again with a fuel cell, chemicals continually flow into the cell so as long as there is a flow of chemicals into the cell; the electricity flows out of the fuel cell. Combustion engines the gasoline engine burn fuels and batteries converted chemical energy back into electrical energy when needed. However, fuel cells should do both tasks more efficiently.

Simply put the construction and materials in a fuel cell release electrons from the hydrogen gas creating electricity and the waste product after the electricity is used to power an electrical device is water, formed with the negative hydrogen and the oxygen.This reaction in a single fuel cell produces only about 0.7 volts. To get this voltage up to a reasonable level, several separate fuel cells must be combined to form a fuel-cell stack.

However one major problem with using hydrogen is that it is cannot be stored easily for consumer use. Among the other alternatives, it could be natural gas, propane, and methanol gas. The main objective of using fuel cell technology is pollution reduction. Fuel cell is also very efficient; 80% of the fuel use in these cells is converted into usable energy as compared to only 20% for a gasoline powered engine and about 30% overall for a battery powered electric vehicle.

Evidently there is no question that the fuel cell holds greater promise for the future. However, the fuel cell technology must still gather all the pieces of finding the right ‘fuel’ source that is both easy to store and deliver to the consumer, efficiency of the vehicle using fuel cells, and the cost for the total package.

The Original Post is Located Here: A Basic Overview Of Fuel Cell Technology

German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show. Merkel steps out of the Opel Flextreme, a plug-in diesel hybrid concept car from General Motors.

The German government plans to spend approximately $160 million for testing introduction of electric cars in eight regions, and about $240 million on battery research. “The program is aimed at having a positive impact on investment decisions, give producers security and support the sale of electric cars,” according to a copy of the plan obtained by the Associated Press.

German automakers have been reluctant to enter the hybrid and electric car race, preferring instead to focus on diesel technology as a fuel efficiency strategy. While US and Japanese automakers have a growing list of electric cars expected to hit the market in the next two years, Volkswagen, Daimler and BMW have been relatively quiet.

Volkswagen, the country’s largest automaker, hopes to produce its first electric cars in 2013, but has not revealed specific product plans. “Our focus in the future will be directed more strongly at making electrically powered automobiles alongside ones driven by more efficient combustion engines,” Volkswagen Group CEO Martin Winterkorn said last year, when the company announced a partnership with Japan’s Sanyo Electric Co. to develop lithium ion batteries.

Daimler has demonstrated an electric version of the Smart ForTwo and unveiled its BlueZero concept vehicles, and BMW is currently leasing about 500 electric Mini Cooper prototypes (with some problems reported).
Still Just a Plan

“One million cars by 2020 is an ambitious but entirely achievable goal,” said Theodor zu Guttenberg, economy minister, at yesterday’s news conference. “We’re taking steps to ensure that Germany’s automobile industry will preserve its leading role, that’s why progress in this area is important.”

Yet, the German plan already is meeting resistance. “At first glance this sounds rather like a nice PR story,” Gregor Claussen, an analyst with Commerzbank, told Forbes. “But more will have to follow. Without the help and the right framework from the politics, it will not work.” The plan is still vague, leaving uncertainty about future financing, and no details about consumer incentives for potential electric car buyers. Guttenberg said financing would be a question for the government that emerges from Germany’s Sept. 27 election.

Some analysts believe the plan doesn’t go far enough. “Keeping in mind that this year alone about 3.7 million cars will be sold in Germany, the 1 million additional sales will have only a minor effect,” Heiko Moehringer, an analyst with LBBW, told Forbes.

Source: Hybrid Cars

The Original Post is Located Here: Germany Spurs Its Automakers to Produce Electric Cars

Volkswagen Electric Car

European auto maker Volkswagen and the Japanese Toshiba Corporation recently announced their plans to begin working together to develop electric drive units for vehicles. The cars will be part of VW’s new family of small cars. Volkswagen chairman, Dr. Martin Winterkorn, said the company’s goal is to be the first auto manufacturer to mass-produce affordable emissions-free vehicles. He also stated that there is still “a considerable amount of research and development work still has to be carried out until we can produce the electric vehicle.” They hope to have at least one model on the market by 2012.

The new Volkswagen’s will include technologies from Toshiba’s lithium-ion batteries. The SCIB (Super Charge Ion Battery) technology is resistant to short circuits and can be charged to 90 percent of its capacity in a few minutes. Toshiba is also hoping to see this new battery technology used for other transportation alternatives such as electric bicycles, mopeds and industrial vehicles.
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The Original Post is Located Here: Toshiba and Volkswagen to Develop Electric Cars