What Is a Fuel Cell?

• A fuel cell is a simple device that can be used to generate electrical energy. Fueled by hydrogen, it generates no pollution and never requires recharging. It has many applications in today's world and in the future may provide decreased reliance on more mainstream energy sources, such as oil.
  
  

How a Fuel Cell Works

• A fuel cell is comprised of two oppositely charged metal plates on either side of an electrolyte. Via a catalyst outside the fuel cell, hydrogen is split into protons and electrons and forced through the fuel cell. Protons travel through the cathode (the positively charged plate), and the electrons travel through a circuit, generating electrical power. The protons and electrons meet up with oxygen, which is being forced through the anode, and combine to form H2o, more commonly known as water.
  
  

Benefits of Fuel Cell Power

• Fuel cell power has thousands of applications, but at present the most common usage is found in automotives. As a pollution-free, renewable energy source that is found everywhere, hydrogen has huge advantages over oil. Hydrogen is non-toxic and dissipates quickly in the event of a fire.