The fuel for this new engine is hydrogen which could be derived from methanol or other liquids if pure hydrogen is somewhat bulky. At one end, hydrogen is fed and hydrogen atoms then induced to give up their electrons to a metal electrode, called the anode. The positively charged hydrogen ions left behind then would swim to another electrode, the cathode, through either a liquid or a membrane. Having this anode and cathode arrangement enables to provide power to an attached engine, an electric motor. At the cathode, the electrons then combined with the hydrogen ions and oxygen to produce water.
Developments are on going to reduce costs and sizes of the fuel cell.
The core of the Ballard Fuel Cell consists of two electrodes, the anode and the cathode, separated by a polymer membrane electrolyte. Each of the electrodes is coated on one side with a thin layer of platinum catalyst. The free electrons are conducted in the form of usable electric current through the external circuit. The protons migrate through the membrane electrolyte to the cathode where they combine with oxygen from air and electrons from the external circuit to form pure water and heat. Individual fuel cells are combined into a fuel cell stack to provide the amount of electrical power required.