Only an idea existed two years ago when the former Chrysler Corporation proposed that gasoline could be turned into electric energy with a fuel cell. That idea has taken shape in the Jeep Commander concept vehicle, yet the technology still needs significant development before it is proven to be feasible. The Jeep Commander concept vehicle was debuted at the Los Angeles Auto Show and, as promised, provides a status report on efforts to develop that technology. We are excited about the possibilities. DaimlerChrysler plans to have a working methanol, hybrid fuel cell system in the Commander by the end of 1999.
Fuel cells create their own electricity.
Oxygen from the air and hydrogen fuel are combined in a chemical reaction that produces electricity and water. Overall vehicle efficiency has the potential to be improved by 50 percent and emissions can range from zero to just 10 percent of today's vehicles. While pure hydrogen is the ideal fuel in terms of fuel cell system efficiency, ease of operation and the complete elimination of emissions, hydrogen fuel cannot be found at the corner filling station. Through that process, we're more certain that methanol will be the best fuel to power fuel cells when they are introduced into the marketplace around 2004. Although methanol cannot readily be found at filling stations, in the future it could be delivered through the existing fuel infrastructure.