In contrast, fuel cells efficiently convert fuel directly into electricity via an electrochemical reaction, making fuel cells more than twice as efficient as ICEs in extracting useful power from fuel. Like an ICE, fuel cells conveniently use fuel from a tank that can be quickly refueled, and they operate continuously as long as fuel is supplied. Unlike ICEs, however, fuel cells do not burn fuel and therefore do not produce the air pollutants resulting from combustion. The recharging process is lengthy, inconvenient, and shifts pollution, efficiency and cost issues up the power line to central electrical power plants. A battery stores its energy in its electrodes.
Electricity is released as the stored energy is consumed.
In contrast, fuel cells produce electricity using fuel from an external tank. Fuel cells operate continuously as long as fuel is supplied and the tank can be quickly refueled, avoiding the time-consuming recharging process. Fuel Cells Fuel cells are the ultimate power provider. They are clean, quiet, and efficient, and operate continuously as long as fuel is supplied. Fuel cell systems can use multiple fuels such as natural gas, methanol, gasoline and hydrogen.