Hydrogen combustion releases no carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, particulate pollution, or carbon dioxide. The most significant environmental challenge associated with hydrogen combust ion is the emission of nitrogen oxides, formed when heat from combustion causes nitrogen and oxygen in the air to fuse. These emissions are very low, however, and they could be further reduced using pollution control equipment. Demonstration projects have shown that a natural gas blend containing five percent hydrogen reduces air pollution from natural gas vehicles by 50 percent and provides a practical way to introduce hydrogen as an automotive fuel. Using Hydrogen in Fuel Cells Hydrogen and oxygen merge in a fuel cell, forming water and releasing energy as electricity.
Fuel cells are two to three times as energy efficient as combustion engines.
An internal combustion engine loses more than 80 percent of the energy it generates, either as waste heat or friction. When a hydrogen fuel cell is used, the energy loss is 40 to 60 percent, so the percent of energy that is delivered as movement is much greater. Various technological hurdles must be overcome before fuel cells can compete effectively, in terms of overall performance and cost, with internal combustion engines in automotive applications. Fuel cell demonstration projects now under way around the world will likely yield improved solutions to these technical challenges. All Rights Reserved.