There are great hopes that fuel cells will someday become a common source of clean energy. Many different industries are working hard to develop fuel cells for everyday use at home and in automobiles. So far, cars have seen the most progress. Competition among the various sources of hydrogen to power the cells is becoming fierce. Methanol has enjoyed the lead so far on the technical side, but groups advancing gasoline have stepped up research efforts, while natural gas has also become a strong candidate.
Research also continues on ways of loading manufactured hydrogen into cars.
At the same time, there is ongoing research into applying fuel cell technology to home cogeneration systems, which provide heat as well as electricity. Consideration is also being given to utilizing fuel cells in mobile phones and other electrical appliances. The twenty-first century may well be the age of the fuel cell. A fuel cell is similar to a battery, but it uses a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen for power. Unlike a battery, moreover, as long as these two elements are supplied, a fuel cell can continue to produce electricity.