Fuel cell vehicles
Fuel cell vehicles are another form of electric car. Because standard electric cars have such short range, carmakers have researched using fuel cells to generate extra electricity from hydrogen. Fuel cells draw electricity from the reaction when hydrogen combines with oxygen to form water, making water the only emission from a fuel cell vehicle. Almost every major automaker has a fuel cell research program, which has led to good gasoline-equivalent performance from the prototypes, with ranges in excess of 300 miles.
But the hydrogen car is also imperfect. Although hydrogen is one of the most abundant elements, it is generally not found in pure form and it takes energy to separate it from other elements to which it has bonded. Currently, generating pure hydrogen uses more energy than that contained in the hydrogen, although there is a benefit to having a transportable fuel. Research into more efficient ways of generating hydrogen is ongoing. There is also very little hydrogen infrastructure, as filling stations exist in only a few locations to support research vehicles.
