If fuel cells have so many advantages over internal combustion engines, then what is the nation waiting for? There are many problems that must be worked out before hydrogen powered vehicles can become commonplace in the world. Problems with storage, business, and availability must be solved in order get the process of replacing the internal combustion engine started (Jenson, 2000).

Fuel cells are just not cost effective (Iovine, 2001). It is five times cheaper to produce an internal combustion engine than it is to produce one using hydrogen fuel cells (Brooke, 2001). Means of mass production must be attained and a market must be created for fuel cells. The infrastructure at this point does not allow for this, though (Sharke, 2002). There are not enough fueling stations available. Investors are weary to invest in fueling stations for a car that is not being mass produced and automotive companies are not going to mass produce a car that does not have any means of being refueled (Jenson, 2000). This presents a major dilemma in creating a sufficient infrastructure.

Fuel cells were first recognized in the early 1960s (Iovine, 2001). NASA decided to use fuel cells as a power source in American spacecraft. They generated electric power for the spaceship. The only waste product was water which is good for the astronauts. Now fuel cells are recognized by how clean burning they are and are being used in automobiles. These aren’t the first hydrogen powered cars, though. William Grove constructed the first one in the 1830s. They are just now, however, becoming popular.

Some topics in this essay:
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