Fuel Cells Will Fundamentally Change Cars, and Much More
Canadian Plastics
Fuel cell systems could dramatically influence both the design and function of automobiles, says Pierre Rivard, president and CEO of fuel cell systems supplier Hydrogenics Corp. (Mississauga, ON). Although mass production of fuel-cell powered auto...
Fuel cell systems could dramatically influence both the design and function of automobiles, says Pierre Rivard, president and CEO of fuel cell systems supplier Hydrogenics Corp. (Mississauga, ON). Although mass production of fuel-cell powered automobiles is probably 10 to 20 years in the future, Rivard notes that a fuel cell power module can be flat in shape, which radically changes car design because there’s no need for an engine compartment to house the internal combustion engine.
Another radical change could be the function of the family car. Because the fuel cell is a zero-emission, efficient power generator, Rivard forecasts that the fuel-cell powered family car could be used to power the household or even provide power to the electricity grid when it is not being used for transportation.
