Title: Fuel-cell powered electric vehicles: overview and perspectives

Authors: A. Ascoli

Addresses: CISE Tecnologie Innovative S.p.A., Segrate, Milan, Italy

Abstract: Fuel cells are electrochemical devices that directly convert fuel energy into electricity without passing through a thermal cycle. Their main features are modularity (which derives from their efficiency being independent of size) and extremely low pollution level. The different concepts of fuel cells are classified according to their electrolytes. Three such concepts have been the subject of major projects for application to transportation: alkaline fuel cells have been tested on a van in Belgium at length; phosphoric acid fuel cells have been tested on fork-lift trucks in the United States and Japan and are under consideration for powering minibuses in the United States; and solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells recently powered a submarine and show great promise for terrestrial motor vehicles. An overview of the state of the art and short-term perspectives will be given.

Keywords: alternative fuels; electric vehicles; fuel cells; transport.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGEI.1991.063690

International Journal of Global Energy Issues, 1991 Vol.3 No.4, pp.217-220

Published online: 18 Jul 2014 *

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