Author: bomuo

While fuel cost sometimes means exactly what it suggests (the cost of fuel), it has a particular meaning in the energy industry: the cost of the heat content of the fuel. This cost is calculated by dividing the total cost of the fuel by its BTU content (the amount of heat energy it can produce) and multiplying the result by one million

A fuel cell operates like a battery. Unlike a battery, a fuel cell does not run down or require recharging. It will produce energy in the form of electricity and heat as long as fuel is supplied. A fuel cell consists of two electrodes sandwiched around an electrolyte. Oxygen passes over one electrode and hydrogen over the other, generating electricity, water and heat

Fuel cell vehicles represent a radical departure from vehicles with conventional internal combustion engines. Like battery-electric vehicles, FCVs are propelled by electric motors. But while battery electric vehicles use electricity from an external source (and store it in a battery), FCVs create their own electricity. Fuel cells onboard the vehicle create electricity through a chemical process using hydrogen fuel and oxygen from the air. FCVs can be fueled with pure hydrogen gas stored onboard in high-pressure tanks. They also can be fueled with hydrogen-rich fuels; such as methanol, natural gas, or even gasoline; but these fuels must first be converted into hydrogen gas by an onboard device called a reformer. FCVs fueled with pure hydrogen emit no pollutants; only water and heat; while those using hydrogen-rich fuels and a reformer produce only small amounts of air pollutants. In addition, FCVs can be twice as efficient as similarly sized conventional vehicles and may also incorporate other advanced technologies to increase efficiency. FCV’s are not expected to reach the mass market before 2010

Additives included in fuels to render them more environmentally friendly. In most countries fuel quality standards have been enacted to help protect public health and the environment from harmful gas and particulate matter emissions from motor vehicles and engines. These standards have included over the years the gradual phase down of lead to reduce the health risks from lead emissions from gasoline; then requiring gasoline to meet volatility standards to decrease evaporative emissions of gasoline; the reduction of emissions of carbon monoxide and the reformulated gasoline program which is designed to reduce emissions of smog-forming and toxic pollutants. Standards have also been set requiring gasoline to be treated with detergents and deposit control additives and standards for low sulfur gasoline and low sulfur diesel, which will help ensure the effectiveness of low emission-control technologies in vehicles and reduce harmful air pollution.