Fuel Cells - Advantages and disadvantages table in GCSE Chemistry

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Created by: Lina
Created on: 14-04-14 09:44

Fuel Cells

Advantages

Methane, from which hydrogen is made, can be a renewable resource
Batteries are getting cheaper as the process is getting automated
More efficient
New battery designs require less platinum
Will produce energy as long as a fuel is supplied-> doesn't need recharging from the mains
No pollutants- greenhouse gases, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, etc. Just water+ heat- advantage in cities
Help countries become less dependent on crude oil

Disadvantages

Methane+ Water-> Hydrogen+ Carbon Monoxide-> poisonous
Carbon Monoxide+ Oxygen-> CO2
The hydrogen fuel is often made from fossil fuels/ by electrolysis of water- uses electricity
Batteries are expensive to produce
Few fuel stations for refuelling
Expensive platinum catalyst
Hydrogen takes up more space than liquid fuels like petrol
Hydrogen is explosive- hard to store safely

Evaluation

Electrical cells supplied with fuel+ oxygen that use energy from the reaction between them to generate electricity to move the car

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