Brandon Waltman
FUEL CELL VEHICLES: A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE TO COMBUSTION
ENGINES
Brandon Waltman (bsw21@pitt.edu)
INTRODUCTION: “ZERO EMISSION”
VEHICLES, WHY ARE THEY SO
IMPORTANT?
The issue of creating an economically viable and
consumer-friendly zero-emission vehicle is of grave concern
to me as a future engineer. It is a matter of whether or not I
will be living on a planet that has the ability to sustain life as
well as it does today. Education on this issue is necessary if
engineers wish to continue to better our planet through
innovation. Aside from innovation, there is a code of ethics
for engineers that are unflinchingly rigid. They uphold and
advance the honor, dignity, and integrity of our profession
and allow us to respectfully and effectively service society
[6].
It is imperative that the United States shifts its
focus from gasoline-powered vehicles to an alternative fuel
source in order to reduce harmful emissions as well as
reduce our dependence on foreign oil.
The U.S. relied on net imports for about 45% of the
petroleum we consumed in 2011. Fortunately, dependence
foreign oil has declined since peaking in 2005 [4].
Moving to an alternative fuel source is also
becoming necessary as a means of preserving the earth for
future generations. The International Energy Agency warns
that we are headed toward irreversible climate change if
fossil fuel infrastructure is not changed within the next five
years, as we have nearly swallowed up our entire “carbon
budget”[5]. Since carbon dioxide gas is one of the primary
byproducts of combustion engines, changing the way we
power our vehicles is necessary to prevent permanent,
irreversible damage to our environment. Several challenges
must be overcome in order to make Fuel Cell Vehicles
(FCV’s) competitive with conventional gas-powered
vehicles, but the potential benefits are substantial [1].
THE BASICS OF FCV’S: HOW DO
THEY WORK?
Fuel Cell Vehicles look nearly identical to today’s
gas-powered cars on the outside, but instead of a combustion
engine, fuel cell stacks power them. The fuel cell stack
converts hydrogen stored on board with oxygen from the air
to produce electricity that is used to propel the car. Since
each individual fuel cell produces only about 1.16 Volts of
electricity, they must be assembled in stacks in order to
produce enough power to drive the vehicle [1].
Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cells
PEM fuel cells are typically used to power vehicles,
and use stored hydrogen and oxygen from the air to produce
electricity. On a basic level, the fuel cell consists of a
cathode and an anode separated by a polymer electrolyte
membrane that only allows positively charged ions to pass
though to the cathode. There are hydrogen flow plates on the
side of the anode and oxygen flow plates on the side of the
cathode. The process can be outlined in four steps:
FIGURE 1, PEM FUEL CELL
The diagram above outlines the four basic steps in which a
standard PEM fuel cell generates electricity [1].
HYDROGEN FUEL CELLS VERSUS
BATTERY-ELECTRIC MOTORS
As far as the competition for alternatives to
traditional combustion engines, hydrogen fuel cells currently
trail behind battery-electric motors. The Obama admini
stration abandoned Bush’s work on FCV’s, and instead
launched an aggressive program to further develop a new
generation of high-performance batteries, the factories that
produce them, and the vehicles they would power. The three
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key points of this legislation were to get the country off oil,
reduce CO2 emissions, and invigorate a new era of
American manufacturing. However, electric cars are off to a
slow start. They are not selling as fast as was originally
predicted, and battery costs seem likely to remain high [2].
It seems as though the Obama administration would be best
off to reconsider its initial hostility toward the zero emission
hydrogen fuel cell program.
There are initial cost advantages that come along
with battery-powered vehicles. They will sell at a lower
price than if car manufacturers were to roll out FCV’s right
now, and the price of battery-powered vehicle is already
quite a bit higher than a comparable gas-powered car [2].
However, the advantage of hydrogen fuel cell powered
vehicles comes in refueling and range. A typical hydrogen
tank can be refilled in 2-3 minutes while a battery will take
about 8 hours to fully recharge. The most substantial
difference comes in the range of the vehicle on a single tank
or charge. A FCV can travel about 250-300 miles on one
tank while an electrified car can only go 40-100 miles on a
single charge, depending on the specific vehicle [2]. This is
a huge setback to battery-powered vehicles.


Challenges


WEIGHING OUT THE
CHALLENGES AND BENEFITS OF
HYDROGEN FUEL CELLS

Benefits
Less greenhouse gasses- Zero emission means no
greenhouse gases are emitted directly from the
vehicle. Producing hydrogen to power FCV’s can
produce greenhouse gasses, but it is much less than
what is produced by conventional gas and diesel
engines [1].
Less Air Pollutants- gasoline-powered vehicles
contribute greatly to the high amount of air
contaminants that cause smog. If hydrogen
production requires fossil fuels it still release a
significantly less amount of pollutants into the air.
Reduced Dependency on Foreign Oil- the United
States is overly reliant on foreign companies for
crude oil. Hydrogen can be produced domestically
greatly reducing the effect of oil supply shocks on
our economy [1].


On Board Hydrogen Storage- There are FCV’s that
are capable of storing enough hydrogen to give it
the same range per fill up as an average gaspowered car: about 300 miles. However, this needs
to be achieved across all makes and models [1]. It
also requires the construction of all new fueling
stations
Cost- Cost needs to be reduced if FCV’s are to be
competitive with gas-powered cars. The focus
needs to be on reducing the cost of production,
specially that of the fuel cell stacks[1]. They require
platinum as a catalyst to spark the reaction, which
is not cheap [2]. Also, the cost of building a
sufficient amount of fueling stations must be
accounted for. According to General Motors, a full
fleet will require at least 11,000 fueling stations
coast to coast, at a grand total of around $20-$25
billion. In California, the state has already allocated
funding for hydrogen fueling stations; 26 are either
already in place or funded.
Durability- In certain environmental conditions,
some fuel cells are not as reliable as traditional
combustion engines. Currently hydrogen fuel cell
engine durability is at about half of what it needs to
be; 75,000 miles. By 2015, the target mileage per
engine is 150,00 miles [1].
Public Acceptance- In order for the shift from gas
to hydrogen-powered vehicles to be successful it
requires that the general public embrace it. The
introduction of the gas-electric hybrid can be used
as a model.
FCV’S ARE MORE THAN JUST A MODE OF
TRANSPORTATION
FIGURE 2, GRAMS OF CO2 PER MILE
Bar graph charting the amount of GHG’s per mile produced
[1].
Honda has turned their fuel cell sedan, the
FCX Clarity, into more than just a car by equipping
it with electrical outlets and a solar-powered
hydrogen-fueling system. It features a box of power
outlets in the rear that allow it to act as a 9kW
generator. Also, Honda has installed a new
hydrogen fueling station in Saitama, Japan that
creates hydrogen using only the sun and water by
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utilizing a high-pressure water electrolysis system.
In 24 hours it can produce about 1.5 kg of
hydrogen, enough to power the FCX clarity for 90
miles. This is an exciting development. It indicates
that hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered vehicles could
become part of a smart grid system in which the
cars can be used as emergency generators in times
of high power demand [3].
A MATTER OF ETHICS
The topic of morality is always an underlying issue.
However, for engineers, the National Society of Professional
Engineers code of ethics as well as a number of other codes
of ethics for the respective fields of engineering serve as a
guideline to allow us to better society while protecting the
integrity of our profession [10].
The first fundamental canon of the NSPE code of
ethics states that “Engineers, in the fulfillment of their
professional duties, shall hold paramount the safety, health,
and welfare of the public.” The two main concerns regarding
the safety of FCV’s are the flammability of the fuel and
possibility of electric shock. This is an obvious threat to the
safety of the consumer, posing a potential conflict with the
fist cannon of the NSPE code of ethics. It is disclosed the
industry standard for the vehicles is a 42-volt system.
Anything higher than 50 volts has the potential to stop a
human heart [6].
Fueling the vehicles involves transfer of hydrogen and must
be carefully controlled in order to ensure the safety of the
operator. In March, SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers)
Technical Information Report J2601, “Fueling Protocols for
Light Duty Gaseous Hydrogen Surface Vehicles,” was
released. This is in accordance with canon 3, sections A and
B respectively stating “Engineers shall be objective and
truthful in professional reports, statements, or testimony.
They shall include all relevant and pertinent information in
such reports, statements, or testimony, which should bear the
date indicating when it was current” and “Engineers may
express publicly technical opinions that are founded upon
knowledge of the facts and competence in the subject
matter” [9]. The document establishes safety limits and
performance requirements for gaseous hydrogen fuel
dispensers. The criteria include maximum fuel temperature
at the dispenser nozzle, maximum fuel flow rate, maximum
rate of pressure increase, and other performance criteria
based on the cooling capability of the station’s dispenser.
Fueling stations must employ algorithms and special fueling
equipment in order to keep within these guidelines. Also,
vehicles fueling at these stations must be designed
appropriately for fueling [7]. Engineers are rightfully
working within the guidelines within the code of ethics to
protect the safety and wellbeing of the consumer.
EDUCATION: PAVING THE WAY FOR
FUTURE ENGINEERS
The preamble of the NSPE code of ethics states,
“Engineering is an important and learned profession. As
members of this profession, engineers are expected to
exhibit the highest standards of honesty and integrity.
Engineering has a direct and vital impact on the quality of
life for all people” [9]. There will come a point where a new
generation of engineers must step up and take over the
responsibilities of those above them, and in order to preserve
this valued history of integrity, they must be trained in the
practice of engineering and to perform under a standard of
professional behavior that requires adherence to the highest
principles of ethical conduct [9].
Institutes of higher learning that offer degrees in
any field of engineering must value the quality of education
they are delivering to their students. They have to prepare
their students to the best of their ability to assume the
immense responsibility that comes with being a professional
engineer. The structures, systems, and processes we design
have a sever impact the everyday lives of anyone who uses
them, so there is no margin for error. It is our responsibility
to ensure that those rising to the professional level are
experts in their respective field, and strictly follow the code
of ethics. Specifically, if one is to deal with the design of
hydrogen-powered vehicles, they have to be properly
educated in doing so. It must be understood that they are
dealing with many people’s lives.
So how can such a high standard of proficiency be
achieved? It all starts here: the freshman-engineering
program. A study done by the Journal of Engineering
Education concluded the quantity and quality of students’
formal curricular experiences and their co-curricular
experiences bared heavy relation to ethics. They suggest that
institutions integrate ethics instruction throughout the formal
curriculum, support use of varied approaches that foster
high-quality experiences, and leverage both influences of cocurricular experiences and students’ desires to engage in
positive ethical behaviors [8]. Assignments such as this
introduce us future engineers to the strict and rigorous
process that must be followed when creating or improving
on a product. It introduces us to the code of ethics that
upholds the values of our future profession. Although it is
such a small part of our overall education, it is an important
stepping-stone in leading us to our overall goal.
WHY GO WITH HYDROGEN FUEL CELL
POWERED VEHICLES?
The over use of fossil fuel as a way to power our
vehicles puts the United States in danger of over dependency
on foreign oil producers, making our economy dangerously
susceptible to large fluctuations in the price of crude oil as a
Brandon Waltman
result of supply shock [4]. It would allow us to domestically
produce hydrogen, creating jobs in the process [1].
On an even grander scale, the world is in danger of
suffering irreversible climate change, and highway vehicles
are one of the main causes of the greenhouse gases that are
depleting the ozone [5]. This must not be overlooked. The
technology is there, it is just a matter of whether or not we
choose to utilize what we have, and continue to further
develop it. In order to do this, it is necessary that we focus
our attention on the next generation of engineers. They are
the ones we will pass the torch to. We engineers want to
ensure that they continue to exhibit the highest standards of
integrity and honesty that is expected of our profession. It is
imperative they are educated in the practice as well as the
ethics of engineering. With the efforts of current and future
engineers, the support general public and government alike,
Changing the way we power our transportation is something
that is very achievable.
[1] (Oct. 5, 2012). “Fuel Cell Vehicles”. U.S. Department of
Energy.
(Website).
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/fuelcell.shtml.
[2] S. Levine. (May 17, 2012). “Giving Hydrogen Fuel-Cell
Cars Another Chance”. Future Tense: A collaboration of
Slate, the New America Foundation, and Arizona State
University.
(Online
Article).
http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/future_tense/2012/
05/hydrogen_fuel_cell_vehicles_and_the_obama_administra
tion_.single.html.
[3] K. Barry. (Apr. 9, 2012). “Honda Turns Their Fuel Cell
Sedan Into A Portable Generator”. Wired.com. (Online
Article).
http://www.wired.com/autopia/2012/04/hondaturns-their-fuel-cell-sedan-into-a-solar-powered-generator/.
[4] (July 13, 2012). “How Dependent Are We On Foreign
Oil?”.
U.S. Department of Energy.
(Website).
http://www.eia.gov/energy_in_brief/foreign_oil_dependence
.cfm.
[5] F.Harvey. (Nov. 9, 2011). “World Headed For
Irreversible Climate Change In 5 Years, IEA Warns.” The
Guardian.
(Online
Article).
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/nov/09/fossilfuel-infrastructure-climate-change.
[6] J. Runge. (March 12, 2003). “Safety issues regarding fuel
cell vehicles and hydrogen fueled vehicles”. The
International Consortium for Fire Safety, Health, and the
Environment.
(online
article).
https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/sfm/programsservices/Documents/Responder%20Safety/Alternative%20F
uels/FuelCellHydrogenFuelVehicleSafety.pdf
[7] (March 16, 2010) “Fueling Protocols for Light Duty
Gaseous Hydrogen Surface Vehicles” SAE International.
(online document). http://standards.sae.org/j2601_201003/
[8] (July 2012) “An Assessment of Engineering Students’
Curricular
and
Co-Curricular
Experiences
and Their Ethical Development” Journal of Engineering
Education. http://www.jee.org/2012/July/04
[9] (July 2007) “NSPE Code of Ethics for Engineers”.
National Society of Professional Engineers. (website).
http://www.nspe.org/Ethics/CodeofEthics/index.html
[10] “Code of Ethics for Engineers.” American Society of
Mechanical
Engineers.
(website).
http://www.asme.org/groups/educationalresources/engineers-solve-problems/code-of-ethics-ofengineers
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
My gratitude goes out to Dominic Stokes, my resident
advisor, for providing me with the advice and summoning
the willpower that allowed me to complete this assignment
to the best of my ability. His infinite knowledge of campus
buildings allowed me to find areas in which I could access
the depths of my knowledge reserves. My colleague, Victor
Abram, deserves special recognition as my lone partner as
we began on this endeavor into the abyss.