수소연료전지 자동차의 개발 현황

The environmental problems caused by vehicles and the limitation of fossil fuels are demanding new engines with new fuel. Hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicle is considered as solution of these problems. Fuel cells are devices that change chemical energy directly into electrical energy without combustion. Using hydrogen and oxygen as reactants, they produce only water as by-product. Most of the leading automotive manufacturers have been involved in fuel cell vehicle research and development. They will try to commercialize fuel cell vehicle in four or five years. Many challenges are remained to be solved before fuel cell power system can achieve the cost reduction, performance, and reliability in order to guarantee a successful commercialization of fuel cell vehicles. Fuel cell will be improved and can be adopted widely as cleaner and more efficient automotive engine.