What is a fuel cell and how does it work?
Vehicles use a proton exchange membrane fuel cell, which creates electricity from a chemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen. Fuel cells are about 68% efficient, compared to about 19% efficiency of internal combustion engines. The only emission from a fuel cell is water vapor. For more information about different types of fuel cells visit the US Fuel Cell Council. To learn more about how fuel cells work download CaFCP’s How it Works booklet.
