Abstract
The fuel cell is naturally attractive as a potential power source because of its direct production of electricity from fuel, quiet operation, and relatively high efficiency. Coupled with an electric traction motor, the fuel-cell battery may be a suitable power plant for passenger cars. This study indicates that with fuel cells having such outputs as are at present considered possible and with modern traction motors, fuel battery/electric cars could not match the performances of modern gasoline-engine cars unless they were very heavy. It is apparent that developments must continue in the direction of lightweight cells with higher outputs, lightweight traction motors, and possibly high-speed transmissions (including hydro-mechanical transmissions) if fuel battery/ electric cars are to become a practical possibility.
These developments appear to be possible and could result in a fuel battery car with several advantages, including reduced fuel consumption. (The reduction could be appreciable if hydrocarbon fuels were used.)
This appears to be the picture today, though further improvements to gasoline engines could whittle away the expected advantages of fuel cells.
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