Exploring Issues in Electrochemistry: Lithium or Hydrogen? Unit 5: Electrochemistry SCH4U Yasmin Hashi May 14, 2018 Exploring Issues in Electrochemistry: Lithium or Hydrogen? Gasoline powered vehicles outnumber the amount of cars that are alternative powered. The combustion of fossil fuels like gasoline is considered a major source of air pollution and a contributor of climate change. Gasoline is an extremely flammable and very toxic liquid. This causes automotive experts to think that gasoline-powered vehicles will go extinct by the near future. Gasoline prices have started to increase and so have new alternatives as an energy source for future vehicles. There are two alternatives that have potential to be used as sources …show more content…
In contrast to gasoline powered vehicles, fuel cell vehicles completely run off of electricity and its by-products become water and heat thus meaning fuel cell vehicles don't emit emissions that could cause pollution unlike gasoline powered vehicles (Union of Concerned Scientists, 2018). The energy in 1 kilogram of hydrogen gas is about the same as the energy in 2.8 kilograms of gasoline. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles can run more miles than gas or solar-powered vehicles.Fuel cells are a more efficient alternative and they are able to reduce the use of of other fuels and prevent oil depletion since hydrogen is an abundant element in nature .It can also help establish independence and decrease the dependence on oil producing countries. The maintenance of fuel cells is easy because of how simple and few moving parts in the system there are. Another advantage would be that hydrogen is readily available and accessible ( Fuel Cell Today, …show more content…
Although both types of vehicles are efficient from their sources, hydrogen fuel cells would be more environmentally friendly due to the efficiency of how long it powers the vehicle for. Hydrogen is the lightest element and most abundantly found everywhere, unlike the materials that make up lithium ion battery so it is the most ideal choice to use (The independant, 2017). Hydrogen fuels, in addition to being lightweight, they also take up less space ad generate fewer greenhouse gas emission. It takes fewer time to refuel and maintain and also has a significantly lower cost rate. It’s best to use hydrogen fuel cells due to their advantages over lithium batteries which make it more favorable when using (Yue,