Fuel cells run on hydrogen, the simplest element and most plentiful gas in the universe. Hydrogen is a diatomic element, meaning that in its liquid and solid states, hydrogen naturally forms into pairs of atoms, which is why hydrogen is often referred to as “H2”. Hydrogen is the lightest element, yet it has the highest energy content per unit weight of all fuels. Hydrogen’s energy density is 52,000 Btu/lb., which is three times greater than that of gasoline.
In nature, hydrogen is never found on its own; it is always combined into molecules with other elements, typically oxygen and carbon. Hydrogen can be extracted from virtually any hydrogen-containing compound, including both renewable and non-renewable resources. Regardless of the fuel source, fuel cells utilize hydrogen with little to no polluting emissions, making hydrogen the ultimate clean energy carrier.