According to EnergyTrend, a research division under TrendForce, it is believed that fuel cell development has a great potential in the energy storage and generating system areas within ten years. Combining lithium battery with natural gas is practically feasible in the transportation and household applications. As a result, carbon emission reduction can achieved bringing a green image to all fuel cell battery applications.

EnergyTrend believes that with the new fuel cell development, Japanese car markers can provide a prospective outlook of fuel cell vehicle in the next decade. By taking advantage of fuel cell’s liquid-state features and lithium battery’s high power performance, a better driving performance in fuel cell vehicle can be accomplished. (Chart 1)

Chart 1 Efficiency Performance Comparison of Fuel Cell Vehicles

EnergyTrend indicates that in terms of traditional fuel cell’s features, fuel cell owns convenience like as portable energy, high energy density as liquid-state fuel and a combination of several renewable energy categories. However, when it comes to carbon emission calculation, it differs in ways to produce the needed hydrogen. Generally speaking, most hydrogen is made from brine electrolysis through compressor to liquid-state hydrogen. However, carbon dioxide increases as delivery distance increases. If SOFC is adopted, since SOFC uses natural gas as a main source of energy, its features such as high availability and no need for delivery can together lower carbon dioxide produced.     

Chart 2 Comparisons on Carbon Emission with Several Fuel Cell Systems