What is a key advantage of using hydrogen in a fuel cell compared to an internal combustion engine?

The choice highlights a primary benefit of fuel cells, which is the higher energy efficiency derived from the hydrogen-oxygen reaction. In a fuel cell, hydrogen gas reacts with oxygen in a chemical process that generates electricity, water, and heat. This direct conversion of chemical energy to electrical energy is inherently more efficient compared to the combustion process in internal combustion engines.

Internal combustion engines convert fuel into mechanical work through a series of combustion events, where a significant portion of the energy is lost as heat. Fuel cells, by contrast, utilize electrochemical reactions that minimize energy loss, producing more usable energy from the same amount of hydrogen compared to that which an internal combustion engine can achieve from gasoline or diesel. This characteristic is essential as it directly impacts the performance and range of vehicles powered by different technologies.

While other factors such as emissions, operational costs, and ignition reliability are relevant in evaluating fuel cells versus internal combustion engines, the key advantage of higher energy efficiency from hydrogen is critical in understanding the technical superiority of fuel cells in this context.