What is a major advantage of using fuel cells compared to internal combustion engines?

Fuel cells are highly efficient energy conversion devices that utilize chemical energy from fuels, such as hydrogen, and convert it directly into electrical energy through electrochemical reactions, typically with water as the only byproduct. One major advantage of fuel cells over internal combustion engines is that they waste significantly less energy in the conversion process.

In internal combustion engines, a considerable amount of energy is lost as heat due to inefficiencies in thermal processes. These engines typically convert only about 20-30% of the fuel's energy into usable work, while fuel cells can achieve efficiencies of 40-60% or even higher when combined with other systems, such as combined heat and power cycles. This increased efficiency makes fuel cells a more attractive option for energy production, especially in applications where minimizing energy loss is crucial, such as in electric vehicles and stationary power generation.

In contrast, the other options present characteristics that do not align with the advantages of fuel cells. Fuel cells are known for requiring less maintenance due to fewer moving parts compared to internal combustion engines, which need more frequent servicing. Additionally, fuel cells emit significantly fewer pollutants than combustion engines; in fact, they can operate with zero emissions when using hydrogen produced from renewable sources. Hence, the choice highlighting the lower energy waste