Fuel cells are electrochemical devices used for direct transformation of hydrogen and oxygen chemical energy into DC with water as a side product. Fuel cells, just like batteries, consist of anode, cathode and electrolyte.

Unlike batteries they don’t preserve chemical energy, but convert it into electricity. Therefore, fuel cells don’t require charging to produce electricity. They produce it as long as fuel and oxygen are present. Hydrogen is mostly used as fuel due to its high reactiveness which decreases the need for an expensive catalyst. Installed capacity of fuel cell power plants, which generate both electric and thermal energy, ranges from 1 kW to 10 MW depending on their design. Hydrogen as a “fuel of the future” is becoming more popular, which stimulates car production companies to develop hybrid engines even further.