Fuel cell technology looks very promising. Unfortunately, there are still a number of challenges to overcome before fuel cells become commercially available (take a look at the essay Reinventing the Wheels: The Promise of Fuel Cells). However, scientists are confident that the remaining issues can be resolved, and over the next few years, fuel cell technology will become the energy provider for mobile devices (take a look at the recent developments in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells). It’s an irony that the fuel cell, regarded as the most promising replacement for the century-old internal combustion engine, is even older technology. It’s obvious to assume that the government’s position on fuel cells will play an important in their full implementation. I mean, the technology has been around for 100 years and has long been in use, so what's holding it back?

        In my opinion, the most attractive feature of fuel cells will be the fact that they can be run on a variety of fuels including hydrogen, methanol, ethanol, and even gasoline without compromising the health of people and the environment. In other words, fuel cells are considered uniquely advantageous over other alternative energy sources in that they are compatible with both hydrogen – the fuel of the future in the opinion of many experts – as well as today's carbon based energy sources. This allows for a continuous migration from hydrocarbon fuels, such as natural gas, to a renewable based energy system without major technological disruptions. Thus, fuel cells have provided, for the first time ever, the main aspects of a move by humankind into the era of ecologically clean hydrogen energy civilization. Of course, as the shift toward hydrogen accelerates, one of the most important outstanding issues is how to pick the quickest, least expensive path from today's' fossil fuel-based economy. Hydrogen energy has become so popular nowadays that critics predict that "today's US superpower status, in turn, may eventually be eclipsed by countries that harness hydrogen as aggressively as the United States tapped oil a century ago."

        I also believe that the best use of fuel cells is in transportation, not only because of the advances made in this area but also because transportation is the area where we need to make enough effort for the common good. Improving the fuel efficiency of motor vehicles is an essential part of the solution to the present energy situation. And we need more automobiles that don't use oil. Cars powered by batteries or fuel cells might not be practical or affordable yet, but that's no reason to give up trying to develop them.