Otto-cycles running on propane are a far more viable option.
Not quite understanding what you are comparing the Otto-Cycle engine to. Are you saying it’s more viable than fuel cell? Is this with a fuel like Gasoline or Diesel or an alternative like Natural Gas or Hydrogen?
Anyway, if you are saying it’s more viable than the Fuel Cell then that’s off topic. The OP is about the fuel cell.
Coal Gasification/Liquefaction looks very good on paper but its not so technologically or economically feasible. More so for fuel cells because of the CO which is a catalyst poison. Coal Gasification was done long back - Fisher Tropsh and other processes but they have never shown any true commercial viability.
**But in the near future, it would probably be natural gas. **
At the best it can be processed natural gas with all the catalyst poisons removed. Its not simple to do that and not cheap either. You are much better off converting it to H2.
**Hydrogen could be piped into our homes just as, well almost as easily as natural gas is today. **
Nope. Hydrogen piping is totally different. First of all Hydrogen is a very small molecule and diffuses out very easily. Think about how Helium diffuses out of an ordinary baloon - thats why they had to make those Mylar baloons. NFPA hazardous area classification changes with the presence of H2 too.
Okay, yes, you would need a new mechanic, as far as the fuel cell and electric motors are concerned. The rest of the car would be the same.
There will be almost no gears/transmission etc. Your car will weigh much less.
H2 doesn’t immediately react with atmospheric O2, since both of those molecules are stable. You need something to get the process going. Once it begins it’s a self sustaining reaction.
Never heard about this experiment. Are you sure ?
**Anyway, the “catalyst” (for lack of a better term) to make water vapor from hydrogen and oxygen is either a jolt of electricity, or heat. If you use heat, you get flame as a result. If you use electricity, then the energy released from the joining of hydrogen with oxygen is electricity. That is the basis for a fuel cell. **
Totally Incorrect. Fuel Cells don’t use “jolts” of electricity for the reaction. Please refer to any of the online sources for fuel cells. Catalysts used in Fuel Cells are Metal Oxides , Phosphoric Acid, etc.
**Hydrogen and air (or pure oxygen) are pumped into the fuel cell, where they mix. The energy jolt is given (when you turn the key) and the reaction is begun. **
You certainly need more reading to do.