# What is still holding back fuel cells? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 8, 2002, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-still-holding-back-fuel-cells/131282 "2002-10-08T00:29:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![antechinus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@antechinus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antechinus)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2002, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-still-holding-back-fuel-cells/131282/21 "2002-10-09T02:58:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lost4life \* > \*\*As far as I’ve learned, safety is not the issue. For some reason people are afraid to be sitting on a tank of hydrogen, but willingly sit on 20 gallons of gasoline without fear. I think it has something to do with the Hindenburg…oh the humanity! > \*\* It is a myth that hydrogen caused the Hindenburg fire. The fire was ignited by and mainly fueled by the coating on the airship. There are many references to this eg [http://www.e-sources.com/hydrogen/safety.html](http://www.e-sources.com/hydrogen/safety.html). Driving around at 100km/h in a 2 tonne steel box with a tank containing 60 L of volatile, highly flammable hydrocarbons doesn’t seem to get much bad press. ---
**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2002, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-still-holding-back-fuel-cells/131282/22 "2002-10-09T02:58:13Z")
But is the platinum question without merit? ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2002, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-still-holding-back-fuel-cells/131282/23 "2002-10-09T10:37:42Z")
Well, as I said this may be slightly out of date, but was true when I wrote this in 2000: > [@](#): > > … modern cells use far less platinum than earlier models - for example, Ballard Power Systems collaborated with British firm Johnson Matthey to develop a ‘supported catalyst’ system, in which tiny (2nm diameter) particles of platinum are attached to carbon black particles, which can then be made into an ink and printed onto the electrodes. In this way, the cost was brought down to an acceptable level: similar to that of catalytic converters, which have been widely accepted by manufacturers and consumers. And… > [@](#): > > Zevco has also recently developed a cobalt catalyst that it hopes could replace platinum in AFCs, making them much more affordable. Sorry, I don’t have my original sources. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2002, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-still-holding-back-fuel-cells/131282/24 "2002-10-09T11:49:17Z")
Check out the [latest issue of Scientific American](http://www.sciam.com/issue.cfm?issueDate=Oct-02) – their cover story is on this subject. Sadly, this is not one of the articles they have chosen to provide for free on their website. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2002, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-still-holding-back-fuel-cells/131282/25 "2002-10-10T00:52:18Z")
Here’s a link to the company that’s working on some [pretty new concepts](http://www.ovonic.com/news_events/5_2_press_releases/20020919.htm) No noble materials, they say. Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2002, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-still-holding-back-fuel-cells/131282/26 "2002-10-10T04:36:12Z")
This [article](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20021009/sc_nm/science_battery_dc_1) is interesting. > [@](#): > > Researchers at the University of the West of England (UWE) in Bristol have developed a microbial fuel cell about the size of a mobile phone that could be powered by organic household waste The article says that the cell would cost about $15. It’s not powerful enough for a car but it’s a step in the right direction. And I like the idea of using your garbage to power your appliances. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-still-holding-back-fuel-cells/131282.md?page=1)