Fuel-Cell Vs Battery

A brief comparison…
 What is a “Cell”?

• A Cell is an Electrochemical energy

conversion unit which contains
electrodes, usually made of metals and
an electrolyte, usually a solution or a
paste.

•When the cell is connected to an

external load, electrons flow from
anode, which is oxidised, through the
external load to the cathode, where
the electrons are accepted and the
cathode material is reduced.

•The electric circuit is completed in the

electrolyte by the flow of anions
(negative ions) and cations (positive
ions) to the anode and cathode
 What is a What is a
Fuel Cell? Battery?
 As a generic term a fuel
cell implies technology utilizing
hydrogen pumped from a
storage tank and oxygen from
the outside air in order to form
water vapor and electric power
through a delicately balanced
chemical exchange, almost like
an energy cell but with way
more complexity.
 However, unlike an energy cell
or battery, this device does not
actually store energy in
potentia, but is more of an
active device that develops
electrical energy with inputs of
the right ingredients.
•An electric battery is a
device consisting of one or
more electrochemical
cells with external
connections provided to
power electrical devices.
•When a battery is
supplying electric power, its
positive terminal is
the cathode and its negative
terminal is the anode.
• The terminal marked
negative is the source of
electrons that when
connected to an external
circuit will flow and deliver
energy to an external device.
 A Basic Fuel
A Cell designed
Cell
by Tesla

A PEM Fuel cell

Battery bank powering Tesla Model
stack
S and X Cars
 Comparison of
Fuel cell and Battery
Principle of operation
A battery works on the principle of electro-
chemical reaction, that means electricity is
produced from the chemical reactions
between the electrodes and electrolytes.
Where as in a fuel cell electricity is
produced by combustion process. Fuel cells
most commonly use Proton Exchange
Membrane cells to produce electricity, and
no chemical reactions like batteries
Lifetime
A  fuel cell is a continuous battery, or a
limitless battery. It produces electricity so
long it is fed with fuel, in the form of
hydrogen or its compounds.
Where as the life time of a battery is very
limited.
A Primary battery is useless once it is
exhausted. Though a secondary battery
can be charged and reused but in long run
it will lose its capacity to recharge.
Fuel cells works as long as fuel is supplied
while battery require regular replacements.
Voltage level
Voltage of individual fuel cell is 0.7 V
against 2.1 V for lead acid battery and 3.6
V for Li ion battery.
Costs
Fuel cells are more expensive compared to
most of the batteries.
Energy density
Energy density of fuel cells is effectively
much higher than batteries, by almost 5 to
10 times , depending on hydrogen storage
tank pressure . This can improve range of
vehicles substantially.
Operating temperature
Most of the batteries work in normal room
temperature and dissipate a small amount
of heat while they discharge.
But in case of fuel cells the operating
temperatures are very high which range
upto 1000s of degrees.
Space required
Batteries occupy very less space when
compared to fuel cells
Fuel cells need extra storage for the input
fuels.
Also fuel cells need storage to collect the
water.
Byproducts
A battery is more of a closed system which
just delivers electricity to the surroundings.
Where as a fuel cell always leaves some
byproducts mostly water vapour which
needs to constantly collected and hence a
fuel cell is more of an open system which
needs a fuel input and a byproduct apart
from producing electricity.
Refueling / Recharging
Refilling of hydrogen can be done under 5
minutes, as against batteries which need
couple of hours.
Environmental aspects
Batteries does not harm environment while
in operation but may cause heavy damage
if they are not properly disposed.
Although Fuel cell produces only water and
can be treated as a clean technology, the
production of hydrogen matters a lot while
considering environmental aspects.
Comparison in other aspects
In fuel cells, no change occur in chemical
composition of electrolyte, while chemical
changes occur in batteries.