Hybrid Cars Now, Fuel Cell Cars Later by Demirdöven and Deutch

APA Citation:

Demirdöven, N., & Deutch, J. (2004, August 13). Hybrid Cars Now, Fuel Cell Cars Later. Science, 305, 974-976. 

MLA Citation

Demirdöven, Nurettin and John Deutch. "Hybrid Cars Now, Fuel Cell Cars Later." Science 305 (2004): 974-976. Website. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/3837557>.

In this article, Demirdöven and Deutch advocate for the integration and future use of hybrid and fuel cell vehicles. These types of vehicles will allow for a great reduction in emissions into the air and will reduce the dependence on oil and gasoline. The authors note that fuel cell technology is not possible at this time. Hybrid vehicles have been integrated into our society, but as of 2004, hybrid car sales only count for 1% of all car sales.

Using an ADVISOR simulation program, the authors are able to run simulations that test the tank-to-wheel (TTW) efficiency of the current fuel engines with the efficiency of potential hybrid and fuel cell engine designs. The designs are hypothetical at best, but the simulations show that both hybrid and fuel cell vehicles can be twice and three times as efficient as the current engines in use. 

The authors suggest that if fuel cell cars are to be used, hybrid cars need to become more popular. If there is government support behind hybrid cars, then they can be integrated quickly. Once there is enough research and a usable fuel cell engine is available for consumer cars, government support of these vehicles will allow a second, much faster implementation. 

Although this article contains some old information, this article will come to great use when I try to defend the integration of fuel cell vehicles. I will especially be able to use the authors' simulation they ran on gasoline, hybrid, and fuel cell engines to support the claim that fuel cell vehicles are more efficient that what we currently have in our traditional vehicles. The article can help support the need for social and governmental acceptance of future fuel cell cars.