Engineering Challenges

- Materials. Bipolar plates, carbon paper, and catalysts all need further development. And, the ideal membrane for PEM fuel cells has yet to be made.

- Modeling. Computer models of total fuel-cell systems need to be created to support advanced vehicle design.

- Durability and reliability. Consumers will demand fuel cell-powered cars to achieve the same level of all-weather performance and reliability they are used to today.

- Fuel processor development. Fuel cells need hydrogen to run, but "reforming" the hydrogen from gasoline could shorten the path to production--if the non-hydrogen components can be prevented from poisoning the fuel cell.

- Fuel storage. An economical, light, compact method of storing and releasing hydrogen would help wean fuel-cell vehicles from hydrocarbon fuels such as gasoline and methanol.

- Electronics and sensors. Compact, fuel-cell-specific electronic control systems need to be developed, as do sensors for emissions, such as CO().

- New pumps. Engineers must design them to work with a complex fuel system.