History's Innovative Autos
Hydrogen fuel cells
Fuel cells combine fuel (usually hydrogen) and oxygen to produce
electricity through chemical reactions similar to those that occur
in batteries. While some automakers are now trying to develop
hydrogen fuel-cell cars, General Motors actually designed its own,
the Electrovan, as early as 1966. While the Electrovan (above) could
travel up to 70 mph and 120 miles between refuelings, it was too
expensive to produce commercially. Recent advances have made
affordable fuel cells more likely, and in 2003 the U.S. Congress
pledged $1.2 billion to make such vehicles cost-effective by 2020.