Obstacles to the Success of Fuel-Cell Electric Vehicles

Global warming and environmental pollution are no longer scientific warnings; they are a part of everyday life in the 21st century. Weather forecasts in many countries report record-breaking temperatures and precipitation, with droughts occurring every season. In addition, highly industrialized cities continue to suffer from deteriorating air quality and related health issues. Although the debate remains about these environmental anomalies being solely the result of human activities, no one can deny the effect of highly concentrated chemicals that are emitted from vehicles and manufacturing plants, which are rarely observed in nature (with the possible exception of those near volcanoes). Researchers and engineers continue to attempt to explain the effects of human activity on the earth, and, more importantly, find solutions to the problem that affects current and future generations. However, the moral idea that the earth should be passed on as received is frequently superseded by the selfish notion of making instant profits from burning fossil fuels. Hence, the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources is slow and sometimes requires government enforcement to accelerate. A notable activity of the United Nations (UN) in this regard is the 2015 Paris Agreement. Signed by 196 countries, including those most responsible for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the agreement is a step in the right direction toward reducing climate change. According to the agreement, the parties must reduce GHG emissions to limit global warming to under 2°C compared to the preindustrial levels (Table 1). © 2013 IEEE.