燃(ran)(ran)料(liao)(liao)(liao)(liao)電(dian)池(chi)汽車(FCV)是一(yi)種用車載燃(ran)(ran)料(liao)(liao)(liao)(liao)電(dian)池(chi)裝(zhuang)(zhuang)置產生的(de)(de)電(dian)力(li)作(zuo)為動力(li)的(de)(de)汽車。車載燃(ran)(ran)料(liao)(liao)(liao)(liao)電(dian)池(chi)裝(zhuang)(zhuang)置所使用的(de)(de)燃(ran)(ran)料(liao)(liao)(liao)(liao)為高純(chun)度(du)氫氣或含氫燃(ran)(ran)料(liao)(liao)(liao)(liao)經重整(zheng)所得到的(de)(de)高含氫重整(zheng)氣。與通常的(de)(de)電(dian)動汽車比(bi)較，其動力(li)方面(mian)的(de)(de)不同在于FCV用的(de)(de)電(dian)力(li)來(lai)自車載燃(ran)(ran)料(liao)(liao)(liao)(liao)電(dian)池(chi)裝(zhuang)(zhuang)置，電(dian)動汽車所用的(de)(de)電(dian)力(li)來(lai)自由電(dian)網充(chong)電(dian)的(de)(de)蓄電(dian)池(chi)。因此，FCV的(de)(de)關鍵(jian)是燃(ran)(ran)料(liao)(liao)(liao)(liao)電(dian)池(chi)。

燃(ran)料(liao)(liao)(liao)電(dian)(dian)池是(shi)一種(zhong)不(bu)(bu)燃(ran)燒(shao)燃(ran)料(liao)(liao)(liao)而(er)(er)直接以(yi)電(dian)(dian)化(hua)(hua)學(xue)反(fan)應(ying)(ying)(ying)(ying)方式(shi)將燃(ran)料(liao)(liao)(liao)的(de)(de)化(hua)(hua)學(xue)能轉變為(wei)(wei)電(dian)(dian)能的(de)(de)高(gao)效發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)裝(zhuang)置。發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)的(de)(de)基本(ben)原(yuan)理是(shi):電(dian)(dian)池的(de)(de)陽(yang)極(ji)(ji)(ji)(ji)(燃(ran)料(liao)(liao)(liao)極(ji)(ji)(ji)(ji))輸入(ru)氫氣(燃(ran)料(liao)(liao)(liao))，氫分子(zi)(zi)(H2)在(zai)陽(yang)極(ji)(ji)(ji)(ji)催化(hua)(hua)劑作(zuo)用(yong)下被離(li)解成為(wei)(wei)氫離(li)子(zi)(zi)(H+)和電(dian)(dian)子(zi)(zi)(e-)，H+穿過(guo)(guo)燃(ran)料(liao)(liao)(liao)電(dian)(dian)池的(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)解質(zhi)層向(xiang)陰(yin)(yin)極(ji)(ji)(ji)(ji)(氧(yang)化(hua)(hua)極(ji)(ji)(ji)(ji))方向(xiang)運動，e-因(yin)通不(bu)(bu)過(guo)(guo)電(dian)(dian)解質(zhi)層而(er)(er)由一個外(wai)部電(dian)(dian)路流向(xiang)陰(yin)(yin)極(ji)(ji)(ji)(ji);在(zai)電(dian)(dian)池陰(yin)(yin)極(ji)(ji)(ji)(ji)輸入(ru)氧(yang)氣(O2)，氧(yang)氣在(zai)陰(yin)(yin)極(ji)(ji)(ji)(ji)催化(hua)(hua)劑作(zuo)用(yong)下離(li)解成為(wei)(wei)氧(yang)原(yuan)子(zi)(zi)(O)，與(yu)通過(guo)(guo)外(wai)部電(dian)(dian)路流向(xiang)陰(yin)(yin)極(ji)(ji)(ji)(ji)的(de)(de)e-和燃(ran)料(liao)(liao)(liao)穿過(guo)(guo)電(dian)(dian)解質(zhi)的(de)(de)H+結合生成穩定結構(gou)的(de)(de)水(H2O)，完成電(dian)(dian)化(hua)(hua)學(xue)反(fan)應(ying)(ying)(ying)(ying)放出(chu)熱量。這(zhe)種(zhong)電(dian)(dian)化(hua)(hua)學(xue)反(fan)應(ying)(ying)(ying)(ying)與(yu)氫氣在(zai)氧(yang)氣中發(fa)(fa)生的(de)(de)劇烈(lie)燃(ran)燒(shao)反(fan)應(ying)(ying)(ying)(ying)是(shi)完全不(bu)(bu)同的(de)(de)，只要(yao)陽(yang)極(ji)(ji)(ji)(ji)不(bu)(bu)斷(duan)輸入(ru)氫氣，陰(yin)(yin)極(ji)(ji)(ji)(ji)不(bu)(bu)斷(duan)輸入(ru)氧(yang)氣，電(dian)(dian)化(hua)(hua)學(xue)反(fan)應(ying)(ying)(ying)(ying)就(jiu)會連續(xu)不(bu)(bu)斷(duan)地進(jin)行下去，e-就(jiu)會不(bu)(bu)斷(duan)通過(guo)(guo)外(wai)部電(dian)(dian)路流動形(xing)成電(dian)(dian)流，從而(er)(er)連續(xu)不(bu)(bu)斷(duan)地向(xiang)汽(qi)車提供電(dian)(dian)力(li)。與(yu)傳統的(de)(de)導電(dian)(dian)體切割磁力(li)線(xian)的(de)(de)回(hui)轉機械發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)原(yuan)理也完全不(bu)(bu)同，這(zhe)種(zhong)電(dian)(dian)化(hua)(hua)學(xue)反(fan)應(ying)(ying)(ying)(ying)屬于一種(zhong)沒有物體運動就(jiu)獲得電(dian)(dian)力(li)的(de)(de)靜態(tai)發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)方式(shi)。因(yin)而(er)(er)，燃(ran)料(liao)(liao)(liao)電(dian)(dian)池具有效率(lv)高(gao)、噪音低、無污(wu)染物排出(chu)等優點，這(zhe)確保了FCV成為(wei)(wei)真正(zheng)意義上的(de)(de)高(gao)效、清潔汽(qi)車。

為(wei)滿(man)足汽車的(de)使(shi)用要求，車用燃(ran)料(liao)電(dian)池(chi)(chi)還必須具有(you)高比能量(liang)、低(di)工(gong)作(zuo)溫度、起動快、無泄漏(lou)等特(te)性，在(zai)眾(zhong)多(duo)類型(xing)的(de)燃(ran)料(liao)電(dian)池(chi)(chi)中，質子交換膜(mo)燃(ran)料(liao)電(dian)池(chi)(chi)(PEMFC)完全具備這些特(te)性，所以FCV所使(shi)用的(de)燃(ran)料(liao)電(dian)池(chi)(chi)都是PEMFC。