燃(ran)料電(dian)(dian)池汽(qi)車(che)(FCV)是一種(zhong)用(yong)車(che)載燃(ran)料電(dian)(dian)池裝置產(chan)生的(de)電(dian)(dian)力(li)(li)作為動(dong)力(li)(li)的(de)汽(qi)車(che)。車(che)載燃(ran)料電(dian)(dian)池裝置所(suo)使用(yong)的(de)燃(ran)料為高純度氫(qing)氣(qi)或含氫(qing)燃(ran)料經重(zhong)整所(suo)得到(dao)的(de)高含氫(qing)重(zhong)整氣(qi)。與通(tong)常的(de)電(dian)(dian)動(dong)汽(qi)車(che)比(bi)較，其(qi)動(dong)力(li)(li)方面的(de)不同在于FCV用(yong)的(de)電(dian)(dian)力(li)(li)來自(zi)車(che)載燃(ran)料電(dian)(dian)池裝置，電(dian)(dian)動(dong)汽(qi)車(che)所(suo)用(yong)的(de)電(dian)(dian)力(li)(li)來自(zi)由電(dian)(dian)網充(chong)電(dian)(dian)的(de)蓄電(dian)(dian)池。因此，FCV的(de)關鍵是燃(ran)料電(dian)(dian)池。

燃(ran)(ran)料(liao)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池是(shi)一種(zhong)(zhong)不(bu)(bu)(bu)燃(ran)(ran)燒(shao)燃(ran)(ran)料(liao)而(er)直接以電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)化(hua)(hua)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)反應(ying)(ying)方(fang)式(shi)將燃(ran)(ran)料(liao)的(de)(de)化(hua)(hua)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)能(neng)轉變(bian)為電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)能(neng)的(de)(de)高效發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)裝置。發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)的(de)(de)基本原理是(shi):電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池的(de)(de)陽(yang)極(ji)(ji)(燃(ran)(ran)料(liao)極(ji)(ji))輸(shu)(shu)入氫氣(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)(燃(ran)(ran)料(liao))，氫分子(H2)在(zai)陽(yang)極(ji)(ji)催化(hua)(hua)劑作用下(xia)(xia)被離(li)解(jie)成(cheng)為氫離(li)子(H+)和(he)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)子(e-)，H+穿過(guo)燃(ran)(ran)料(liao)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池的(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)解(jie)質層向陰(yin)(yin)極(ji)(ji)(氧(yang)(yang)化(hua)(hua)極(ji)(ji))方(fang)向運動，e-因(yin)通(tong)不(bu)(bu)(bu)過(guo)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)解(jie)質層而(er)由一個外部(bu)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)路(lu)流向陰(yin)(yin)極(ji)(ji);在(zai)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池陰(yin)(yin)極(ji)(ji)輸(shu)(shu)入氧(yang)(yang)氣(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)(O2)，氧(yang)(yang)氣(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)在(zai)陰(yin)(yin)極(ji)(ji)催化(hua)(hua)劑作用下(xia)(xia)離(li)解(jie)成(cheng)為氧(yang)(yang)原子(O)，與(yu)通(tong)過(guo)外部(bu)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)路(lu)流向陰(yin)(yin)極(ji)(ji)的(de)(de)e-和(he)燃(ran)(ran)料(liao)穿過(guo)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)解(jie)質的(de)(de)H+結合生成(cheng)穩定結構的(de)(de)水(shui)(H2O)，完成(cheng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)化(hua)(hua)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)反應(ying)(ying)放出熱(re)量。這種(zhong)(zhong)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)化(hua)(hua)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)反應(ying)(ying)與(yu)氫氣(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)在(zai)氧(yang)(yang)氣(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)中發(fa)生的(de)(de)劇(ju)烈燃(ran)(ran)燒(shao)反應(ying)(ying)是(shi)完全(quan)不(bu)(bu)(bu)同的(de)(de)，只要陽(yang)極(ji)(ji)不(bu)(bu)(bu)斷輸(shu)(shu)入氫氣(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)，陰(yin)(yin)極(ji)(ji)不(bu)(bu)(bu)斷輸(shu)(shu)入氧(yang)(yang)氣(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)，電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)化(hua)(hua)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)反應(ying)(ying)就會連(lian)續(xu)不(bu)(bu)(bu)斷地(di)進(jin)行下(xia)(xia)去，e-就會不(bu)(bu)(bu)斷通(tong)過(guo)外部(bu)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)路(lu)流動形成(cheng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)流，從而(er)連(lian)續(xu)不(bu)(bu)(bu)斷地(di)向汽車(che)提(ti)供(gong)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)力(li)。與(yu)傳統(tong)的(de)(de)導電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)體切割磁力(li)線(xian)的(de)(de)回轉機械(xie)發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)原理也完全(quan)不(bu)(bu)(bu)同，這種(zhong)(zhong)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)化(hua)(hua)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)反應(ying)(ying)屬于一種(zhong)(zhong)沒有物(wu)體運動就獲得電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)力(li)的(de)(de)靜態發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)方(fang)式(shi)。因(yin)而(er)，燃(ran)(ran)料(liao)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池具有效率高、噪音低、無污染物(wu)排(pai)出等優點，這確保了(le)FCV成(cheng)為真正意義(yi)上的(de)(de)高效、清潔汽車(che)。

為滿足汽車的(de)使用要求，車用燃料電池還必(bi)須具有(you)高(gao)比能量、低工作溫(wen)度、起動快、無泄漏(lou)等特性(xing)(xing)，在眾多類型的(de)燃料電池中，質(zhi)子交換膜(mo)燃料電池(PEMFC)完全具備這些特性(xing)(xing)，所以FCV所使用的(de)燃料電池都是PEMFC。