• Fuel-cell vehicles are considered to be one of the most optimal choices for vehicle types in the coming years. Many vehicle manufacturers, such as Mercedes, Honda, and GM, have already invested money into fuel-cell vehicles. Because traditional vehicles run on fossil fuels--a non-renewable energy source--it is clear that at some point in time, an alternative vehicle type will be necessary. Understanding the advantages and disadvantages to fuel cells will give clues whether it will be a prime choice for consumers.
  
  

Structure

• Fuel cells are far less complicated than traditional combustible engines. Someday this could be extremely beneficial to the average homeowner, allowing him to understand how his vehicle works, as well as how to repair his vehicle when it has problems. Because fuel cells don't reach the high temperatures that combustible engines do, they are much less susceptible to structural weakness or corrosion that builds up over time with today's vehicles.
  
  

Environment

• Another reason why this technology receives so much investment is due to environmental effects. The majority of fuel cells use hydrogen; when hydrogen burns, the only by-product is water vapor, which is completely harmless to the environment. Combustible engines release carbon dioxide, which is dangerous to people and the environment, and is considered to be one of the key contributors to global warming.
  
  

Cost

• A disadvantage to producing fuel-cell vehicles is the entire infrastructure. Because it will require refueling stations, mass production and lots of funding, the difficulty lies in the setup of a world that allows people to reliably operate fuel-cell vehicles. Setting up the appropriate infrastructure will cost billions of dollars, if not more, and people's trust in a new technology is generally slow to develop.
  
  The cost to purchase a fuel-cell car is currently expensive because these vehicles are not in mass production. It can also be expensive to refuel a fuel-cell vehicle because refueling stations are few and far between.
  
  

Today

• Currently, the technology is expensive, there are few products to choose from, and no infrastructure is in place to support a society running on fuel cells. Without these aspects, consumer trust and support will be slow to develop. Without strong support, research and development, money is slow to be invested in these advanced technologies.