燃(ran)料(liao)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)汽車(FCV)是一種用車載燃(ran)料(liao)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)裝置產生的(de)(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)力作為(wei)(wei)動(dong)(dong)(dong)力的(de)(de)(de)汽車。車載燃(ran)料(liao)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)裝置所(suo)(suo)使用的(de)(de)(de)燃(ran)料(liao)為(wei)(wei)高(gao)純度氫(qing)氣或(huo)含氫(qing)燃(ran)料(liao)經重整所(suo)(suo)得到的(de)(de)(de)高(gao)含氫(qing)重整氣。與通常的(de)(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)動(dong)(dong)(dong)汽車比較(jiao)，其動(dong)(dong)(dong)力方面的(de)(de)(de)不同在于FCV用的(de)(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)力來自車載燃(ran)料(liao)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)裝置，電(dian)(dian)動(dong)(dong)(dong)汽車所(suo)(suo)用的(de)(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)力來自由(you)電(dian)(dian)網充電(dian)(dian)的(de)(de)(de)蓄電(dian)(dian)池(chi)。因此，FCV的(de)(de)(de)關鍵是燃(ran)料(liao)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)。

燃(ran)料(liao)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)是(shi)(shi)一(yi)種不(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)燃(ran)燒(shao)燃(ran)料(liao)而直接以電(dian)(dian)化(hua)學(xue)(xue)反應(ying)(ying)方(fang)式(shi)將燃(ran)料(liao)的(de)(de)化(hua)學(xue)(xue)能轉變為電(dian)(dian)能的(de)(de)高效(xiao)發電(dian)(dian)裝(zhuang)置。發電(dian)(dian)的(de)(de)基本原(yuan)理是(shi)(shi):電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)的(de)(de)陽極(ji)(ji)(燃(ran)料(liao)極(ji)(ji))輸入(ru)(ru)氫氣(燃(ran)料(liao))，氫分子(zi)(zi)(H2)在陽極(ji)(ji)催(cui)化(hua)劑作用下(xia)被(bei)離(li)解(jie)成為氫離(li)子(zi)(zi)(H+)和(he)電(dian)(dian)子(zi)(zi)(e-)，H+穿(chuan)過(guo)燃(ran)料(liao)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)的(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)解(jie)質層向(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)陰(yin)極(ji)(ji)(氧化(hua)極(ji)(ji))方(fang)向(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)運動(dong)，e-因通不(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)過(guo)電(dian)(dian)解(jie)質層而由一(yi)個外(wai)部(bu)電(dian)(dian)路流向(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)陰(yin)極(ji)(ji);在電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)陰(yin)極(ji)(ji)輸入(ru)(ru)氧氣(O2)，氧氣在陰(yin)極(ji)(ji)催(cui)化(hua)劑作用下(xia)離(li)解(jie)成為氧原(yuan)子(zi)(zi)(O)，與通過(guo)外(wai)部(bu)電(dian)(dian)路流向(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)陰(yin)極(ji)(ji)的(de)(de)e-和(he)燃(ran)料(liao)穿(chuan)過(guo)電(dian)(dian)解(jie)質的(de)(de)H+結(jie)合(he)生成穩定(ding)結(jie)構的(de)(de)水(H2O)，完成電(dian)(dian)化(hua)學(xue)(xue)反應(ying)(ying)放出熱(re)量。這種電(dian)(dian)化(hua)學(xue)(xue)反應(ying)(ying)與氫氣在氧氣中發生的(de)(de)劇烈燃(ran)燒(shao)反應(ying)(ying)是(shi)(shi)完全(quan)不(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)同(tong)(tong)的(de)(de)，只要陽極(ji)(ji)不(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)斷輸入(ru)(ru)氫氣，陰(yin)極(ji)(ji)不(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)斷輸入(ru)(ru)氧氣，電(dian)(dian)化(hua)學(xue)(xue)反應(ying)(ying)就(jiu)會(hui)連(lian)(lian)續(xu)不(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)斷地進行下(xia)去(qu)，e-就(jiu)會(hui)不(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)斷通過(guo)外(wai)部(bu)電(dian)(dian)路流動(dong)形成電(dian)(dian)流，從而連(lian)(lian)續(xu)不(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)斷地向(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)汽(qi)車(che)提供電(dian)(dian)力(li)。與傳(chuan)統的(de)(de)導電(dian)(dian)體(ti)切割磁(ci)力(li)線的(de)(de)回轉機械發電(dian)(dian)原(yuan)理也完全(quan)不(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)同(tong)(tong)，這種電(dian)(dian)化(hua)學(xue)(xue)反應(ying)(ying)屬于一(yi)種沒(mei)有物體(ti)運動(dong)就(jiu)獲得電(dian)(dian)力(li)的(de)(de)靜態發電(dian)(dian)方(fang)式(shi)。因而，燃(ran)料(liao)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)具有效(xiao)率(lv)高、噪音低、無污染物排出等優點，這確保(bao)了FCV成為真正意義(yi)上的(de)(de)高效(xiao)、清潔汽(qi)車(che)。

為滿(man)足(zu)汽車的(de)使用要求(qiu)，車用燃(ran)(ran)料電池還必(bi)須(xu)具有高比能量(liang)、低工作溫度(du)、起(qi)動(dong)快(kuai)、無泄漏等(deng)特性，在(zai)眾多類型的(de)燃(ran)(ran)料電池中(zhong)，質子交換膜燃(ran)(ran)料電池(PEMFC)完全具備這些特性，所以FCV所使用的(de)燃(ran)(ran)料電池都(dou)是(shi)PEMFC。