燃(ran)料(liao)(liao)電池(chi)汽(qi)(qi)(qi)車(che)的(de)工(gong)(gong)作原理(li)是，作為燃(ran)料(liao)(liao)的(de)氫在汽(qi)(qi)(qi)車(che)搭(da)載的(de)燃(ran)料(liao)(liao)電池(chi)中(zhong)，與(yu)大氣中(zhong)的(de)氧氣發生氧化還原化學反(fan)應，產(chan)生出(chu)電能來帶動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)電動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)機(ji)工(gong)(gong)作，由電動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)機(ji)帶動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)汽(qi)(qi)(qi)車(che)中(zhong)的(de)機(ji)械傳動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)結構，進而(er)帶動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)汽(qi)(qi)(qi)車(che)的(de)前(qian)橋(qiao)（或后(hou)橋(qiao)）等行走機(ji)械結構工(gong)(gong)作，從而(er)驅動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)電動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)汽(qi)(qi)(qi)車(che)前(qian)進。

燃料電池(chi)(chi)的(de)(de)反應結果會產(chan)生(sheng)(sheng)極少的(de)(de)二(er)氧(yang)(yang)化碳(tan)和(he)氮氧(yang)(yang)化物，副產(chan)品主要產(chan)生(sheng)(sheng)水(shui)，因此被稱為綠色(se)新型環保汽(qi)車。燃料電池(chi)(chi)汽(qi)車是電動(dong)汽(qi)車的(de)(de)一種，其核(he)心部(bu)件燃料電池(chi)(chi)。通過氫氣和(he)氧(yang)(yang)氣的(de)(de)化學(xue)作(zuo)用，而(er)不是經過燃燒，直接變成電能動(dong)力(li)。

燃(ran)(ran)料(liao)(liao)電(dian)池(chi)汽車(che)的氫(qing)燃(ran)(ran)料(liao)(liao)能(neng)通過(guo)幾種途(tu)徑(jing)得到(dao)。有(you)(you)些車(che)輛直接攜帶著純氫(qing)燃(ran)(ran)料(liao)(liao)，另外一些車(che)輛有(you)(you)可能(neng)裝有(you)(you)燃(ran)(ran)料(liao)(liao)重整(zheng)器(qi)，能(neng)將烴類燃(ran)(ran)料(liao)(liao)轉化為富氫(qing)氣體。單個(ge)的燃(ran)(ran)料(liao)(liao)電(dian)池(chi)必(bi)須結合成燃(ran)(ran)料(liao)(liao)電(dian)池(chi)組，以便獲得必(bi)需的動力，滿足(zu)車(che)輛使用的要求(qiu)。