fuel cell

plural fuel cells

1. businessAn electrochemical device in which the intrinsic chemical free energy of fuel and oxidant is catalytically converted to direct current energy.

   The Mako is powered by a sealed hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell, and includes a small element zero core. While not large enough to nullify the vehicle’s mass, the core can reduce it enough to be safely air-dropped.

   2008, BioWare, Mass Effect (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Vehicles: M35 Mako Codex entry

   2 more examples

   A new energy source claimed by Mr. Coultas to be potentially applicable to locomotives is the fuel cell, now becoming more commonly known as the fuel battery. [...] The fuel cells which are furthest advanced in engineering development today use hydrogen as the fuel.

   1962 February, “Talking of Trains: Fuel battery locomotives?”, in Modern Railways, page 87

   Fuel cells have a shorter lifetime than batteries and their overall efficiency of a hydrogen train is much less - recent figures from Stadler show that just 25% of the energy reaches the wheels for a hydrogen train, compared with 80% for conventional electric tration or around 68% for a battery-electric train.

   2023 August 23, Ben Jones, “A Fast Charge to DMUs' demise?”, in RAIL, number 990, page 30

2. businessSynonym of fuel tank: A fuel storage tank.

   Synonyms: fuel tank

   1. businessA fuel tank with a flexible inner liner to reduce the risk of puncture.