Indirect-methanol and direct-methanol fuel cell vehicles

Direct fuel oxidization yields major simplifications and potential performance advantages for a fuel cell power system-particularly for a fuel cell vehicle (FCV) application. Following a brief introduction to the unique characteristics of the polymer electrolyte membrane-based direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) (compared to direct-hydrogen and the indirect-methanol fuel cell), two performance metrics for the DMFC are examined in more detail, and are compared to the same performance metrics for the indirect-methanol fuel cell.