The Coming Boom in Hydrogen Fuel Cell Recycling
What You Need to Know About Making Money
You probably think that you know everything there is to know about recycling valuable scrap and getting a nice big payout. You probably already know that . . .
You can recycle gold scrap, silver scrap, platinum scrap and even platinum family metals and rhodium. Call Specialty Metals Smelters and Refiners at 800-426-2344 and we will tell you how.
You can recycle used batteries that contain lithium, nickel, and cadmium.
You can even reclaim rare earth metals from touch screens in tablets, laptops, and phones.
But There Is a New Recyclable in Town
People are only beginning to discover that it is possible to make a lot of money by recycling automotive fuel cells. And in today’s post, we are going to tell you what you need to know
Here are the questions everyone is asking about this new kind of recyclable.
Why is there about to be a boom in hydrogen fuel cells?
Simple answer. They are already appearing in fleets of cars and trucks. Chances are that the town or city where you live already has a fleet of vehicles that are powered by fuel cells, not to mention buses. And there is every indication that fuel cells will soon be used in tens of thousands of passenger cars. Honda is already making a hydrogen fuel cell car, the Clarity. And other automakers will soon be making them too.
Why is this new technology on the rise?
Simple answer. Hydrogen fuel cells do not release exhaust or other gases into the air. They release only a trickle of water. (That’s right . . . friendly, harmless water.)
A hydrogen fuel cell is just another kind of battery, right?
No, wrong. When you recharge an electric car like a Tesla that is powered by a battery, you plug it into a source of electricity. To refuel a car that uses a hydrogen fuel cell, you pull into a fueling station that has specialized equipment that pumps hydrogen into a tank in the car. That hydrogen then passes through the fuel cell, which generates a flow of electricity that can be used to power the vehicle.
Aren’t fuel cell cars called fuel cell electric cars too?
Yes, they are. That’s because fuel cells produce electricity that powers electric motors that power the car.
How does a fuel cell make power?
In a hydrogen fuel cell, a catalyst separates hydrogen molecules into protons and electrons which create a flow of electricity. Remember that if you want this process to keep happening so you can keep driving your car, you need to pump more hydrogen into a tank in your car. Think of it this way: a regular car can run out of gas, and a hydrogen-powered car can run out of hydrogen.
Here’s a short video that shows how hydrogen fuel cells operate:
Don’t hydrogen fuel cells last forever?
No, they don’t. After a certain number of years, the catalysts, and metals they contain become weakened and wear out. At that point, the old fuel cell needs to be replaced.
What valuable materials can be extracted from a used hydrogen fuel cell?
Platinum is the most valuable metal they contain. It is found in both the anode and the cathode catalysts in a fuel cell. When hydrogen passes through these structures, electricity is created. Fuel cells contain other recyclable materials too, like carbon fiber panels, copper, and other metals.
Where can you get the used fuel cells you will recycle?
The most plentiful supplies are currently found in municipal and other fleets of vehicles. But that is about to change, as more and more passenger cars and SUVs become hydrogen-powered.
How much money can I get for a used hydrogen fuel cell device?
That depends on how much platinum your fuel cell contains, its overall size, and other factors.
Want to know more?
Why not call Specialty Metals Smelters and Refiners today to find out how to get in on the ground floor of this coming boom in fuel cell recycling. We are here to answer your questions at 800-426-2344.