Environment & Energy

The heat is a byproduct of direct electricity production, and most current fuel cells operate at elevated temperatures.

Fuel cells are basically flow-through batteries -- the chemicals that store energy are continuously replaced, unlike a normal sealed battery. The battery in this vehicle is probably necessary for initial operation, while the fuel cell warms up. In effect, it's a hybrid vehicle, and we should expect most fuel cell vehicles to operate the same way. The fuel supplies the energy long-term, the battery keeps things running while the fuel cell warms up short-term, then the fuel cell recharges the battery. Like current hybrid vehicles, with fuel cells substituted for internal combustion engines.