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April 17, 2002 11:10 AM, EDT

Fuel cells, created during the space race to the moon, have an attractive simplicity to them and a huge advantage over internal combustion engines in the emissions department.

But the ingenious devices — still expensive because so much prototype work has to be done — have yet to find a broad role as sources of power in transportation. Owing to the critical issues surrounding petroleum supplies, however, a certain groundswell of demand could develop for fuel cells, at least so say fuel cell proponents.

Although fuel cells in everyday use could be another 10 years away, trucking may already have a place for the efficient devices, which rely on basic chemistry to create an electrical charge, much like a battery that does not run down. For example, fuel cells as auxiliary power units could provide stand-by power for cabin climate control, communications and lighting when your tractor-trailer is parked.

For the full story, see the April 15 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.