Fuel cells are electrochemical devices that convert chemical energy from a fuel (such as hydrogen) into electricity with high efficiency and minimal emissions.
Step 1: Understanding the Challenges of Fuel Cells
- Efficiency: Fuel cells are actually highly efficient, unlike conventional combustion engines.
- Environmental Impact: They produce water and heat as byproducts, making them eco-friendly.
- Power Output: Fuel cells can generate significant power, comparable to gasoline.
- Fuel Supply Issue: The biggest challenge is the storage, transport, and distribution of hydrogen or other fuels required for operation.
Step 2: Evaluating the Options
- Option (A) - Incorrect: Fuel cells are more efficient than traditional combustion engines.
- Option (B) - Incorrect: They produce no harmful emissions, only water and heat.
- Option (C) - Correct: Fuel supply and infrastructure are the biggest challenges for fuel cell adoption.
- Option (D) - Incorrect: Fuel cells can provide competitive power compared to gasoline.
Step 3: Conclusion
Since the main drawback of fuel cells is the difficulty in supplying fuel (such as hydrogen) efficiently, the correct answer is option (C).