Expert: Mike Fulcher - 1/30/2007

Question
Does the battery voltage used in a hydrogen fuel cell affect the output of energy produced by the cell?

Answer
I'm not an expert in fuel cells, but I think I know just enough to give you an explanation.  The power output of any storage device (battery, capacitor, fuel cell) is defined as the product of the voltage (V) and the current (I).  In a fuel cell, the most basic unit I believe is called a plate.  The voltage across this plate is determined by the fuel cell reaction.  The maximum current is mainly determined by the reactive surface area of the plate.  So the max power for one pate would be VI.  Adding additional plates, and thus increasing the voltage, would result in increased power.  So, the short answer is yes.