Human Tech Tree
Researched1839 · Industrial Age (1700 – 1900)

Energy & Industry / Energy

Fuel Cell

William Grove shows in 1839 that hydrogen and oxygen can combine in a cell to give electricity directly, without burning anything.

Open in the interactive tree →

Grove's 'gas battery' ran the electrolysis of water in reverse. Alkaline fuel cells based on Francis Bacon's work powered the Apollo spacecraft, and fuel cells are now the electric heart of hydrogen vehicles.

Prerequisites

Unlocks

Sources

More in Energy · Industrial Age

All 50 points in Energy →

Open in the interactive tree →