Oregon Public Broadcasting

Researchers in a federal lab in Richland, Washington are developing a fuel cell that could help power a semi-trucks.

The new technology could be in use in the next few years. And that's not the only possible use as Anna King reports.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory senior researcher Larry Chick says in another two years you may be driving down the highway next to a semi-truck that has a solid oxide fuel cell on board.

The fuel cell works somewhat like a battery. Electrons are recycled through a matrix of ceramic and metal plates with oxygen. Some of the fuel cells might be about as big a shoe box.

In another five years, one might be on board a Boeing airplane.

Larry Chick says the best part of these cells is they are able to amplify fuel efficiency.

Larry Chick: "We consume a lot of energy in this country, if we can consume it more efficiently then we will have to import less oil, we won't have to find as many sources of new oil and gas, it will make the energy we have go further."

Chick says some of these systems could power the air conditioning, lights and refrigerator on a semi truck for as long as a week before refueling.