Regan Brown
Hydrogen fuel cell cars are electric vehicles that use hydrogen as their power source instead of electricity. They are a zero-emission vehicle option, emitting only water vapour. Hydrogen fuel cell cars have been available since 2015, but they have not taken off in the same way that electric vehicles have. As of 2024, there are only about 17,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles on US roads, and all of them are in California. In this paragraph, we will explore the viability of hydrogen fuel cell cars as an alternative to electric vehicles and traditional gasoline-powered cars.
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What You'll Learn
- Hydrogen fuel cell cars are more expensive than electric vehicles
- Hydrogen fuel cell cars have a limited refueling infrastructure
- Hydrogen fuel cell cars are efficient and environmentally friendly
- Hydrogen fuel cell cars are available from select car manufacturers
- Hydrogen fuel cell cars are unlikely to dominate the market
Hydrogen fuel cell cars are more expensive than electric vehicles
Hydrogen fuel cell cars are more expensive to purchase than electric vehicles. The two mainstream hydrogen cars on sale in the US, the Toyota Mirai and Hyundai Nexo, start at around $50,000 and $60,000, respectively. In comparison, a growing number of EV options are becoming available at lower price points, thanks to the falling price of lithium-ion batteries.
The lifetime cost of ownership for a fuel cell car has decreased in recent years, but it remains high due to the cost of hydrogen fuel. The total cost of ownership for hydrogen is around 40% higher than for a comparable gasoline vehicle and about 10% more than an EV. Hydrogen for fuel cell vehicles has historically been priced at about $20 per kilogram, but supply chain disruptions have recently caused this price to increase to as much as $36 per kilogram.
The high cost of hydrogen fuel is due in part to the scarcity of hydrogen that has been processed for use in fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). Hydrogen is most often used in oil refining and industrial processes, and very little of it has been processed for use in cars. This means that hydrogen fuel cell cars are currently hampered by limited infrastructure and a lack of refueling stations. In California, which has most of the country's hydrogen stations, there are fewer than 60, rather than the 100 that were planned.
The high cost of hydrogen fuel is also driven by the cost of producing "green" hydrogen, which is the gold standard for hydrogen fuel. Green hydrogen uses clean electricity to extract hydrogen from water, but this process is currently very expensive.
While hydrogen cars are more expensive than electric vehicles, they do have some advantages. Hydrogen-powered cars can go farther and refuel much faster than EVs of the same size. Hydrogen refueling typically takes only 5 to 10 minutes, while an electric vehicle requires 4 to 8 hours to fully charge. Hydrogen cars also offer a better driving range, with a range of 400 to 600 miles depending on tank size, compared to 150 to 375 miles for most EVs.
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Hydrogen fuel cell cars have a limited refueling infrastructure
Hydrogen fuel cell cars have a lot of advantages over vehicles powered by fossil fuels. They are more efficient, produce no harmful tailpipe emissions, and have a short refuelling time of about 3 to 5 minutes for a range of 300 to 500 kilometres. However, one of the most challenging disadvantages is the availability of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure.
Currently, hydrogen refuelling infrastructure is limited primarily to California, which has most of the hydrogen stations in the US. Plans from a decade ago called for California to have 100 hydrogen stations by now, but the number is less than 60, and this number is not growing much. Outside of California, the US has very limited hydrogen refuelling infrastructure.
In other countries, hydrogen refuelling infrastructure is also limited. Germany, for example, has hydrogen filling stations planned and operated by H2 MOBILITY. China and Japan are also mentioned as countries that have some hydrogen refuelling infrastructure, but the details are not provided.
The limited hydrogen refuelling infrastructure is a significant disadvantage for hydrogen fuel cell cars, as it makes refuelling inconvenient and hampers the widespread adoption of this technology. However, there are efforts to expand the infrastructure. The California Energy Commission is investing in an initial network of 100 public hydrogen stations across California. Vehicle manufacturers such as BMW have joined forces with hydrogen producers and filling station operators in the Clean Energy Partnership initiative to drive the expansion of the infrastructure worldwide.
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Hydrogen fuel cell cars are efficient and environmentally friendly
The advantages of hydrogen fuel cell cars include their efficiency and environmental benefits. They are energy efficient, with a long driving range of 300-400 miles per refuel, and a quick refuelling time of around five minutes, similar to that of a standard car. Hydrogen is also an efficient way to store and transport renewable energy, and it plays a crucial role in the future energy supply. Additionally, hydrogen fuel cell cars are quiet and smooth to drive, producing less noise than conventional internal combustion engine vehicles.
In terms of environmental benefits, hydrogen fuel cell cars produce zero tailpipe emissions and only emit water vapour and warm air. This makes them a much cleaner alternative to gasoline or diesel-powered cars, which produce harmful air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Hydrogen fuel cell cars can also help reduce carbon emissions from vehicles, contributing to legislative efforts in this area.
However, it is important to note that the production of hydrogen fuel can have an impact on its overall environmental friendliness. Hydrogen production requires electrical energy, and if this electricity is generated from fossil fuels, it can adversely affect the climate footprint of the car. Additionally, the process of electrolysis, where electrical energy breaks down water into hydrogen and oxygen, can result in energy loss. Nevertheless, if renewable energy sources are used for hydrogen production, it can have a neutral carbon footprint.
While hydrogen fuel cell cars offer efficiency and environmental advantages, there are some challenges to their widespread adoption. One significant challenge is the availability of hydrogen fuel and the limited infrastructure for refuelling. Building a new hydrogen economy, including the construction of hydrogen refuelling stations, is a task that requires significant effort and investment. Additionally, the cost of hydrogen fuel is high, impacting the total cost of ownership for these vehicles.
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Hydrogen fuel cell cars are available from select car manufacturers
Since 2015, three hydrogen-powered cars have been offered for sale by three different car companies: the Honda Clarity Fuel Cell, the Hyundai Nexo SUV, and the Toyota Mirai. However, Honda has ended production of the Clarity, and Hyundai has sold only about 1,600 Nexo SUVs in six years. Toyota, the company most devoted to hydrogen power, has sold roughly 14,300 Mirai sedans across two generations in the US, sometimes resorting to substantial discounting to move them.
In 2023, one new hydrogen vehicle will hit the market: the Honda CR-V e:FCEV, an adaptation of the popular compact crossover with a hydrogen fuel cell and a larger battery that can be plugged in. Another hydrogen car on the market is the BMW iX5 Hydrogen.
While hydrogen fuel cell cars are currently less common than EVs, they have some advantages over their electric counterparts. They are more efficient than conventional internal combustion engine vehicles and produce no harmful tailpipe emissions, only emitting water vapour and warm air. They also lack the charging time problem that EVs have; it takes just five minutes or so to refuel them for another 300 to 400-mile stint. However, the availability of hydrogen fuel is a challenge, and the cost of hydrogen fuel makes the lifetime cost of ownership for a fuel cell car higher than for a comparable gasoline vehicle or EV.
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Hydrogen fuel cell cars are unlikely to dominate the market
Secondly, the high cost of hydrogen fuel is a significant disadvantage. The lifetime cost of ownership for a fuel cell car is higher than that of a comparable gasoline vehicle or an EV. Hydrogen fuel is specialised and, therefore, expensive, with a kilogram of hydrogen costing between $10 and $17 at California hydrogen stations. This price is equivalent to $5 to $8.50 per gallon of gasoline, making hydrogen fuel less economically viable for consumers.
Thirdly, the availability of hydrogen fuel is a challenge. Hydrogen drivers depend on a reliable supply of hydrogen and access to functioning high-pressure fuelling stations. However, the network of retail stations is limited, with only around 65 stations in the US and Canada, mostly in California. This scarcity discourages potential buyers who are concerned about the convenience and range of refuelling options.
Additionally, hydrogen fuel cell cars have faced competition from battery-electric vehicles, which have advanced in technology and decreased in price. EVs benefit from the existing nationwide electrical system, whereas building a new hydrogen economy would require constructing a fuelling infrastructure and ensuring a reliable supply of hydrogen fuel.
While the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle market is projected to grow, reaching an estimated value of USD 269.01 billion by 2037, it is currently overshadowed by the more established and rapidly growing EV market.
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Frequently asked questions
Fuel cell cars are not a widely viable option at the moment due to their high cost, limited availability, and lack of infrastructure for refuelling. However, they have some advantages over electric vehicles, such as longer ranges and faster refuelling.
Fuel cell cars have a longer range of around 300-400 miles on a single tank of fuel, compared to electric vehicles which typically have shorter ranges and longer recharging times. Refuelling a fuel cell car is also faster, taking around five minutes, whereas charging an electric vehicle can take much longer.
Fuel cell cars are currently much more expensive than electric vehicles, with higher upfront costs and refueling charges. There are also very few fuel cell cars available on the market, and the infrastructure for refuelling is limited, with fewer than 60 hydrogen stations in California as of 2024.
