Rajan Wilcox
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCVs) are cars that use hydrogen to power an electric motor. They are zero-emission vehicles, emitting only water vapour as a waste product. Hydrogen fuel cells are also used in other vehicles, including rockets, trains, aircraft, and commercial vehicles such as trucks and forklifts. Hydrogen fuel cells are an alternative to battery-powered electric vehicles (BEVs) and can be refuelled much faster, but there are far fewer fuelling stations for hydrogen vehicles than for BEVs. Hydrogen is also highly combustible and leaks easily from tanks, making it hazardous. Hydrogen cars are currently much rarer than BEVs, with only around 17,000 on US roads as of 2022.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of vehicle | Road vehicles, rail vehicles, space rockets, forklifts, ships, aircraft |
| Fuel | Hydrogen |
| Emission | Zero local emissions, only water vapour |
| Fueling time | 5 minutes |
| Range | 29 miles from the battery + 241 miles from the fuel cell |
| Availability | Limited availability, only in California |
| Cost | More expensive than EVs due to industrialization, platinum demand, and low production volume |
| Safety | Hydrogen is hazardous due to its low ignition energy and high combustion energy; explosions at hydrogen filling stations have been reported |
| Infrastructure | Requires enormous infrastructure development; limited number of public hydrogen fueling stations |
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What You'll Learn
- Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are zero-emission vehicles, emitting only water vapour
- Hydrogen fuel is hazardous due to its low ignition energy and high combustion energy
- Hydrogen cars are powered by an electric motor and are classified as e-cars
- Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles are much rarer than electric vehicles
- Hydrogen fuel stations are not as common as electric charging stations
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are zero-emission vehicles, emitting only water vapour
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCVs) are electric cars that run on hydrogen fuel. They are zero-emission vehicles, emitting only water vapour and warm air. HFCVs are powered by compressed hydrogen gas that feeds into an onboard fuel cell stack, which transforms the fuel's chemical energy into electrical energy. This electricity then powers the car's electric motors.
The process by which this occurs is as follows: hydrogen is introduced to the anode, where it comes into contact with a catalyst that promotes the separation of hydrogen atoms into an electron and proton. The electrons are gathered by the conductive current collector, which is connected to the car's high-voltage circuitry, feeding the onboard battery and/or motors. Meanwhile, the protons travel through a membrane to the cathode, where they recombine with the electrons and, along with oxygen molecules, form water.
HFCVs have some of the same positive features as battery-electric cars: they are smooth, quiet, and peaceful to drive. 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, there are also some disadvantages to HFCVs. The most challenging is the availability of hydrogen fuel. Hydrogen is difficult to store and transport because of the small size of its molecules, and it is also highly combustible.
Despite these challenges, hydrogen fuel cell technology holds promise for growth in both the stationary power and transportation energy sectors. Hydrogen can be produced from diverse domestic resources with the potential for near-zero greenhouse gas emissions. Hydrogen-powered vehicles emit none of the harmful substances emitted by gasoline and diesel engines, such as nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, and particulate matter.
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Hydrogen fuel is hazardous due to its low ignition energy and high combustion energy
Hydrogen fuel is hazardous, primarily due to its low ignition energy and high combustion energy. Hydrogen has the highest rating of four on the flammability scale because it is flammable when mixed even in small amounts with ordinary air. Ignition can occur at a volumetric ratio of hydrogen to air as low as 4%. Its minimum ignition energy in air is among the lowest of known substances at 0.02 mJ, and hydrogen-air mixtures can ignite with just 1/10 the energy required for gasoline-air mixtures. This low minimum ignition energy also results in a lower spark energy for spark ignition, which can cause premature ignition, a severe performance issue.
Hydrogen's wide flammability range with air is another factor that contributes to its hazardous nature. It has one of the widest explosive/ignition mix ranges with air of all gases, with only a few exceptions like acetylene, silane, and ethylene oxide. This means that regardless of the mix proportion between air and hydrogen, ignition in an enclosed space will likely lead to an explosion rather than a mere flame.
The ease of leakage is another concern with hydrogen fuel. Hydrogen tends to leak easily from tanks due to its small molecular size, and it can enter pipes and travel to their destinations. As a lighter-than-air gas, it collects under roofs and overhangs, creating an explosion hazard. Hydrogen is also odorless, making it difficult to detect leaks without specialized detectors.
The safe use of hydrogen fuel involves preventing situations where the three combustion factors—ignition source (spark or heat), oxidant (air), and fuel—are present. Understanding hydrogen's properties can help design fuel systems with appropriate engineering controls and establish guidelines for safe handling and use. While hydrogen has some advantages, such as being non-toxic and dissipating rapidly when released, its low ignition energy and high combustion energy make it hazardous, requiring careful consideration and safety protocols in its production, storage, transfer, and use.
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Hydrogen cars are powered by an electric motor and are classified as e-cars
In the fuel cell of an FCEV, hydrogen and oxygen generate electrical energy. The hydrogen comes from one or more tanks in the car, while the oxygen comes from the ambient air. The only things this reaction produces are electrical energy, heat, and water, which exits through the exhaust as water vapour. The electricity generated in the fuel cell takes two routes, depending on what the specific driving situation demands. It flows to the electric motor and directly drives the vehicle, and/or it charges a battery that acts as temporary storage until the energy is needed for the drive. This "buffer" battery is significantly smaller than the battery of a battery-electric vehicle (BEV) and is constantly being recharged by the fuel cell.
Hydrogen cars have some of the same positive features as battery-electric cars: they are smooth, quiet, and peaceful to drive, and they emit no carbon dioxide or other harmful exhaust from their tailpipes. They also lack the charging time problem that EVs have; it takes just three to five minutes to refuel them for another 300- to 400-mile stint. However, hydrogen fuel is hazardous because of its low ignition energy and high combustion energy, and because it tends to leak easily from tanks due to its small molecular size. Hydrogen is odourless, so leakages are not easily detected without specialised detectors.
In 2022, there were fewer than 17,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles on US roads, and all of them were in California, the sole state with a network of retail hydrogen fuelling stations. By contrast, almost three million EVs have been sold in the US. Hydrogen cars are much rarer than EVs, and creating a brand-new fuelling network from scratch has proven to be far more problematic and expensive than automakers envisioned.
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Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles are much rarer than electric vehicles
Cost is a significant factor in the rarity of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles. Research by Paltsev and his students found that the lifetime cost of ownership for a fuel-cell car is high, mainly due to the cost of hydrogen fuel. The total cost of ownership for hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles is about 40% higher than for gasoline vehicles and about 10% more than electric vehicles. In addition, hydrogen fuel sells for considerably more than gasoline at the pump.
The availability of hydrogen fuel is another factor contributing to the rarity of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles. Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles depend on a network of hydrogen fuelling stations, which are not widely available. California, for example, had planned to have 100 hydrogen stations by 2022 but fell short of this goal with less than 60 stations. The thin infrastructure for supplying hydrogen to retail outlets can lead to interruptions in supply, as seen in the case of an explosion in the San Francisco Bay Area that cut off supply to nine out of eleven hydrogen stations.
Competition from electric vehicles has also played a role in the rarity of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles. Electric vehicles have become increasingly popular, with companies like Tesla propelling their global popularity. Additionally, the falling price of lithium-ion batteries has made electric vehicles more affordable and attractive to consumers.
While hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles offer advantages such as long driving ranges and quick refuelling times, they are currently much rarer than electric vehicles due to cost, fuel availability, and competition from the electric vehicle market.
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Hydrogen fuel stations are not as common as electric charging stations
The scarcity of hydrogen fuel stations is a significant challenge for the adoption of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles (HFCVs). The availability of fuelling infrastructure is crucial for the feasibility of any alternative fuel vehicle technology. California has been investing heavily in clean energy funds to promote the sales of hydrogen and battery vehicles, including plans to develop 200 hydrogen stations and 250,000 charging stations by 2025. However, the state has faced challenges in executing these plans, with less than 60 stations operational as of 2022.
The limited number of hydrogen fuel stations is partly due to the technical challenges and safety concerns associated with hydrogen fuelling infrastructure. Hydrogen is highly volatile, and its small molecular size makes it prone to leaks. Explosions at hydrogen filling stations have been reported, highlighting the safety risks. Additionally, the supply chain for hydrogen fuelling stations is vulnerable to interruptions, as an issue at a central supply facility can disrupt multiple stations.
Furthermore, the demand for HFCVs is relatively low compared to EVs, which further discourages the widespread adoption of hydrogen fuel stations. As of mid-2022, there were fewer than 17,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles on US roads, all in California. In contrast, EVs have seen much higher sales, with almost three million sold in the US by the same period. The higher demand for EVs has led to a more established market and infrastructure for electric charging stations.
While hydrogen fuel stations are less common than electric charging stations, there are efforts to expand their availability. Manufacturers like Hyundai and Toyota are strategically adding hydrogen fuel to existing gasoline stations in select markets, primarily in California. Additionally, mobile hydrogen fuellers, which store liquefied or compressed hydrogen on trailers, are being developed to support the expansion of hydrogen infrastructure. These initiatives aim to address the challenges of hydrogen fuelling infrastructure and increase the accessibility of hydrogen fuel for HFCV owners.
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Frequently asked questions
A hydrogen fuel car is a vehicle that uses hydrogen to move. Hydrogen fuel cars are powered by an electric motor and are therefore classified as e-cars. They are fuelled by compressed hydrogen gas that feeds into an onboard fuel cell stack that transforms the fuel's chemical energy into electrical energy, which powers the car's electric motors.
Hydrogen fuel cars are zero-emission vehicles, emitting only water vapour. They are also smooth, quiet, and peaceful to drive. They also lack the charging time problem that EVs have, taking just five minutes or so to refuel for another 300-400 miles. Hydrogen is also one of the most efficient ways to store and transport renewable energy.
Hydrogen fuel cars are currently more expensive than other options. The industrialization of production is not yet fully developed, and there is a high demand for platinum, which acts as a catalyst in electricity generation. There are also issues with the availability of hydrogen fuel, with a limited number of hydrogen fuelling stations. Hydrogen is also hazardous, with a low ignition energy and high combustion energy, and it can easily leak from tanks.
