Ameer Randolph
Hydrogen fuel cell cars are an exciting new technology that uses hydrogen to power an electric motor. Unlike traditional electric vehicles, hydrogen fuel cell cars do not require charging from an external power source. Instead, they use an on-board fuel cell to convert the hydrogen in their fuel tank into electricity. This means that refuelling a hydrogen fuel cell car is similar to refuelling a conventional car – you simply fill up the tank with hydrogen gas at a fuelling station. However, the availability of hydrogen fuelling stations remains a key challenge, with high prices and limited locations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Power | Defined by the size of the electric motor(s) that receives electric power from the appropriately sized fuel cell and battery combination. |
| Fuel cell stack | An assembly of individual membrane electrodes that use hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity. |
| Fuel filler | A nozzle from a fuel dispenser attaches to the receptacle on the vehicle to fill the tank. |
| Fuel tank | Stores hydrogen gas onboard the vehicle. |
| Refueling time | Less than five minutes. |
| Refueling range | 300-400 miles per refueling session. |
| Single tank range | 504 kilometers (BMW iX5 Hydrogen) or 650 kilometers (Toyota Mirai). |
| Refueling locations | Hydrogen fueling stations. |
| Availability of refueling locations | Limited availability; currently, only California has a network of retail hydrogen fueling stations. |
| Cost of refueling | Higher than gasoline prices; in late 2022, a kilogram of hydrogen in California cost between $10 and $17. |
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What You'll Learn
Hydrogen fuel cell cars are refuelled with hydrogen gas
The hydrogen is stored in an on-board tank until it is needed by the fuel cell, which uses hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity. This electricity then powers the electric motor, driving the vehicle. The electricity can also be used to charge a battery, which acts as a "buffer" to store temporary energy until it is needed for driving. This battery is much smaller and lighter than the battery in an all-electric car.
The amount of energy stored on board the vehicle depends on the size of the hydrogen fuel tank. The latest generation Toyota Mirai, for example, can power 650 km on a single tank of hydrogen. The BMW iX5 Hydrogen can travel 504 kilometres on a single refuelling.
Hydrogen fuel cell cars are emission-free, with the only by-products of the chemical reaction being electrical energy, heat, and water vapour. They are also smooth, quiet, and peaceful to drive.
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They are not charged by plugging into a power outlet or charger
Hydrogen fuel cell cars are not charged by plugging them into a power outlet or charger. Instead, they are filled with hydrogen gas at specialised fuelling stations. This process is similar to refuelling a conventional car and takes a similar amount of time—typically less than five minutes.
Hydrogen fuel cell cars are powered by an electric motor, and they are therefore classified as e-cars. However, unlike other types of electric vehicles, they do not use a built-in battery as their power source. Instead, they have their own power plant on board, which converts the hydrogen in the fuel tank into electricity. This electricity then powers the car's electric motor.
The main difference between hydrogen fuel cell cars and EVs is that they cannot be "refuelled" or recharged at home overnight. This is a significant disadvantage, as it means that hydrogen car drivers are dependent on both a reliable supply of hydrogen gas and an available, properly functioning high-pressure fuelling station. The availability of hydrogen fuelling stations is currently limited, and the fuel itself is expensive.
Despite these challenges, hydrogen fuel cell cars have several advantages over EVs. They do not suffer from long charging times, and they have a similar range to e-cars with large battery storage. They are also more efficient than traditional gasoline vehicles and emit only water vapour and warm air.
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Hydrogen vehicles produce electricity themselves
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCVs) are related to electric cars but differ in how they produce electricity. Hydrogen vehicles produce electricity themselves, meaning their power does not come from a built-in battery, as is the case with purely electric vehicles or plug-in hybrid vehicles.
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles use the same kind of electric motor to turn the wheels as battery-electric cars. However, they are powered by a fuel cell stack, where hydrogen passes through a membrane to combine with oxygen from the air, producing electricity. This process is known as reverse electrolysis, where the only byproducts are electrical energy, heat, and water vapour. The electricity generated in the fuel cell 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 driving. This "buffer" battery is significantly smaller and lighter than the battery of an all-electric car.
The amount of energy stored onboard a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle is determined by the size of the hydrogen fuel tank, unlike in an all-electric vehicle, where the amount of power and energy available are closely related to the battery's size. Hydrogen vehicles can also recover braking energy, providing extra power during short acceleration events and smoothing out the power delivered from the fuel cell.
While hydrogen fuel cell vehicles have the advantage of shorter refuelling times compared to the long charging times of electric vehicles, they face challenges in the availability of hydrogen fuel and the high prices at retail stations.
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Hydrogen refuelling stations are not widely available
In California, for example, the number of hydrogen stations is less than 60, falling short of the 100 stations that were planned. This lack of infrastructure can make hydrogen vehicles less practical for consumers, as they are dependent on a reliable supply of hydrogen and access to a high-pressure fuelling station. The small network of retail stations often results in higher prices for consumers.
The rollout of hydrogen fuelling stations is being supported by initiatives such as the National Alternative Fuels Corridors grant program in the US, which aims to strategically deploy hydrogen fuelling infrastructure. Additionally, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes funding for seven Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs to accelerate the deployment of low-cost, clean hydrogen.
The expansion of hydrogen fuelling stations is expected to occur alongside the growth of the hydrogen vehicle market. Manufacturers are focusing on adding hydrogen fuel at existing gasoline stations, particularly in California, to support the initial rollout of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles. As demand for these vehicles grows, the business case for building more stations improves, and the volume of station components will bring down costs.
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Hydrogen vehicles are environmentally friendly
Hydrogen vehicles are a promising environmentally friendly alternative to traditional cars. They are powered by an electric motor, but unlike electric vehicles, they produce their own electricity. Hydrogen vehicles have a fuel cell that uses hydrogen from an onboard tank and mixes it with oxygen from the air to produce electricity through a process known as reverse electrolysis. This electricity then powers the electric motor, and any excess electricity is stored in a battery. This stored electricity can then be used to power the vehicle when it is not possible or efficient to run the fuel cell, such as during low power needs or when recapturing braking energy.
The main benefit of hydrogen vehicles is that they emit zero harmful tailpipe emissions, with the only by-products being water vapour and heat. This makes them a zero-emission vehicle, which is significantly more environmentally friendly than traditional cars, which emit carbon dioxide and other harmful gases. Hydrogen vehicles also have a similar range to electric vehicles with large battery storage and are not affected by cold weather, meaning they can be used for long-distance travel.
However, there are some challenges to the widespread adoption of hydrogen vehicles. The production of hydrogen fuel can create harmful emissions if it is made from coal or gas and these gases are not captured and stored. This issue can be mitigated by using 'green' hydrogen, which is produced by extracting hydrogen from water through electrolysis using renewable electricity. While this method is more environmentally friendly, it is also very expensive due to the high amount of energy required and the inefficiency of the process.
Another challenge is the availability of hydrogen fuel and the high prices associated with it. Hydrogen drivers are dependent on a reliable supply of hydrogen and access to high-pressure fuelling stations, which are currently limited in number. For example, California, the only state with a network of retail hydrogen fuelling stations, has less than 60 stations, and the cost of hydrogen fuel is relatively high at $10 to $17 per kilogram.
Despite these challenges, hydrogen vehicles have the potential to be a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional cars, offering fast refuelling, long ranges, and zero harmful tailpipe emissions.
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Frequently asked questions
Hydrogen fuel cell cars are refuelled with hydrogen gas, which is pumped in the same way as a conventional car. The hydrogen is stored in tanks in the car and converted into electricity to power the motor.
Hydrogen fuel cell cars can be refuelled in under five minutes, much faster than the charging time for electric vehicles.
Hydrogen fuel cell cars cannot be refuelled at home and are dependent on a reliable supply of hydrogen gas and an available high-pressure fuelling station.
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