Mercedes Mullins
Unlike electric vehicles, fuel cell cars don't need to be charged by plugging into a power outlet or charger. Instead, they are fuelled with hydrogen gas, pumped into the vehicle in the same way as a conventional petrol or diesel car. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles use regenerative braking to charge the battery of the car, using the friction created from stepping on the brake pedal. The latest generation Toyota Mirai can power you 650 km on a single tank of hydrogen, emission-free. However, the lack of availability of hydrogen fuelling stations remains a key challenge to the commercialization of FCEVs.
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What You'll Learn
Hydrogen gas refueling
Unlike electric vehicles, hydrogen-powered cars don't need to be charged. Instead, they are refuelled with hydrogen gas, which is pumped in the same safe and convenient way as a conventional petrol or diesel car. Filling up a hydrogen-powered car takes between 3-5 minutes for a full tank.
There are over 100 hydrogen fuelling stations in Europe, with many more set to open. In the US, there are 54 open retail hydrogen stations, mostly in California, with more in the planning or construction phase in other states. As the market expands, hydrogen fuelling stations will be matched with vehicle rollout.
Hydrogen gas fuelling infrastructure can be expensive to build, but the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 incentivizes projects with low-lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by providing a tax credit of up to $3 per kilogram of hydrogen. This has provided certainty to current and future hydrogen producers, stabilizing and expanding the market.
Mobile hydrogen fuelling stations are also being developed to support the expansion of hydrogen infrastructure. These mobile stations, stored on trailers, will allow early adopters of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) to drive and access hydrogen fuel with confidence.
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Regenerative braking
The coordination between the regenerative braking system (RBS) and the anti-lock braking system (ABS) is essential to ensure the safety and efficiency of the vehicle. Researchers have also proposed different control strategies, such as the "serial 2 control strategy," which offers higher regeneration efficiency than other strategies.
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Hydrogen fuel infrastructure
The development of hydrogen fuel infrastructure is crucial for the adoption of fuel cell vehicles. Retail hydrogen fuelling locations are expanding in select markets, supporting the rollout of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). Manufacturers like Hyundai and Toyota are offering FCEVs for sale or lease in markets where hydrogen fuel is available, such as California. Mobile hydrogen fuellers, which store liquefied or compressed hydrogen and dispensing equipment on a trailer, are also being developed to enhance hydrogen infrastructure.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes funding for seven Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs (H2Hubs) to accelerate the deployment of clean hydrogen production, storage, distribution, and end-use networks. These hubs will facilitate projects focused on infrastructure development to enable hydrogen vehicle adoption for fleets and the public. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Transportation established the National Alternative Fuels Corridors grant program in 2022 to support the strategic deployment of hydrogen fuelling infrastructure in designated corridors.
The expansion of hydrogen fuelling stations is crucial, as the availability of reasonably priced hydrogen in key vehicle deployment areas remains a challenge. Building hydrogen fuelling infrastructure can be costly, but initiatives like the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 provide incentives for projects with low-lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions through tax credits. As the market grows, hydrogen fuelling stations will continue to expand alongside vehicle rollout, aiming to provide customers with a familiar fuelling experience.
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Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles vs electric vehicles
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and electric vehicles are both powered by electricity but differ in their source of energy. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles use hydrogen fuel cells, while electric vehicles (EVs) are powered by lithium-ion batteries.
Refuelling/Charging
Unlike electric vehicles, hydrogen-powered vehicles do not need to be charged. Instead, they are refuelled with hydrogen gas, pumped in the same way as a conventional petrol or diesel car. Refuelling a hydrogen-powered vehicle is a quick process, taking between 3 to 10 minutes for a full tank. However, there is a lack of infrastructure for hydrogen refuelling, with only over 1000 refueling stations globally as of 2023. In contrast, electric vehicles can be charged at home or at one of the many charging stations available for EVs worldwide. However, charging an electric vehicle takes significantly longer, ranging from 4 to 8 hours for a full charge.
Driving Range
The driving range of electric vehicles can vary from 150 to 375 miles, depending on the vehicle and the battery size. On the other hand, hydrogen-powered vehicles offer a better driving range, typically between 400 to 600 miles on a single tank of hydrogen. The latest generation Toyota Mirai, for example, can power up to 650 km on a single tank of hydrogen, with no emissions produced.
Cost
Electric vehicles are generally more affordable than hydrogen-powered vehicles. The cost of lithium-ion batteries has been decreasing, making EVs more accessible to consumers. Government incentives can also help offset the cost of electric vehicles. In comparison, the lifetime cost of ownership for a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle remains high due to the cost of hydrogen fuel.
Efficiency
Electric vehicles are more energy-efficient than hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. EVs utilize around 80% of the total energy to power the vehicle, while hydrogen fuel cell vehicles involve a more complex process of converting hydrogen gas into electricity, leading to greater inefficiency.
Environmental Impact
Both hydrogen and electric cars are considered zero-emission vehicles, producing no harmful fumes or greenhouse gases. However, the manufacturing and disposal of EV batteries can lead to pollution and resource depletion, specifically the consumption of materials like lithium and cobalt. Hydrogen fuel cells, on the other hand, can be 100% renewable and environmentally friendly, releasing only pure water vapour during use and filtering out ultrafine dust from the atmosphere. Additionally, recycling hydrogen fuel cells is easy and cost-effective.
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Hydrogen fuel cell vehicle maintenance
Unlike electric vehicles, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles do not need to be charged. Instead, they are fuelled with hydrogen gas, which is pumped into the vehicle in the same way as a conventional petrol or diesel car. The hydrogen is stored in a tank on the vehicle and is used to power the electric motor. The vehicle's manufacturer defines the power of the vehicle by the size of the electric motor(s) that receives electric power from the appropriately sized fuel cell and battery combination. The amount of energy stored onboard is determined by the size of the hydrogen fuel tank.
The process of fuelling a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle is relatively quick and convenient, taking between 3 to 5 minutes to fill up the tank. There are already over 100 hydrogen fuelling stations operating in Europe, with more set to open in the coming years.
One example of a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle is the Toyota Mirai, which combines hydrogen with oxygen from the outside air to generate power without creating tailpipe emissions. The Mirai has a driving range of 650 km on a single tank of hydrogen. The fuel cell stack in the Mirai is engineered to last for the lifetime of the car, and the hydrogen fuel tanks have been rigorously tested and proven to meet Global Technical Regulation No. 13.
In terms of safety, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are designed with features to prevent leaks and mitigate risks. For example, the Mirai's hydrogen tank valves are designed to automatically close if a leak or collision is detected, preventing further escape of hydrogen gas. Any leaked hydrogen is released safely into the atmosphere.
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Frequently asked questions
Unlike other types of electric vehicles, you don't charge a fuel cell car by plugging it into a power outlet or charger. Instead, you fill the tank with hydrogen at a fueling station. This is done by attaching a nozzle from a fuel dispenser to the receptacle on the vehicle.
Filling up a fuel cell car takes between 3-5 minutes for a full tank, which is similar to filling up a conventional petrol or diesel car.
This depends on how often and how far you drive. For local driving, you may only need to fill up your car once every two weeks (approximately every 250 miles). For long-distance driving with minimal braking, you may need to fill up more often, for example, once a week (around every 150 miles).
You can charge a fuel cell car at a hydrogen fueling station. There are already over 100 hydrogen fueling stations operating in Europe, and manufacturers and fuel providers are working to increase the number of fueling locations. In the US, you can use the AFDC Alternative Fuel and Advanced Vehicle Search to find hydrogen fueling stations and available FCEV models.
