Mercedes Mullins
Fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) are electric vehicles that use a fuel cell, sometimes in combination with a small battery, to power an onboard electric motor. Unlike conventional vehicles that run on gasoline or diesel, FCVs combine hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, which runs the motor. This process, known as reverse electrolysis, occurs in the fuel cell, with hydrogen coming from tanks in the car and oxygen from the ambient air. The electricity generated in the fuel cell can either flow to the electric motor or charge the battery, which acts as temporary storage until the energy is needed for driving. FCVs are considered zero-emissions vehicles as they emit only water vapour and heat as a byproduct.
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What You'll Learn
Hydrogen fuel cell cars are emission-free
Hydrogen fuel cell cars are electric vehicles that use a fuel cell, in combination with a small battery or supercapacitor, to power their onboard electric motor. They are classified as zero-emissions vehicles, with the only byproducts of the chemical process being electrical energy, heat, and water vapour. This is in contrast to internal combustion vehicles, which produce environmentally harmful gases such as CO2 and nitrogen oxides.
The process by which hydrogen fuel cell cars operate is known as reverse electrolysis. Hydrogen is stored in tanks in the car and reacts with oxygen from the ambient air. The electricity generated in the fuel cell flows to the electric motor and directly drives the vehicle. It can also be used to charge a small "buffer" battery that acts as temporary storage until the energy is needed for driving. This battery is constantly recharged by the fuel cell and is much smaller and lighter than the battery of a fully electric car. Hydrogen fuel cell cars can also recover braking energy in the same way that electric vehicles can.
Hydrogen fuel cell cars are distinct from other electric vehicles in that they produce their own electricity, rather than relying on a built-in battery that needs to be charged from an external power source. This means that hydrogen vehicles have their own power plant on board, which converts the hydrogen in the fuel tank into electricity. This electricity can then be used to power the vehicle's electric motor. Hydrogen is also one of the most efficient ways to store and transport renewable energy, and it plays an important role in the future energy supply.
However, hydrogen fuel cell cars are currently more expensive than other vehicles. This is partly due to the high demand for platinum, which is used as a catalyst in electricity generation. Additionally, the industrialization of hydrogen fuel cell car production is not yet fully developed, and low production volumes are also a factor in the high cost of these vehicles. Hydrogen fuel cell cars are also much rarer than electric vehicles, with only around 17,000 on the roads in the US as of mid-2022, all of which are in California, the only state with a network of hydrogen fuelling stations.
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Hydrogen is converted into electricity via a fuel cell stack
Hydrogen fuel cell cars are powered by an electric motor and are classified as e-cars. Unlike electric vehicles, which rely on a built-in battery, hydrogen cars generate their electricity using an on-board power plant that converts hydrogen from the fuel tank into electricity. This electricity is then used to power the vehicle.
The process of converting hydrogen into electricity is known as reverse electrolysis, and it occurs in the fuel cell stack. The fuel cell stack is an assembly of individual membrane electrodes that use hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity. The hydrogen is supplied from the fuel tank, while the oxygen comes from the ambient air.
In the fuel cell stack, the hydrogen and oxygen react through a pair of redox reactions, specifically reduction reactions. The hydrogen ions and electrons react with the oxygen at the cathode, producing water and heat. The water and heat are removed from the fuel cell, with the water exiting through the exhaust as water vapour.
The electricity generated in the fuel cell can be used to power the vehicle in two ways. It can flow directly to the electric motor, driving the vehicle, or it can charge a small "buffer" battery that acts as temporary storage until the energy is needed for driving. This battery is constantly recharged by the fuel cell and is significantly smaller and lighter than the battery of an all-electric car.
The fuel cell stack can be adjusted to generate varying amounts of power as needed. Individual fuel cells can be stacked in series to increase the voltage and current, allowing for the generation of very large amounts of electrical power. This flexibility means that fuel cell stacks can be used to power small devices like laptops or even large systems like a utility power station.
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Hydrogen fuel cell cars are powered by an electric motor
The hydrogen used in the fuel cell is stored in an on-board fuel tank, which feeds into the fuel cell stack. This stack is an assembly of individual membrane electrodes that use hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity. The electricity generated then powers the car's electric motor, which turns the wheels of the vehicle.
The power of the vehicle is defined by the size of the electric motor(s) and the appropriately sized fuel cell and battery combination. The amount of energy stored on board is determined by the size of the hydrogen fuel tank, which is refuelled through special pumps. This is in contrast to electric vehicles, where the amount of power and energy available are closely related to the battery's size.
Hydrogen fuel cell cars are classified as zero-emissions vehicles, with the only waste product being pure water vapour. They are also very quiet, with a similar driving experience to electric cars, including dynamic, virtually silent acceleration. Hydrogen vehicles also have the advantage of short refuelling times, taking just three to four minutes to refill the hydrogen tank.
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Hydrogen fuel cell cars are refuelled at special pumps
Hydrogen fuel cell cars are powered by electricity, which is generated when hydrogen and oxygen react in a fuel cell. Unlike electric vehicles, hydrogen vehicles produce their own electricity. This means that their power does not come from a built-in battery but from an efficient power plant on board, which converts the hydrogen in the fuel tank into electricity.
The hydrogen dispensed at these stations can be produced on-site via electrolysis, delivered to the site, or fuelled directly from a tube trailer or via on-site storage. After production, the hydrogen is compressed to increase pressure and reduce volume, enabling more efficient storage and dispensing. The compressed hydrogen then passes through a heat exchanger to remove excess heat generated during the compression process.
While hydrogen fuel cell cars offer the advantage of shorter refuelling times compared to electric vehicles, they face the challenge of limited hydrogen fuel availability. The infrastructure for hydrogen refuelling stations is constantly being expanded worldwide, but the number of stations is still relatively small, and not all stations are operational at all times.
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Hydrogen fuel cell cars are more expensive to produce
Another factor is the low production volume of hydrogen fuel cell cars. With higher production volumes, there could be benefits and cost reductions due to the similar technology used across various applications, such as commercial vehicles, trains, and aircraft. However, currently, the low production volume of hydrogen fuel cell cars makes it challenging to achieve economies of scale, driving up the cost per unit.
Furthermore, hydrogen fuel cell cars have their own unique power plant on board, which converts hydrogen from the fuel tank into electricity. This additional component increases the complexity and cost of the vehicle compared to traditional internal combustion engines or battery-powered electric vehicles.
The cost of hydrogen fuel is also a factor in the overall expense of hydrogen fuel cell cars. While there is no established retail price for hydrogen fuel, the initial cost is expected to be around $10 per kilogram, which is significantly higher than the cost of gasoline. This high fuel cost can make hydrogen fuel cell cars less attractive to consumers, especially when compared to the rapidly dropping prices of batteries in electric vehicles.
Moreover, the infrastructure for hydrogen refueling stations is still in the early stages of development, with a limited number of public stations available. For example, in California, which is at the forefront of hydrogen fuel cell technology, there were only 10 public stations in 2015, with plans to expand to 100 stations by 2020. The construction of these stations is costly, with each station requiring an average of $1.5 million in funding. This limited infrastructure can hinder the widespread adoption of hydrogen fuel cell cars and increase the overall costs for consumers.
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Frequently asked questions
A fuel cell car, also known as a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV), is an electric vehicle that uses a fuel cell, sometimes in combination with a small battery or supercapacitor, to power its onboard electric motor.
Fuel cell cars use hydrogen gas to power an electric motor. They combine hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, which runs the motor.
Pressurized hydrogen is sold at hydrogen refueling stations, taking less than 10 minutes to fill current models.
Unlike battery-powered electric cars, fuel cell cars do not need to be recharged and can be refuelled in a similar way to conventional cars. The amount of energy stored in a fuel cell car is determined by the size of the hydrogen fuel tank, whereas in a battery-powered electric car, the amount of power and energy available are closely related to the battery's size.
