Rajan Wilcox
Hydrogen fuel cell cars are a type of electric vehicle that uses hydrogen gas to generate electricity, rather than relying on a large, heavy battery. This hydrogen fuel is compressed and fed into an onboard fuel cell stack, which transforms the chemical energy of the fuel into electrical energy, powering the car's electric motors. As of 2021, there were only two models of fuel cell cars publicly available: the Toyota Mirai and the Hyundai Nexo. In this paragraph, we will explore the main maintenance items of a fuel cell car and understand the unique considerations for this emerging technology.
Characteristics and Values of a Fuel Cell Car
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Maintenance | Leasing packages often include maintenance, making the total cost of ownership comparable to conventional cars |
| Fuel | Hydrogen, the most abundant element in the universe |
| Fuel Cell | Hydrogen reacts with oxygen to produce electricity to power the car |
| Refuelling | Refuelled at "hydrogen fuelling stations", similar to traditional gas stations with a similar five-minute refuelling time |
| Range | Can carry enough hydrogen fuel for 300-400 miles of range |
| Emissions | Zero tailpipe emissions, only byproduct is water vapour |
| Efficiency | Very energy efficient, with a longer range than conventional cars on an equivalent amount of fuel |
| Cost | Can cost more than comparable conventional cars, but leasing deals are available |
| Availability | As of mid-2022, 17,000 or fewer hydrogen-powered vehicles were on US roads, all in California |
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What You'll Learn
- Hydrogen fuel cell cars are zero-emission vehicles
- Hydrogen is converted into electricity through a fuel cell stack
- Hydrogen fuel cell cars are powered by an electric motor
- Hydrogen fuel cell cars are more expensive than comparable conventional cars
- Hydrogen fuel cell cars have shorter refuelling times than electric cars
Hydrogen fuel cell cars are zero-emission vehicles
Hydrogen fuel cell cars are electric vehicles that run solely on hydrogen stored in a reinforced tank inside the car. They are considered zero-emission vehicles because they emit only water vapour and heat as byproducts, which has no negative impact on public health. Hydrogen fuel cell cars are powered by compressed hydrogen gas that feeds into an onboard fuel cell stack. This fuel cell stack does not burn the gas but instead transforms the fuel's chemical energy into electrical energy, which powers the car's electric motors.
The construction of the fuel cell is similar to a battery. Hydrogen enters the anode, where it comes into contact with a catalyst that promotes the separation of hydrogen atoms into electrons and protons. The electrons are then gathered by the conductive current collector, which is connected to the car's high-voltage circuitry, powering the onboard battery and/or the motors that turn the wheels.
While hydrogen fuel cell cars are more expensive to acquire than comparable conventional cars, leasing packages often include fuel, service, and maintenance. Additionally, hydrogen fuel cell cars require less maintenance than traditional cars. For example, hydrogen fuel cell electric forklifts can be refuelled in minutes, and many major retailers have switched to using them to enhance warehouse productivity. Similarly, the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District in California has adopted a fleet of hydrogen fuel cell electric buses as part of its Zero Emission Bus Program.
Despite the benefits of hydrogen fuel cell cars, there are some challenges. As of 2023, only 3,143 hydrogen cars were sold in the US, compared to 380,000 battery electric vehicles. This low demand has made it difficult to establish a reliable network of hydrogen fuelling stations, and the fuel is currently much more expensive than gasoline or electricity. Additionally, some emissions are generated during the production, transportation, and dispensing of hydrogen fuel. However, as hydrogen becomes more widely adopted, costs are expected to decrease, and it has the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector.
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Hydrogen is converted into electricity through a fuel cell stack
Hydrogen fuel cell cars are powered by compressed hydrogen gas, which is converted into electricity through a fuel cell stack. This electricity then powers the car's electric motors. The construction of the fuel cell is similar to a battery, and the process of converting hydrogen into electricity is known as a redox reaction.
During this process, hydrogen enters the anode, where it comes into contact with a catalyst, typically made of platinum powder coated onto carbon paper or cloth. This catalyst facilitates the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen, promoting the separation of hydrogen atoms into electrons and protons. The electrons are gathered by the conductive current collector, which is connected to the car's high-voltage circuitry, powering the onboard battery and motors that turn the wheels.
At the anode, the catalyst causes the hydrogen to undergo oxidation reactions, generating positively charged hydrogen ions and electrons. These ions move from the anode to the cathode through the electrolyte, while the electrons flow to the cathode through an external circuit, producing direct current electricity. At the cathode, another catalyst causes the ions, electrons, and oxygen to react, forming water and heat.
Fuel cells are classified by the type of electrolyte used and the start-up time they offer. Proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEM fuel cells) have a quick start-up time of 1 second, while solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) can take up to 10 minutes. Fuel cells are often stacked to increase voltage output, as individual fuel cells produce relatively low electrical potentials of around 0.7 volts.
The use of platinum in the catalyst is one of the largest cost components of a direct hydrogen fuel cell. However, advancements are being made to reduce platinum usage while increasing fuel cell efficiency and performance. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles offer several benefits, including zero emissions, higher efficiency than combustion engines, and the ability to refuel in just 3 minutes, making them ideal for various applications, including transportation and power generation.
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Hydrogen fuel cell cars are powered by an electric motor
The construction of the fuel cell is similar to that of a battery. Hydrogen enters 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 then gathered by the conductive current collector, which is connected to the car's high-voltage circuitry, feeding the onboard battery and/or the motors that turn the wheels.
The electric motor is powered by both the fuel cell and the traction battery pack. The fuel cell stack is an assembly of individual membrane electrodes that use hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity. The hydrogen is stored in carbon-fibre-reinforced tanks, providing fuel to the fuel cell stack. The battery also captures energy from regenerative braking and provides additional power to the electric motor.
The electric motor powers the car using the energy produced in the fuel cell stack. The byproduct of the reaction in the fuel cell stack is water vapour, which is emitted through the exhaust. This process produces zero tailpipe emissions, and the only waste produced is pure water.
The majority of hydrogen vehicles produced by automobile manufacturers today work in this way. Hydrogen-powered cars have the same ambition of emission-free driving as conventional electric vehicles. However, there are challenges to overcome to reduce the environmental impact of hydrogen production. The current extraction method relies on steam reforming of hydrocarbons and is called "grey" hydrogen as it is extracted from fossil fuels. An alternative method is water electrolysis, which can produce "green" hydrogen if the electricity used comes from sustainable sources like solar or wind power.
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Hydrogen fuel cell cars are more expensive than comparable conventional cars
Hydrogen fuel cell cars are electric vehicles that use fuel cells to generate electricity from oxygen and hydrogen, powering the car's electric motor. They are highly efficient, produce no emissions, and have a long driving range, but they are more expensive than comparable conventional cars.
There are several reasons why hydrogen fuel cell cars are more expensive. Firstly, hydrogen fuel cell technology is complex and costly to manufacture. The system requires various components, including an air compressor, an expander for hydrogen storage, a water de-ionizer, and a high-voltage electrical system. The manufacturing process demands extreme precision, further adding to the cost.
Secondly, hydrogen fuel is expensive. At the pump, hydrogen sells for considerably more than gasoline. Additionally, the process of producing hydrogen fuel can be costly, especially if it is produced using clean electricity, which is the gold standard. This "green hydrogen" is made using electricity from renewable sources to extract hydrogen from water, but it is currently a costly method.
The high cost of hydrogen fuel contributes significantly to the overall lifetime cost of ownership for a fuel cell car. Research has shown that the total cost of ownership for a hydrogen fuel cell car can be around 40% higher than a comparable gasoline vehicle and about 10% more than an electric vehicle.
However, it is important to note that leasing a hydrogen fuel cell car can sometimes include fuel, service, and maintenance in the package, making the total cost of ownership comparable to conventional cars. Additionally, government incentives and rebates for clean energy vehicles can help offset the higher purchase price.
While hydrogen fuel cell cars currently face a higher price point, ongoing advancements in technology and infrastructure development may help reduce costs in the future.
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Hydrogen fuel cell cars have shorter refuelling times than electric cars
Hydrogen fuel cell cars have several advantages over electric cars, one of which is their shorter refuelling times. While hydrogen fuel cell cars can be refuelled in just five minutes, electric vehicles (EVs) have a charging time problem, taking considerably longer to recharge. This gives hydrogen fuel cell cars a significant edge in terms of convenience and time efficiency.
The refuelling process for hydrogen fuel cell cars is similar to that of traditional gasoline cars. Hydrogen fuel is pumped into carbon-fibre high-pressure tanks, which can be refilled as quickly as a standard car's gas tank. This "pump-and-go" experience is familiar to most drivers and is a key advantage of hydrogen fuel cell technology.
In contrast, electric vehicles rely on recharging batteries, which can take significantly longer. The time required to recharge an EV battery depends on various factors, including the battery size, charging station type, and battery health. While advancements in charging technology have improved EV charging times, it still lags behind the refuelling speed of hydrogen fuel cell cars.
The shorter refuelling time of hydrogen fuel cell cars is a result of their unique power source. Hydrogen fuel cells generate electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen, producing water vapour as a byproduct. This electrochemical process occurs in the fuel cell stack, which powers the electric motor. As a result, hydrogen fuel cell cars do not require large, heavy batteries like those found in EVs.
Despite the shorter refuelling times of hydrogen fuel cell cars, there are challenges with the availability of hydrogen fuelling stations. The development of hydrogen fuelling infrastructure has not kept pace with the growth of EV charging stations. This limited availability of hydrogen fuel can be a disadvantage for drivers, impacting their ability to conveniently refuel their vehicles.
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Frequently asked questions
A fuel cell car is an electric vehicle that uses a fuel cell, sometimes in combination with a small battery or supercapacitor, to power its onboard electric motor.
Maintenance items of a fuel cell car include replacing a fuel line or valve and checking for helium and hydrogen leaks.
Reliability data shows that some fuel cell cars won't visit a dealer service department except for regularly scheduled services over the first three to five years of ownership.
The biggest difference in maintenance between the two technologies is that for battery electric vehicles, the main issue to consider is battery use and cycle life, while for fuel cell cars, the issues are operating hours and fuel cell lifetime.
To service a hydrogen fuel cell car at a dealer, the bulk of the hydrogen must be removed from its tanks, stack, and plumbing. Then, the car is pushed into the service bay by mechanics, and work on the system can begin.
