Ameer Randolph
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCVs) are a type of electric vehicle that uses hydrogen to power an electric motor. Unlike conventional electric vehicles, HFCVs produce their own electricity through a chemical reaction involving hydrogen and oxygen, rather than relying on a built-in battery. This means that HFCVs can be refuelled in a similar way to traditional cars, but without the emissions. While hydrogen fuel cell technology has been applied to various vehicles, from boats to planes, there are only a few hydrogen-powered cars currently available on the market, including the Toyota Mirai and the Hyundai Nexo.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) Type | Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle (HFCV) |
| How it Works | Hydrogen combines with oxygen from the air to generate power |
| Emissions | No harmful tailpipe emissions |
| Refuelling Time | Similar to conventional internal combustion engine vehicles, approximately 5 minutes |
| Driving Range | More than 300 miles |
| Technology | Fuel cell drives, regenerative braking systems, electric motors |
| Examples | Honda Clarity Fuel Cell, Hyundai Nexo SUV, Toyota Mirai |
| Market Availability | Limited availability, mostly in California |
| Cost | Generally more expensive than comparable e-cars with batteries or internal combustion engines |
| Infrastructure | Requires supporting infrastructure, including hydrogen fuelling stations |
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What You'll Learn
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCVs)
HFCVs use a propulsion system similar to that of electric vehicles, where energy stored as hydrogen is converted to electricity by the fuel cell. The electricity generated then powers the electric motor, turning the wheels and driving the vehicle. The process involves hydrogen from the fuel tank combining with oxygen from the outside air in the Fuel Cell Stack, creating a chemical reaction that produces electricity. This electricity can also be used to charge a battery that acts as temporary storage, providing power when needed for driving.
One of the key advantages of HFCVs is their quick refuelling time. Similar to conventional internal combustion engine vehicles, HFCVs can be refuelled in about five minutes and offer a driving range of over 300 miles. Additionally, HFCVs are equipped with advanced technologies such as regenerative braking systems, which capture the energy lost during braking and store it in a battery, further increasing their efficiency.
While HFCVs have the potential to reduce carbon emissions and offer an alternative to battery-electric vehicles, they are currently much rarer than EVs. As of mid-2022, there were 17,000 or fewer hydrogen-powered vehicles on US roads, all of them in California, the only state with a network of retail hydrogen fuelling stations. However, automobile manufacturers are offering an increasing number of HFCV models to the public, and the infrastructure for hydrogen refuelling stations is constantly expanding worldwide.
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Hydrogen-electric drive
FCEVs use a propulsion system similar to that of electric vehicles, but with a crucial difference in the way they store energy. In an FCEV, the power comes from a fuel-cell stack that converts hydrogen in the fuel tank into electricity, rather than from a built-in battery. The hydrogen fuel tank stores hydrogen gas, which combines with oxygen from the air in the fuel cell to generate electricity. This electricity then powers the electric motor. The only by-products of this process are electrical energy, heat, and water vapour, with no harmful tailpipe emissions.
FCEVs have several advantages over conventional internal combustion engine vehicles and battery-electric vehicles (BEVs). They can be refuelled in about five minutes, have a driving range of over 300 miles, and do not produce harmful tailpipe emissions. Additionally, FCEVs can recover braking energy, using regenerative braking systems to capture and store the energy lost during braking.
However, there are also some disadvantages to FCEVs. The production of hydrogen for vehicles requires a significant amount of energy, and the efficiency of the entire energy chain is currently only half that of BEVs. Another challenge is the limited availability of hydrogen fuel and the lack of infrastructure for refuelling. As of 2021, there were only two models of hydrogen cars publicly available in select markets: the Toyota Mirai and the Hyundai Nexo.
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Fuel cell drives
However, there are also some disadvantages to fuel cell drives. The technology is still in the early stages of industrialization and is not yet widely available. The few models that are on the market tend to be more expensive than comparable e-cars with batteries or internal combustion engines. Hydrogen production is also currently inefficient, with much of it lost during electrolysis. However, hydrogen can be produced using renewable energy sources, and it can also be upcycled from industrial processes where it is currently treated as waste.
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Fuel cell buses
In Europe, there has been a growing interest in fuel cell buses, with 370 in operation as of January 2023 and plans to have over 1,200 by 2025. Solaris, for example, was awarded a contract for 130 Urbino 12 hydrogen buses to be deployed in Bologna, Italy, by 2026. Vienna has also chosen to use hydrogen fuel cell buses for its city centre routes, reducing the number of buses required and eliminating the need for charging infrastructure in the city centre.
In the United States, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NERL) has been researching hydrogen fuel cell buses since 2000, and AC Transit in the San Francisco Bay Area began trialling a hydrogen fuel cell bus in 2002. The Georgetown Fuel Cell Bus Program, led by Georgetown University and the US Department of Energy, also demonstrated the feasibility of fuel cell buses in the mid-1990s.
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Fuel cell stacks
The number of fuel cells in a stack can vary, with some containing up to several hundred fuel cells. Each fuel cell is an electrochemical engine that facilitates the electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, separated by a polymer membrane. This membrane allows the exchange of ions and electrons, and the flow of electrons from the anode to the cathode creates an electric current.
The design of a fuel cell stack is influenced by factors such as desired power output, voltage, efficiency, and volume and weight limitations. The stack's configuration may include humidification of reactant gases and cooling mechanisms to manage the heat generated during operation.
The fuel cell stack is the heart of the fuel cell system, generating the electrical energy that powers the vehicle. In FCEVs, the electricity generated by the fuel cell stack is used to power the electric motor, with any excess energy stored in a battery for later use. This battery is smaller and lighter than those found in all-electric vehicles and is constantly recharged by the fuel cell.
FCEVs, such as the Toyota Mirai, offer several advantages, including quick refuelling, long driving ranges, and zero tailpipe emissions. However, the infrastructure for hydrogen refuelling is still being developed and expanded globally.
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Frequently asked questions
A fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) uses a propulsion system similar to that of an electric vehicle, where energy stored as hydrogen is converted to electricity by the fuel cell.
Hydrogen from the fuel tank and oxygen from the air combine in the fuel cell to produce electricity, which powers the vehicle.
Since 2015, three hydrogen-powered cars have been offered for sale: the Honda Clarity Fuel Cell, the Hyundai Nexo SUV, and the Toyota Mirai.
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are refuelled through special pumps at "hydrogen fuelling stations", similar to traditional gas stations.
In 2023, True Zero, California's largest hydrogen supplier, charged $36/kg. A full 5-kg refill in a Mirai could cost up to $180.
