Mercedes Mullins
A fuel cell car, also known as a fuel cell vehicle (FCV) or fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV), is an electric vehicle that uses a fuel cell, often in combination with a small battery, to power its electric motor. The most common type of fuel cell car is powered by hydrogen, which combines with oxygen from the air to produce electricity and water vapour. Hydrogen fuel cell cars are highly efficient, producing far fewer emissions than traditional combustion engines, and can be refuelled in under five minutes. However, the technology has faced challenges due to the high cost of hydrogen fuel and the limited availability of refuelling infrastructure.
Characteristics and Values of a Fuel Cell Car
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | 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 Composition | All fuel cells have three parts: an electrolyte, an anode and a cathode. |
| Fuel Cell Function | Fuel cells produce electricity as long as they are supplied with fuel. |
| Fuel | Hydrogen and oxygen |
| Fuel Efficiency | 2-3 times more efficient than combustion engines |
| Fuel Availability | Hydrogen is derived from reformed natural gas and fossil fuels like natural gas. |
| Fuel Cost | The average price of hydrogen for a light-duty fuel cell electric vehicle (passenger car) in California is $16.51 per kilogram. |
| Refuelling Time | Filling up a fuel cell car takes less than five minutes, usually at a gas station. |
| Safety | Hydrogen is colorless, odorless, and non-toxic. Hydrogen tanks are made of carbon fiber and are extremely strong, undergoing a battery of extreme tests, including bonfire, pressure cycling, impact, burst, and penetration tests. |
| Environmental Impact | Most fuel cell vehicles are classified as zero-emissions vehicles. However, the production and transportation of hydrogen can create pollutants. |
| Applications | Cars, drones, trucks, trains, buses, ships, forklifts, bin lorries, backup power, bicycles, aircraft, and boats. |
| Examples | Honda Clarity Fuel Cell, Hyundai Nexo SUV, Toyota Mirai, Honda CR-V e:FCEV |
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What You'll Learn
How do fuel cell cars work?
Fuel cell cars are powered by hydrogen, which is stored in pressurised tanks onboard the vehicle. Hydrogen is considered an alternative fuel under the Energy Policy Act of 1992 and qualifies for alternative fuel vehicle tax credits. The hydrogen is combined with oxygen from the air in a fuel cell stack, which is an assembly of individual membrane electrodes. This combination produces electricity through an electrochemical reaction, which then powers the electric motor of the car.
The electricity produced by the fuel cell is added to the storage capacity of the car's battery, powering the car's electric motor. This motor runs silently and produces no harmful tailpipe emissions, only emitting water vapour and warm air. The water vapour produced is so pure that it is drinkable.
The amount of energy stored onboard is determined by the size of the hydrogen fuel tank, and the vehicle manufacturer defines the power of the vehicle by the size of the electric motor(s). The power electronics controller (FCEV) manages the flow of electrical energy delivered by the fuel cell and the battery, controlling the speed and torque of the electric motor.
Fuel cell cars have the advantage of being able to be refuelled in just five minutes, as opposed to battery-powered cars which can take up to a whole night to charge. They also have a similar range to conventional gas vehicles, making them a more efficient and environmentally friendly option.
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Types of fuel cells
A fuel cell vehicle (FCV) or 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 cells in vehicles generally generate electricity using oxygen from the air and compressed hydrogen.
There are several types of fuel cells, including:
Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cells
These are the most common type of fuel cells used in vehicles. PEM fuel cells use a polymer membrane as an electrolyte, allowing hydrogen ions to pass through and create electricity. They are lightweight, efficient, and can start quickly, making them ideal for use in cars.
Direct Methanol Fuel Cells
Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) use methanol (a type of alcohol) and water as fuel, and produce electricity through an electrochemical reaction. DMFCs are often used in portable electronics and backup power systems, but have also been explored for use in vehicles.
Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cells
Phosphoric acid fuel cells (PAFCs) use phosphoric acid as an electrolyte and can operate at high temperatures, making them suitable for stationary power generation. They have been used in some prototype vehicles but are more commonly found in larger applications such as power plants.
Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells
Molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs) use a molten carbonate salt mixture as an electrolyte and can operate at very high temperatures, making them efficient for power generation. MCFCs are typically used in stationary applications but have been explored for use in larger vehicles such as buses and trucks.
Solid Oxide Fuel Cells
Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) use a solid ceramic material as an electrolyte and can operate at extremely high temperatures, making them durable and efficient. SOFCs are typically used in stationary power generation but have potential for use in vehicles, especially in hybrid systems.
Regenerative Fuel Cells
Regenerative fuel cells (RFCs) are unique in that they can not only generate electricity but also use electricity to separate water into hydrogen and oxygen, which can then be used as fuel. This makes them highly efficient and suitable for use in vehicles, especially in combination with other types of fuel cells.
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History of fuel cell cars
The concept of the fuel cell was first demonstrated by Humphry Davy in 1801. However, the first internal-combustion-engined (ICE) vehicle to be powered by hydrogen was created by Swiss inventor Francois Isaac de Rivaz in 1807, using a balloon filled with hydrogen and oxygen. In 1847, chemist, lawyer, and physicist William Grove invented a working fuel cell, a device that converts the chemical energy of hydrogen and oxygen into electricity.
In 1932, English engineer Francis Bacon started a project that would make fuel cells practical to use in real-world applications. Bacon conceptualized a simple, economical design capable of producing much more power than ever before. The first road vehicle to use a fuel cell was the Chevrolet Electrovan, which arrived in 1966 from General Motors. The Electrovan had a top speed of 70 mph and a range of about 150 miles.
In 2001, the first 700 Bar (10,000 PSI) hydrogen tank was developed, meaning the size of fuel cell tanks could be reduced enough to fit into vehicles. The late 2000s and early 2010s saw a boom in hydrogen cars being introduced to the global marketplace. In 2008, Honda launched the first commercially available fuel cell car, the Honda FCX Clarity, the first hydrogen car available on the consumer market.
In 2015, Toyota announced that it would offer all 5,680 patents related to hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell charging station technology to its competitors free of charge to stimulate the market for hydrogen-powered vehicles. In 2019, Katsushi Inoue, the president of Honda Europe, stated, "Our focus is on hybrid and electric vehicles now. Maybe hydrogen fuel cell cars will come, but that's a technology for the next era." By 2020, only three car makers were still manufacturing, or had active manufacturing programs for hydrogen cars.
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Fuel cell cars vs. battery-electric cars
A fuel cell vehicle (FCV) or fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) uses a fuel cell, sometimes in combination with a small battery or supercapacitor, to power its onboard electric motor. Most FCVs are classified as zero-emissions vehicles. Fuel cells in vehicles generate electricity using oxygen from the air and compressed hydrogen.
A battery-electric vehicle (BEV), on the other hand, obtains all of its energy from batteries that were charged by the electrical grid.
Both hydrogen and electricity can be made from low- or zero-carbon sources, including renewable energy (solar, wind, and biomass), nuclear energy, and coal with carbon capture and storage (CCS). Both hydrogen and electricity are zero-carbon fuels that will allow BEVs and FCEVs to meet stringent emission standards.
The main difference between the two is that a battery stores electric energy, which it then uses, while a fuel cell generates electric energy by converting available fuel. Fuel cells are also more efficient than batteries in terms of mass, volume, cost, initial greenhouse gas reductions, refuelling time, and well-to-wheels energy efficiency using natural gas or biomass as the source and life cycle costs.
However, hydrogen fuel cells have their own set of challenges. Hydrogen is difficult to store and distribute, and it is often derived from fossil fuels like natural gas. Additionally, the infrastructure for hydrogen fuel cells is still lacking, with limited "hydrogen fuelling stations" available.
In terms of real-world applications, Toyota is the company most devoted to hydrogen power as an alternative to battery-electric vehicles, with its best-selling hydrogen car in the US, the Toyota Mirai. Honda has also produced the Honda Clarity Fuel Cell, although it has now ended production of all models. Nissan has announced plans to develop fuel cell vehicles powered by ethanol rather than hydrogen, claiming that this approach would be cheaper and easier to deploy.
While fuel cell vehicles show promise, especially with their faster refuelling times and higher energy efficiency, the current lack of infrastructure and distribution challenges pose significant hurdles that need to be addressed before they can become a mainstream alternative to battery-electric vehicles.
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Hydrogen fuel cell car models
A fuel cell vehicle (FCV) or fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) uses a fuel cell, sometimes in combination with a small battery or supercapacitor, to power its onboard electric motor. Most fuel cells are made up of three parts: an electrolyte, an anode, and a cathode. A hydrogen fuel cell functions like a battery, producing electricity to run an electric motor. Instead of requiring recharging, the fuel cell can be refilled with hydrogen.
Since 2015, three hydrogen-powered cars have been offered for sale from three different car companies: the Honda Clarity Fuel Cell, the Hyundai Nexo SUV, and the Toyota Mirai. Honda has ended production of all models of the Clarity, and Hyundai has sold only about 1,600 Nexo SUVs in six years. Toyota, the company most devoted to hydrogen power, has sold roughly 14,300 Mirai sedans across two generations in the U.S. The Mirai is the best-selling hydrogen car in the U.S., with a fuel cell rated at 90 kW (120 horsepower). However, this is not enough to accelerate onto a fast-moving highway, so Toyota adds a high-voltage low-capacity battery.
In 2019, Honda Europe stated that their focus was on hybrid and electric vehicles, and that hydrogen fuel cell cars would perhaps come in the next era. By 2017, Daimler had phased out its FCEV development, and most automobile companies developing hydrogen cars had switched their focus to battery electric vehicles. By 2020, only three car makers were still manufacturing, or had active manufacturing programs for hydrogen cars. In 2023, 3,143 hydrogen cars were sold in the US compared with 380,000 BEVs.
In 2024, Mirai owners filed a class action lawsuit in California over the lack of availability of hydrogen for fuel cell electric cars. However, Toyota remains committed to hydrogen power, and the Honda CR-V e:FCEV, an adaptation of the popular compact crossover, will soon be released. This vehicle will feature a hydrogen fuel cell and a larger battery that can be plugged in.
Hydrogen fuel cell technology is also being used in a variety of other vehicles, including forklifts, trucks, trains, buses, ships, and drones.
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Frequently asked questions
A fuel cell car, also known as a fuel cell vehicle (FCV) or fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV), is an electric vehicle that uses a fuel cell to power its electric motor. The fuel cell generates electricity using hydrogen from its tank and oxygen from the air.
A fuel cell is made up of three parts: an electrolyte, an anode, and a cathode. Hydrogen is fed into the anode side of the fuel cell, and oxygen is fed from the cathode side. When the hydrogen molecules come into contact with the cathode, a chemical reaction occurs, converting the energy stored in the hydrogen into electricity.
Fuel cell cars are more efficient than combustion engines, and the process of making hydrogen is energy efficient. They are also environmentally friendly, as they produce fewer emissions.
Hydrogen storage is a significant problem, and there is a lack of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure. There are also safety concerns around hydrogen, and it is difficult to detect leaks due to it being colourless, odourless, and non-toxic.
Since 2015, three hydrogen-powered cars have been offered for sale: the Honda Clarity Fuel Cell, the Hyundai Nexo SUV, and the Toyota Mirai. However, as of 2024, only the Mirai remains in production.
