Katerina Swanson
Fuel cell cars, also known as fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), are vehicles that use a fuel cell to power an onboard electric motor. Unlike conventional internal combustion engine vehicles, they are more efficient and produce no harmful tailpipe emissions—only emitting water vapour and warm air. Hydrogen is considered an alternative fuel under the Energy Policy Act of 1992 and qualifies for alternative fuel vehicle tax credits. The most common type of fuel cell for vehicle applications is the polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell, which uses hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity. Fuel cell cars are still in the early stages of implementation, with cost, performance, and durability being key challenges in the fuel cell industry.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Description | 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. |
| Power Source | Hydrogen |
| Emission | Water vapour and warm air |
| Efficiency | More efficient than conventional internal combustion engine vehicles |
| Fuel Cell Type | Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell is the most common type |
| Fuel Cell Composition | An electrolyte membrane sandwiched between a positive electrode (cathode) and a negative electrode (anode) |
| Fuel Cell Function | Produces electricity by combining oxygen from the air and compressed hydrogen |
| Fuel Cell Benefits | Clean and efficient energy production, quiet operation, no recharging required, higher efficiency than combustion engines |
| Fuel Cell Challenges | Cost, performance, and durability are key challenges |
| Vehicle Types | Cars, buses, forklifts, and material handling vehicles |
| Vehicle Examples | Honda FCX Clarity, Hyundai Nexo, Toyota Mirai |
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What You'll Learn
- Fuel cell cars are electric vehicles that use fuel cells to power onboard electric motors
- Hydrogen is the most common fuel for these vehicles, but other fuels can be used
- Fuel cells are unique in that they can provide power for systems as small as a laptop or as large as a utility power station
- Hydrogen fuel cells emit only water vapour and warm air, with no harmful tailpipe emissions
- Hydrogen fuel cells are quiet during operation as they have few moving parts
Fuel cell cars are electric vehicles that use fuel cells to power onboard electric motors
Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) are powered by hydrogen, which is converted to electricity by the fuel cell. The most common type of fuel cell for vehicle applications is the polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell. In a PEM fuel cell, an electrolyte membrane is sandwiched between a positive electrode (cathode) and a negative electrode (anode). Hydrogen is introduced to the anode, and oxygen from the air is introduced to the cathode. The hydrogen molecules then break apart into protons and electrons due to an electrochemical reaction aided by a catalyst. The electrons are forced to travel through an external circuit to perform work, providing power to the electric motor.
Fuel cell vehicles generate electricity using oxygen from the air and compressed hydrogen. They are considered zero-emissions vehicles, although hydrogen production and transportation can create pollutants. Fuel cells have been used in a variety of vehicles, including forklifts, trucks, buses, and boats.
Fuel cell cars offer several benefits, including reduced carbon emissions, quiet operation, and higher efficiency than combustion engines. However, they also have some drawbacks, such as the high cost of fuel cells and the limited availability of hydrogen fuelling stations. As of mid-2022, only 17,000 or fewer hydrogen-powered vehicles were on US roads, primarily in California, due to its network of retail hydrogen fuelling stations.
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Hydrogen is the most common fuel for these vehicles, but other fuels can be used
Hydrogen is the most common fuel for fuel cell cars, but other fuels can be used. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) are electric vehicles that use a fuel cell, sometimes in combination with a small battery or supercapacitor, to power their onboard electric motor. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are more efficient than conventional internal combustion engine vehicles and produce no harmful tailpipe emissions—only water vapour and warm air are emitted.
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are considered zero-emission vehicles, but it is important to note that pollutants may be created during the production and transportation of hydrogen. Hydrogen is typically derived from reformed natural gas, which requires energy to "crack" compounds like natural gas (CH4) into pure H2, with CO2 as a byproduct.
The concept of the hydrogen fuel cell was first demonstrated by Humphry Davy in 1801. The most common type of fuel cell for vehicle applications is the polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell, which consists of an electrolyte membrane sandwiched between a positive electrode (cathode) and a negative electrode (anode). Hydrogen is introduced to the anode, and oxygen from the air is introduced to the cathode. The hydrogen molecules break apart into protons and electrons due to an electrochemical reaction aided by a catalyst. The electrons then travel through an external circuit to perform work, providing power to the electric motor.
While hydrogen is the most common fuel for fuel cell vehicles, other fuels can be used. For example, in 2016, Nissan announced plans to develop fuel cell vehicles powered by ethanol rather than hydrogen. Nissan claims that this technical approach would be cheaper and that it would be easier to deploy the fueling infrastructure than a hydrogen infrastructure.
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Fuel cells are unique in that they can provide power for systems as small as a laptop or as large as a utility power station
Fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) are electric vehicles that use fuel cells to power their onboard electric motors. They are more efficient than conventional internal combustion engine vehicles and produce no harmful tailpipe emissions—only water vapour and warm air.
Fuel cells can be used in a wide range of applications, providing power for systems across multiple sectors, including transportation, industrial/commercial/residential buildings, and long-term energy storage for the grid in reversible systems. They are unique in that they can provide power for systems as small as a laptop or as large as a utility power station. For example, in the transportation sector, fuel cells have been used in cars, buses, trucks, boats, forklifts, and even aircraft. In 2015, Toyota announced that it would offer its hydrogen fuel cell vehicle patents to competitors to stimulate the market for hydrogen-powered vehicles. Honda established the world's first fuel cell vehicle dealer network in 2008, and Honda and Hyundai have since offered fuel cell vehicles for lease. However, by 2020, only three car makers were still manufacturing or planning to manufacture hydrogen cars.
In the industrial and commercial sectors, fuel cell power plants are used for backup power in small facilities such as hospitals and to operate data centres for large corporations committed to consuming 100% renewable energy. They can also be used in combined heat and power applications, producing heat and steam in addition to electricity. In the residential sector, fuel cells can provide long-term energy storage for the grid in reversible systems.
Fuel cells work like batteries, but they do not need to be recharged and will produce electricity and heat as long as fuel is supplied. A fuel cell consists of two electrodes—a negative electrode (anode) and a positive electrode (cathode)—sandwiched around an electrolyte. A fuel, such as hydrogen, is fed to the anode, and air is fed to the cathode. In a hydrogen fuel cell, a catalyst at the anode separates the hydrogen molecules into protons and electrons, which take different paths to the cathode. The electrons go through an external circuit, creating a flow of electricity that can be used to power electric motors.
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Hydrogen fuel cells emit only water vapour and warm air, with no harmful tailpipe emissions
Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) are powered by hydrogen and are more efficient than conventional internal combustion engine vehicles. They produce no harmful tailpipe emissions, emitting only water vapour and warm air. This makes them zero-emission vehicles, which is a significant advantage in terms of addressing critical climate challenges.
The concept of the fuel cell was first demonstrated by Humphry Davy in 1801, but it was not until 2008 that Honda established the world's first fuel cell vehicle dealer network. Honda was the only company able to lease hydrogen fuel cell vehicles to private customers at that time. The Honda FCX Clarity was introduced in 2008 for leasing in Japan and Southern California. However, by 2015, Honda had discontinued the FCX Clarity, and by 2021, it had ended production of all models of the Honda Clarity Fuel Cell.
In 2019, Katsushi Inoue, the president of Honda Europe, stated that their focus was on hybrid and electric vehicles, suggesting that hydrogen fuel cell cars were a technology for the next era. This sentiment was echoed by Daimler, which phased out its FCEV development in 2017 due to declining battery costs and the increasing range of EVs. Despite these setbacks, there have been some companies that have continued to develop and release hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
In 2024, Hyundai recalled all 1600 Nexo vehicles sold in the US due to a risk of fuel leaks and fire from a faulty "pressure relief device". This incident highlights some of the challenges and risks associated with hydrogen fuel cell technology. However, it is important to note that fuel cell vehicles are generally considered safe. The US Department of Energy leads research efforts to make hydrogen-powered vehicles an affordable, environmentally friendly, and safe transportation option.
While hydrogen fuel cell vehicles offer the advantage of zero emissions, it is worth noting that they are much rarer than electric vehicles. As of mid-2022, only 17,000 or fewer hydrogen-powered vehicles were on US roads, compared to almost three million EVs. Additionally, the availability of hydrogen refuelling stations is limited, with California being the only state in the US with a network of retail hydrogen fuelling stations.
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Hydrogen fuel cells are quiet during operation as they have few moving parts
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. The most common type of fuel cell for vehicle applications is the polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell. In a PEM fuel cell, an electrolyte membrane is sandwiched between a positive electrode (anode) and a negative electrode (cathode).
While hydrogen fuel cells are quieter than combustion technologies, the systems can still produce noise during operation, especially in hydrogen-powered vehicles with other mechanical components in the interior, like pumps, compressors, and fans. These components may generate a lot of noise that could impact passenger comfort and safety in certain situations.
Fuel cell manufacturers can use custom-molded foam to reduce noise transmission to the cabin and surrounding environment, enabling quieter operation for operators and passengers. Acoustic foam, such as POLYFORM® molded foam and POLYDAMP® melamine foam, can be applied around specific areas to absorb, block, and dampen unwanted sound waves from the fuel cell and system components.
Fuel cells have several benefits over conventional combustion-based technologies currently used in many power plants and vehicles. They can operate at higher efficiencies than combustion engines and can convert chemical energy directly to electrical energy with efficiencies exceeding 60%. Hydrogen fuel cells emit only water, addressing critical climate challenges as there are no carbon dioxide emissions or air pollutants that create smog and cause health problems at the point of operation.
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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.
Fuel cell cars use hydrogen fuel cells to generate electricity by combining oxygen from the air and compressed hydrogen. The electricity produced powers the car.
Fuel cell cars are more efficient than conventional internal combustion engine vehicles and produce no harmful tailpipe emissions. They emit only water vapour and warm air.
Fuel cell cars are much rarer than electric vehicles. As of mid-2022, 17,000 or fewer hydrogen-powered vehicles were on US roads, all of them in California, the only state with a network of retail hydrogen fuelling stations.
