Ameer Randolph
Fuel cell cars are electric vehicles that use hydrogen to power their onboard electric motor. Unlike conventional cars that run on gasoline or diesel, fuel cell cars combine hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, which runs the motor. Hydrogen fuel cell cars are considered electric vehicles, but unlike other EVs, their range and refueling processes are comparable to conventional cars. The most common type of fuel cell for vehicle applications is the polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell, which uses an electrochemical reaction to break down hydrogen molecules and generate electricity. This process produces no tailpipe emissions, with the only waste being water vapour and heat.
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What You'll Learn
Hydrogen and oxygen combine to produce electricity
Hydrogen fuel cell cars are electric vehicles that use hydrogen and oxygen to generate electricity. This electricity powers the car's electric motors. The process of combining hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity is called an electrochemical reaction, and it happens in a fuel cell, which is an essential component of a hydrogen fuel cell car.
A fuel cell is made up of an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte membrane. Hydrogen is introduced to the anode, and oxygen from the air is introduced to the cathode. At the anode, a catalyst facilitates the splitting of hydrogen molecules into electrons and protons. The protons pass through the porous electrolyte membrane, while the electrons are forced through an external circuit, creating an electric current.
The electrons and protons then recombine at the cathode, where they unite with oxygen molecules to form water. This process of generating electricity in a fuel cell is highly efficient and produces no harmful byproducts. The only waste produced is water vapour and heat, making hydrogen fuel cell cars a clean and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional internal combustion engines.
The hydrogen fuel used in these vehicles is typically stored in carbon-fiber-reinforced tanks and can be refuelled at hydrogen refuelling stations, making the refuelling process for hydrogen fuel cell cars similar to that of conventional cars. The availability of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure is currently limited, but initiatives in states like California aim to expand access to hydrogen fuelling stations.
The combination of fast refuelling, long driving ranges, and zero emissions makes hydrogen fuel cell cars a promising alternative to both traditional internal combustion engines and battery-electric vehicles.
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The electricity powers the car's electric motor
Fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) are electric vehicles that use electricity to power their electric motors. Unlike conventional cars, which run on gasoline or diesel, FCVs combine hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity. This onboard electricity generation only produces heat and water vapour as byproducts.
The electricity is generated through an electrochemical reaction in the fuel cell, which is made up of an anode, cathode, and an electrolyte membrane. Hydrogen is introduced to the anode, and oxygen is introduced to the cathode. At the anode, a catalyst splits the hydrogen molecules into electrons and protons. The electrons are forced to travel through an external circuit, providing power to the electric motor, and then recombine with the protons on the cathode side.
The process of refueling an FCV is similar to refueling a conventional car, taking less than 10 minutes. The hydrogen fuel is stored in a pressurised tank and, once filled, the driving range of an FCV is similar to that of a gasoline or diesel-only vehicle (200-300 miles). This combination of fast, centralised refueling and longer driving ranges makes fuel cells particularly efficient for larger vehicles with long-distance requirements.
FCVs are considered zero-emissions vehicles, as the tailpipe emissions are zero, and the only waste produced is pure water. However, it is important to note that the production of hydrogen fuel can lead to pollution, including greenhouse gas emissions.
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The fuel cell stack
The construction of the fuel cell stack is similar to that of a battery. It consists of an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte membrane. Hydrogen gas enters the anode, where it comes into contact with a catalyst. This catalyst facilitates the separation of hydrogen molecules (H2) into two protons and two electrons, through an electrochemical reaction. The highly flammable hydrogen gas is stored in carbon-fiber-reinforced tanks, providing fuel to the fuel cell stack.
The protons pass through the porous electrolyte membrane, while the electrons are forced through an external circuit, creating an electric current. This current then powers the electric motor of the car. The electrons and protons then recombine at the cathode, where they combine with oxygen molecules to produce water molecules. This reaction produces electricity, powering the car's electric motor, and water vapour, which is emitted as exhaust.
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The refueling process
The hydrogen fuel is stored in a pressurized tank designed specifically for that use. The refueling process involves visiting a hydrogen refueling station, which dispenses the hydrogen gas into the vehicle's tank. This process is comparable to refueling a conventional car in terms of time and complexity, taking around five to ten minutes.
One challenge of refueling a fuel cell car is finding a hydrogen refueling station. Currently, there is a limited number of these stations, with most being located in California. This lack of widespread infrastructure can make it difficult for drivers to reliably access hydrogen fuel, especially outside of California.
To address this issue, there have been efforts to increase the number of hydrogen refueling stations. For example, the State of California has set a goal of building 200 hydrogen refueling stations by 2025, with incentives provided for new electric charging and hydrogen fueling infrastructure projects.
In addition to the refueling infrastructure, the production of hydrogen fuel itself is also important. Hydrogen can be produced from various sources, including natural or renewable gas, solar energy, wind, hydro, and biomass. However, the process of manufacturing hydrogen fuel can be complex and energy-intensive, which contributes to the overall cost of operating a fuel cell vehicle.
Overall, the refueling process for a fuel cell car is designed to be convenient and efficient, with a similar experience to refueling a conventional car. The expansion of hydrogen refueling infrastructure and advancements in hydrogen fuel production will play a crucial role in making fuel cell cars more accessible and cost-effective for drivers.
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Hydrogen availability and production
Hydrogen is a common element, but it rarely occurs in isolation in nature. It is usually found in compounds such as oil, natural gas, and water. Hydrogen is flammable and must be stored in vehicles in gaseous form in thick-walled tanks to prevent uncontrolled reactions with oxygen.
The availability of hydrogen fuel is a significant challenge for fuel cell vehicles. Hydrogen fuel stations are scarce, and most publicly accessible stations are in California, with a few in Hawaii. California initially planned to have 100 hydrogen stations by 2024 but currently has fewer than 60, and this number is not increasing rapidly.
The cost of hydrogen fuel is another factor influencing its availability. Hydrogen currently costs around 14 euros per kilogram in Europe, allowing a fuel cell car to travel about 100 kilometres. This makes the cost per kilometre of a hydrogen car comparable to that of a combustion vehicle. However, if hydrogen production increases, the price per kilogram in Germany is predicted to decrease to 4–6 euros by 2030.
Hydrogen production can result in pollution, including greenhouse gas emissions, even though hydrogen fuel cell vehicles only produce water and heat as byproducts. Using renewable energies in hydrogen production is crucial for the ecological sustainability of hydrogen-powered cars.
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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.
A fuel cell car uses hydrogen gas to power an electric motor. Hydrogen and oxygen are combined to produce electricity, which runs a motor. The electricity is generated onboard, producing only heat and water vapour.
Fuel cell cars are powered by compressed hydrogen gas that feeds into an onboard fuel cell stack that doesn't burn the gas but transforms the fuel's chemical energy into electrical energy.
Fuel cell cars are considered electric vehicles and are much cleaner than conventional cars and trucks. They combine the range and refueling of conventional cars with the recreational and environmental benefits of driving on electricity.
