Sylvie Willis
Hydrogen fuel cell cars are an appealing prospect for those seeking a more sustainable mode of transport. With the ability to fill up in under five minutes at retail stations, hydrogen-powered cars offer a convenient and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional petrol and diesel vehicles. However, the availability of hydrogen fuel has been a challenge, with a limited number of filling stations and even fewer hydrogen fuel-cell car models on the market. Despite these setbacks, there is growing interest in hydrogen as a low- and zero-carbon fuel option, particularly in California, where initiatives are driving the production of 100% renewable hydrogen fuel. With the potential for long-term energy storage and reduced emissions, hydrogen fuel cells offer a promising future for the automotive industry, although the current costs are higher than gasoline.
Where to get hydrogen fuel for your car:
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Hydrogen fuel stations | Designed to be self-service, similar to compressed natural gas stations |
| Hydrogen fuel pumps | Very similar to conventional fossil fuel pumps |
| Hydrogen fuel payment | Accept credit cards |
| Hydrogen fuel availability | Hydrogen stations are located at existing gas stations throughout California |
| Hydrogen fuel tank refill time | Approximately 5 minutes |
| Hydrogen fuel tank capacity | The Toyota Mirai has a fuel tank that holds up to 5.6kg |
| Hydrogen fuel tank cost | Between £10 and £15 per kilogramme in the UK |
| Hydrogen fuel production | Hydrogen can be produced from natural gas, electrolysis of water, reforming natural gas, biomethane, pipeline hydrogen, plant materials, and even trash |
| Hydrogen fuel emissions | The quantity of emissions depends on the source of feedstock and method of production. Currently, hydrogen production results in carbon dioxide and methane emissions if not captured and sequestered |
| Hydrogen fuel efficiency | Fuel cells are approximately 2.5 times more efficient than gasoline engines |
| Hydrogen fuel incentives | Hydrogen fuel cell electric cars may be eligible for consumer incentives such as tax credits and access to carpool lanes |
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What You'll Learn
Hydrogen fuel stations in the UK
The United Kingdom Hydrogen Highway system is a proposed network of hydrogen refueling stations in the UK. The system consists of two separate highway systems in the north and south of the country. The northern system is planned for the east side of Scotland, while the southern system is intended for South Wales, with potential refueling stations in Swansea, Cardiff, Newport, and the University of Glamorgan in Port Talbot. Other proposed locations for hydrogen fueling stations include Swindon, London, Birmingham, Sheffield, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Edinburgh, and Glasgow.
As of 2024, there is only one operational hydrogen fuel station in the UK, and it requires an appointment. There were 14 hydrogen filling points in the UK in 2021, but some have since closed. The largest hydrogen fuel station in the UK is Metroline in Perivale, with a daily capacity of 1,500 kilograms of H2. The second-largest station is at Tyseley Energy Park in Birmingham, with a fueling capacity of 1,200 kilograms of H2 per day.
While some people argue that the UK will get more hydrogen fuel stations in the future, others believe that the technology is inefficient and that batteries are a more viable solution for cars. There are also concerns about the cleanliness of the hydrogen production process, as 99% of hydrogen currently comes from reformed natural gas, which is a fossil fuel.
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Hydrogen fuel stations in California
California is at the forefront of fuel cell electric vehicle deployment, with the state aiming to get 1.5 million zero-emission vehicles on its roads by 2025. The state is investing in an initial network of 100 public hydrogen stations to support the adoption of hydrogen fuel cell electric cars.
The California Energy Commission has been supporting the adoption of hydrogen fuel cell electric cars by expanding the state's network of hydrogen refuelling stations. The Energy Commission's Clean Transportation Program, formerly known as the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program, is funding the development of these stations. The program aims to reduce the state's greenhouse gas emissions and petroleum dependence in the transportation sector.
The average price of hydrogen for a light-duty fuel cell electric vehicle in California was $16.51 per kilogram in 2019. As more retail stations open, the price is expected to drop to more competitive ranges. For example, the True Zero Oakland hydrogen station, which opened in late 2019, offers hydrogen at $13.11 per kilogram. Additionally, automakers offer free fuel for three years with the purchase or lease of a fuel cell electric car to make the market more competitive with other fuel options.
While Shell previously operated hydrogen refuelling stations for passenger cars in California, the company has since closed these stations due to "supply complications and other external market factors". Shell now focuses on serving heavy-duty vehicles, operating three H2 filling stations for this purpose in the state.
In 2024, the first big-rig hydrogen fuel station in the US opened in California, serving 30 hydrogen fuel-cell trucks. This station is operated by FirstElement through its True Zero brand fueling stations. The federal government is also investing in the creation of hydrogen hubs, with California expected to receive $1.2 billion to construct 60 more hydrogen truck stations, serving 5,000 trucks and 1,000 buses.
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Hydrogen fuel production methods
Hydrogen fuel is a clean fuel that can be produced from a variety of sources. The two most common methods for producing hydrogen are steam-methane reforming and electrolysis. Steam-methane reforming, also known as steam reforming, is a thermal process where steam reacts with a hydrocarbon fuel, such as natural gas, diesel, renewable liquid fuels, gasified coal, or gasified biomass, to produce hydrogen. This process accounts for nearly all commercially produced hydrogen in the United States.
Electrolysis involves splitting water (H2O) into its components, oxygen and hydrogen, using an electric current. This process can be powered by renewable or low-carbon energy sources, resulting in green hydrogen. Electrolysis can be performed at high or low pressure and has an effective electrical efficiency of 70-80%. It is also possible to reduce the voltage required for electrolysis by increasing the temperature of the electrolysis cell and consuming oxygen produced on the side with a fuel such as carbon or methanol. This method is known as carbon/hydrocarbon-assisted water electrolysis (CAWE) and offers a cleaner, less energy-intensive approach.
Other methods for producing hydrogen include solar-driven processes such as photobiological, photoelectrochemical, and solar thermochemical. Photobiological processes use the natural photosynthetic activity of bacteria and green algae to produce hydrogen, while photoelectrochemical processes use specialized semiconductors to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. Solar thermochemical hydrogen production employs concentrated solar power to drive water-splitting reactions, often in conjunction with other species like metal oxides.
Biological processes, such as microbial biomass conversion, utilize microbes like bacteria and microalgae to produce hydrogen through biochemical reactions. In microbial biomass conversion, microbes break down organic matter like biomass or wastewater to generate hydrogen, while in photobiological processes, they use sunlight as their energy source. These biological routes are potentially less energy-intensive and can utilize a wide variety of waste and low-value materials as renewable sources.
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Hydrogen fuel tanks and storage
However, high-density hydrogen storage remains a significant challenge for transportation applications. Currently, storing hydrogen in gaseous form requires large-volume systems, which can be an issue for vehicles that need enough fuel for a driving range of more than 300 miles. Hydrogen can be delivered as a gas at pressures up to 7,200 psi, and stations can also produce hydrogen onsite through electrolysis of water or reforming natural gas and biomethane.
Hydrogen stations are designed to be self-service and similar to compressed natural gas fuelling stations. When a vehicle operator activates the dispenser, hydrogen flows from the storage tanks to the nozzle into the vehicle in a closed system. The dispenser pauses periodically to conduct safety and integrity checks. Hydrogen dispensers look similar to gasoline dispensers and are usually located at existing gas stations.
NPROXX is a world leader in high-pressure hydrogen storage for stationary and mobile applications. They produce composite pressure vessels for hydrogen storage infrastructure, refuelling stations, and hydrogen-powered vehicles.
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Hydrogen fuel costs
Hydrogen fuel is currently more expensive than traditional fuel. In 2022, the average US gas price per gallon rose from $3.41 in January to $5.03 in June, while a kilogram of hydrogen for a passenger vehicle was $16.51. At this price, it would cost about $135 to fill up a standard car. However, prices vary, and some sources state that hydrogen fuel can cost up to $25 per kilogram.
The high cost of hydrogen fuel is a significant barrier to its adoption as a desired and viable electric vehicle power source. Pat Griffin, president of North America at Hyzon Motors, which makes heavy-duty hydrogen-powered vehicles, has stated that hydrogen fuel needs to be priced closer to $10 per kilogram for wider adoption.
The cost of hydrogen fuel is expected to decrease in the long term as sustainable technologies become more popular and competitive. As technology improves, traditional fuel prices fluctuate, more companies compete in the market, and the supply chain is optimized, prices are predicted to fall. This is already being seen with the growth in demand for hydrogen fuel, which increased threefold between 1975 and 2019.
The price of hydrogen fuel is also dependent on the method of production. Hydrogen produced unsustainably, such as brown hydrogen synthesized via coal gasification, is less expensive than green hydrogen produced using renewable energy and resources. However, as the popularity of sustainable technologies grows, the price of producing green hydrogen will likely decrease.
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Frequently asked questions
Hydrogen fuel stations are located at existing gas stations throughout California. Outside of California, the number of hydrogen filling stations in the UK has been decreasing over the past few years.
In the UK, a kilogram of hydrogen costs between £10 and £15.
It takes as little as five minutes to fill up the tank of a hydrogen fuel-cell car.
There are very few hydrogen fuel-cell cars available for purchase. In the UK, the only two hydrogen fuel-cell cars that have been on sale in recent years are the Toyota Mirai and the Hyundai NEXO SUV.
Hydrogen dispensers look similar to gasoline dispensers. You simply insert the nozzle into the car in the same way you would with a conventional fossil fuel pump.
