Rajan Wilcox
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCVs) are powered by electricity generated through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. Unlike electric vehicles, they do not require recharging but can be refuelled with hydrogen. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles include cars, buses, forklifts, trucks, and even trains and aircraft. As of 2020, 31,225 passenger FCEVs powered by hydrogen had been sold worldwide, with most of these sales in California, the only US state with a network of retail hydrogen fuelling stations. Since 2015, three hydrogen-powered cars have been offered for sale: the Honda Clarity Fuel Cell, the Hyundai Nexo SUV, and the Toyota Mirai.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How it works | Hydrogen reacts with oxygen in the fuel cell, producing electricity to power the car. |
| Fuel | Hydrogen |
| Emissions | Water vapour |
| Availability | Limited availability, with only two models of fuel cell cars publicly available as of 2021. |
| Models | Toyota Mirai, Hyundai Nexo, Honda Clarity (discontinued), Honda CR-V e:FCEV, Honda FCX, Ford Focus FCV, Nissan X-Trail FCV 04, Mercedes-Benz F-Cell, Chevrolet Equinox FC, Toyota FCHV-add, Honda FCX Clarity, Hyundai ix35 FCEV, GM HydroGen4, Mercedes-Benz B-Class, BMW |
| Cost | More expensive than comparable e-cars with batteries or internal combustion engines. |
| Refuelling time | Comparable to refuelling time for a standard car's gas tank. |
| Range | 240-400 miles on a full tank |
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What You'll Learn
Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles
The process by which this occurs is known as reverse electrolysis. Hydrogen reacts with oxygen in the fuel cell, producing electrical energy, heat, and water vapour. The electricity generated takes two routes: it either flows to the electric motor to drive the vehicle or charges a battery that acts as temporary storage until the energy is needed. This buffer battery is significantly smaller and lighter than that of a battery-electric car. Hydrogen vehicles can also recover braking energy.
The most common type of fuel cell for vehicle applications is the polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell, which was first demonstrated by Humphry Davy in 1801. 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, creating an electrochemical reaction. The hydrogen molecules break apart into protons and electrons, with the protons travelling through the membrane to the cathode, and the electrons travelling through an external circuit to provide power to the electric motor. They then recombine with the protons on the cathode side, where, along with oxygen molecules, they form water.
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 2022, fewer than 17,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles could be found on US roads, all of them in California, the only state with a network of retail hydrogen fuelling stations. Hyundai has sold around 1,600 Nexo SUVs in the US, while Toyota has sold roughly 14,300 Mirai sedans. Honda has ended production of the Clarity, and in 2024, Hyundai recalled all 1,600 Nexo vehicles sold in the US due to a risk of fuel leaks and fire. In 2024, Honda also released the CR-V e:FCEV, an adaptation of the popular compact crossover, with a hydrogen fuel cell and a larger battery that can be plugged in. This vehicle is only available for lease in California, with a projected volume of 300 vehicles per year.
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Electric cars vs. hydrogen cars
Electric cars and hydrogen cars are both environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional gasoline and diesel vehicles. However, there are several differences between the two, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Electric Cars
Electric cars run on electricity stored in large battery packs located inside the vehicle. They are widely available and have gained popularity in recent years due to their environmental benefits and the availability of electrical grids for charging. Electric cars are generally cheaper than hydrogen cars, and government incentives can help offset the cost. Additionally, electric cars have the advantage of regenerative braking, which restores energy to the battery when the driver applies the brakes. However, electric cars may have shorter driving ranges and longer recharging times compared to hydrogen cars.
Hydrogen Cars
Hydrogen cars, or Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs), use an electric motor powered by hydrogen fuel cells that convert hydrogen gas into electricity. Hydrogen cars can be refuelled quickly and provide high energy for longer travel distances. They are also quiet and produce no emissions, with only water vapour coming out of the exhaust pipe. However, hydrogen cars are generally more expensive than electric cars due to the cost of hydrogen fuel and the limited infrastructure for refuelling. As of 2020, there were fewer than 50 hydrogen fuelling stations in the US, with most of them located in California.
Comparison
When comparing electric cars and hydrogen cars, it is important to consider the relative ease of building charging infrastructure for electric vehicles versus the expense and challenges of developing hydrogen infrastructure. Additionally, electric cars have gained wider popularity and have more models available on the market. However, hydrogen cars may offer advantages in terms of refuelling time and travel range.
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Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles' performance
Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles (HFCVs) are powered by an electric motor, and are therefore classified as e-cars. They are more efficient than conventional internal combustion engine vehicles and produce no harmful tailpipe emissions, only emitting water vapour and warm air. HFCVs have the same high-voltage battery packs as a hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or electric car, but they also have one or more armoured, carbon-fibre tanks to hold pure hydrogen under extremely high pressure.
The common abbreviation for hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles is FCEV, short for "Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle". In contrast, BEV is used for battery-powered electric cars, or "Battery Electric Vehicles". There is one crucial difference between FCEVs and other electric vehicles: hydrogen vehicles produce the electricity themselves. This means that their power does not come from a built-in battery, as is the case with purely electric vehicles or plug-in hybrid vehicles, which can be charged from an external power source. Instead, hydrogen cars effectively have their own efficient power plant onboard, which converts the hydrogen in the fuel tank into electricity.
A hydrogen fuel cell functions like a battery, producing electricity that can run an electric motor. Instead of requiring recharging, however, the fuel cell can be refilled with hydrogen. Different types of fuel cells include polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells, direct methanol fuel cells, phosphoric acid fuel cells, molten carbonate fuel cells, solid oxide fuel cells, reformed methanol fuel cells, and regenerative fuel cells. The concept of the fuel cell was first demonstrated by Humphry Davy in 1801, but the invention of the first working fuel cell is credited to chemist, lawyer, and physicist William Grove. Grove's experiments with what he called a "gas voltaic battery" proved in 1842 that an electric current could be produced by an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen over a platinum catalyst.
Fuel cell cars are quiet, very energy-efficient, produce no emissions, and have an equivalent range and performance to gasoline counterparts. They can carry enough hydrogen fuel for 300-400 miles of range and their tanks can be refilled as quickly as that of a standard car's gas tank. Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles use the same kind of electric motor to turn the wheels that a battery-electric car does. But it's powered not by a large, heavy battery but by a fuel-cell stack in which pure hydrogen passes through a membrane to combine with oxygen from the air, producing the electricity that turns the wheels plus water vapour.
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Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles' availability
Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles are available for sale or lease from major automakers, including Honda, Hyundai, and Toyota. However, as of mid-2022, there were fewer than 17,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles on US roads, and these were all in California, the only state with a network of retail hydrogen fuelling stations.
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, Honda has now ended production of the Clarity, and Hyundai has sold only about 1600 Nexo SUVs in six years. 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".
In 2024, Honda introduced the CR-V e:FCEV, an adaptation of the popular compact crossover, with a hydrogen fuel cell and a larger battery that can be plugged in. However, it is only available for lease in California, with a projected volume of 300 vehicles a year.
In 2020, Hyundai started manufacturing the XCIENT, a 34-ton hydrogen-powered cargo truck, shipping 10 vehicles to Switzerland. In the same year, Total Transportation Services (TTSI), Toyota Logistics Services (TLS), UPS, and Southern Counties Express (SCE) operated a 12-month project using hydrogen fuel cell trucks on trips from Los Angeles area ports.
The limited availability of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles is due in part to the lack of extensive hydrogen infrastructure. As of 2020, there were fewer than 50 hydrogen fuelling stations for automobiles publicly available in the US, 41 of which were in California. Critics have questioned whether hydrogen fuel cell technology will be efficient or cost-effective for automobiles compared to other zero-emission technologies.
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Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles' cost
Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles (HFCVs) are much rarer than electric vehicles, with only 17,000 or fewer on US roads as of mid-2022. This is because hydrogen cars are currently more expensive than comparable e-cars with batteries or internal combustion engines.
There are several reasons for this price discrepancy. Firstly, industrialization in production is not yet fully developed, and the demand for platinum, a catalyst in electricity generation, is high. Low production volumes are also a factor, although this is expected to be temporary as hydrogen technology is used more widely for commercial vehicles, trains, aircraft, and fixed-location solutions.
The high cost of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles is also related to the lack of hydrogen infrastructure. As of July 2020, there were only 43 publicly accessible hydrogen refuelling stations in the US, 41 of which were in California. This lack of infrastructure contributes to higher prices for hydrogen fuel. For example, in California, the average hydrogen price at the pump was $21.28/kg in November 2022, a 33% increase from $15.97/kg in July 2022. In comparison, the average price of hydrogen at the pump in Germany is €13.85 ($14.78) per kg.
However, as hydrogen fuel cell technology advances and production costs decrease, the price of hydrogen cars is expected to become more competitive with traditional vehicles. The expansion of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure will also help to reduce costs. In addition, governments around the world are offering various incentives and rebates to encourage the adoption of hydrogen cars, which can significantly reduce the cost. For example, in the US, Toyota provides buyers of the Mirai with free hydrogen fuel up to a value of $15,000, paid via a fuel card. With federal and state incentives, the Mirai can be purchased for $49,500, compared to its base price of around $58,000. The Honda Clarity Fuel Cell has a similar starting price of around $59,000, while the Hyundai Nexo SUV starts at around $60,000 to $61,000.
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Frequently asked questions
Some examples of cars that run on fuel cells include the Honda CR-V e:FCEV, the Honda Clarity Fuel Cell, the Hyundai Nexo SUV, and the Toyota Mirai.
Fuel cells use hydrogen, the most common element in the universe, to generate electricity. Hydrogen is stored in tanks in the car and combined with oxygen from the air to produce electrical energy, which powers the car's electric motor.
Cars that run on fuel cells have zero tailpipe emissions, with the only waste product being pure water vapour. They are also very energy efficient, with a long range and quick refuelling time.
