Mercedes Mullins
The first hydrogen fuel-dependent car was the Chevrolet Electrovan, introduced by General Motors in 1966. The Electrovan was a marvel of its time, with a top speed of 70 mph and a range of about 150 miles. However, safety concerns limited its use to company property. The world's first government-certified commercial hydrogen fuel cell vehicles were the Toyota FCHV and Honda FCX, which began leasing in 2002. Since then, the market for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles has evolved, with several car companies offering hydrogen-powered cars for sale or lease. Despite the benefits of hydrogen fuel cell technology, the global scope for hydrogen-powered cars is shrinking relative to electric vehicles due to the rapid development of battery technology and infrastructure.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First hydrogen fuel cell vehicle | Electrovan, a General Motors Handivan |
| Year of launch | 1966 |
| Top speed | 70 mph |
| Range | 150 miles |
| First hydrogen fuel cell vehicle certified for commercial use | Honda FCX |
| Year of launch | 2002 |
| First hydrogen fuel cell vehicle designed for mass production | Honda FCX Clarity |
| Year of launch | 2008 |
| First mass-produced hydrogen fuel cell vehicle | Hyundai Tucson FCEV |
| Year of launch | 2013 |
| First dedicated mass-produced fuel cell vehicle | Toyota Mirai |
| Year of launch | 2014 |
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What You'll Learn
The first hydrogen-powered car was designed in the 1800s
The history of hydrogen-powered cars goes back to the 1800s. The first internal combustion engine was powered by a mix of hydrogen and oxygen in 1806. Swiss engineer Francois Isaac de Rivaz contained hydrogen gas in a balloon and used an electrical starter for the ignition. The following year, in 1807, de Rivaz designed the first hydrogen-powered car, though it was a failure. In 1808, a French-born Swiss scientist named Francois Isaac de Rivaz devised a hydrogen engine.
In 1839, British lawyer and scientist William Grove demonstrated what he called the "gas voltaic cell," which was based on the work of fellow British scientist Humphrey Davy. This was the first fuel cell, which converts the chemical energy of hydrogen and oxygen into electricity. The first hydrogen fuel cells were developed in 1839 and worked the same way as fuel cells today.
In 1860, Belgian inventor Etienne Lenoir developed the Hippomobile, a three-wheeled vehicle that was the first functional hydrogen car. Lenoir created hydrogen by electrolyzing water, and the resulting hydrogen gas powered the one-cylinder, two-stroke engine. Lenoir eventually sold 350-400 Hippomobiles, setting the stage for the first patented gas-fuelled car invented by Karl Benz in 1886.
The late 2000s and early 2010s saw a boom in the development of hydrogen cars, with the Hyundai Nexo, Toyota Mirai, and Honda CR-V e:FCEV entering the market. Hydrogen vehicles are seen as a promising alternative to internal combustion engines and electric vehicles due to their clean energy and fast refuelling times. However, hydrogen cars face challenges such as infrastructure limitations and competition with battery-electric vehicles.
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The Electrovan was the first hydrogen fuel cell vehicle
The Electrovan's motor and control system were mounted between and under the two front seats, and it could fit a driver and two passengers. Thirty-two fuel cell modules, connected by 550 feet of plastic piping, were placed under the floor. Cryogenic hydrogen and oxygen tanks and an electrolyte reservoir were mounted behind the middle bench seat.
While the Electrovan was a significant innovation, safety concerns restricted its use to company property. After the project ended, the Electrovan was stored in a warehouse in Pontiac, Michigan, for 31 years. It was then rediscovered in 2001 and showcased at fuel cell displays and museum exhibitions when not at the GM Heritage Center.
The Electrovan's debut in 1966 was followed by other significant developments in the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle space. In 1998, Iceland announced its plan to transition all its public transportation vehicles to fuel-cell models over ten years. Daimler Chrysler introduced the liquid hydrogen vehicle NECAR 4 in 1999, and in 2002, the Toyota FCHV and Honda FCX became the first government-certified commercial hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
Since then, several car companies have offered hydrogen-powered cars for sale, including the Honda Clarity Fuel Cell, Hyundai Nexo SUV, and the Toyota Mirai. However, hydrogen cars have faced challenges due to competition with battery-electric vehicles, limited refuelling infrastructure, and higher costs.
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Hydrogen cars are more expensive than electric vehicles
The first hydrogen fuel-dependent car was the Chevrolet Electrovan, introduced by General Motors in 1966. However, it would be over 50 years until hydrogen fuel cell vehicles were available for sale to the public.
While hydrogen cars are a zero-emissions alternative to electric vehicles, they are much more expensive. The two mainstream hydrogen cars on sale in the U.S. today, the Toyota Mirai and Hyundai Nexo, start at around $50,000 and $60,000, respectively. In contrast, a growing number of electric vehicles are becoming more affordable, thanks to the falling price of lithium-ion batteries.
The high cost of hydrogen cars is partly due to the price of hydrogen fuel. In late 2022, a kilogram of hydrogen cost between $10 and $17 at California hydrogen stations, equalling about $5 to $8.50 per gallon of gasoline. The small network of retail stations naturally charges high prices.
Hydrogen cars are also more expensive because they require a specialized fueling infrastructure. Unlike electric vehicles, which can be charged at home or at an increasing number of public charging points, hydrogen cars are dependent on a reliable supply of hydrogen gas and access to a high-pressure fueling station. The public refueling infrastructure for hydrogen cars is currently very limited, which puts off potential buyers. As a result, there is little incentive to build more hydrogen refueling stations, further restricting the market for hydrogen cars.
In addition to the cost of the vehicles and fuel, hydrogen cars also face competition from electric vehicles in terms of performance and efficiency. Electric cars are more efficient than hydrogen cars, as they convert more of the energy they consume into movement. This makes electric vehicles a more sustainable option, as they require less energy to perform the same task as a hydrogen car.
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Hydrogen cars are zero-emission vehicles
The world's first hydrogen fuel cell vehicle was the Chevrolet Electrovan, introduced by General Motors in 1966. However, the history of hydrogen fuel goes back to the 1800s. In 1806, Swiss engineer Francois Isaac de Rivaz powered the first internal combustion engine with a mix of hydrogen and oxygen. The following year, he designed what could technically be called the first hydrogen car, though it was not a success. In 1860, Belgian inventor Etienne Lenoir developed the Hippomobile, a three-wheeled vehicle considered the first functional hydrogen car.
Hydrogen cars have a similar range to electric cars with large battery storage. A single hydrogen refuelling can take a BMW iX5 Hydrogen 504 kilometres. The range of hydrogen vehicles does not depend on outside temperature and does not deteriorate in cold weather. Hydrogen is also a highly efficient way to store and transport renewable energy.
However, hydrogen cars have not yet seen widespread adoption. In 2021, there were only two hydrogen car models publicly available in select markets: the Toyota Mirai and the Honda FCX Clarity. Hydrogen cars are currently more expensive than other vehicles due to industrialization in production not being fully developed, the high demand for platinum as a catalyst, and low production volumes. Hydrogen is also more difficult to store and transport due to the small size of its molecules.
Another disadvantage of hydrogen cars is that they cannot be refuelled at home overnight like electric vehicles. Instead, hydrogen drivers depend on a reliable supply of gas and an available high-pressure fuelling station. The small network of retail stations means that hydrogen fuel is often very expensive. For example, in late 2022, a kilogram of hydrogen at California hydrogen stations cost between $10 and $17, equivalent to about $5 to $8.50 per gallon of gasoline.
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Hydrogen cars are similar to gasoline cars
The first hydrogen-powered car was created by Swiss inventor Francois Isaac de Rivaz in 1807, although it looked more like a torture device than a vehicle. The first modern hydrogen-powered vehicle was the Chevrolet Electrovan, introduced by General Motors in 1966.
Another similarity is that hydrogen cars, like gasoline cars, cannot be refuelled or recharged at home overnight. This is a notable difference from electric vehicles, which can be recharged at home. However, unlike electric vehicles, hydrogen cars do not require a vast nationwide electrical system to operate.
In terms of performance, hydrogen cars are similar to gasoline cars in that they are suitable for backup power use. The steady power output of hydrogen fuel cells makes them well-suited for this purpose. Additionally, similar to gasoline cars, hydrogen cars can be adapted to accelerate onto a fast-moving highway. Toyota, for example, adds a high-voltage low-capacity battery to its Mirai model, similar to those used in gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles, to provide supplemental power for short periods of intense acceleration.
While there are similarities between hydrogen and gasoline cars, it is important to note that hydrogen cars also have unique characteristics and face specific challenges.
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Frequently asked questions
The Electrovan, a General Motors Handivan, was the world's first hydrogen fuel cell vehicle in 1966.
The Electrovan was created by General Motors.
The first mass-produced hydrogen fuel cell vehicle was the Hyundai Tucson FCEV, introduced to the market as a lease-only vehicle in 2013.
The first hydrogen fuel-dependent car to be sold was the Honda FCX Clarity in 2008.
