Rajan Wilcox
Despite the growing popularity of electric vehicles, fuel cell cars remain a rarity on roads worldwide. As of 2022, there were fewer than 17,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles in the US, all of them in California, the only state with a network of retail hydrogen fuelling stations. Outside of the US, the situation is similar, with only two hydrogen fuel cell cars available on the market in the UK and an extremely low likelihood of spotting one on the road. So, why are fuel cell cars so scarce? One major factor is the lack of refuelling infrastructure. Building and maintaining hydrogen refuelling stations is costly, and the uncertainty surrounding the mainstream adoption of hydrogen cars further discourages potential investors. Additionally, fuel cell cars face technical challenges, such as the power output requirements of average cars, and they are more expensive to acquire than comparable conventional cars or EVs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of hydrogen fuel cell cars on the road in the U.S. | 17,000 (as of mid-2022) |
| Location of hydrogen fuel cell cars in the U.S. | California |
| Number of hydrogen filling stations in the UK | 14 |
| Number of hydrogen fuel cell cars on the road in the U.S. (Honda) | 1,100 |
| Number of buyers of Toyota's hydrogen fuel cell car | 5,000 |
| Number of hydrogen fuel cell cars on the road | 2 |
| Number of hydrogen filling stations in California | 400 (by 2023) |
| Number of EVs sold in the U.S. | 3 million |
| Cost of hydrogen fuel cell cars compared to conventional cars | More expensive |
| Cost of hydrogen fuel compared to gasoline | More expensive |
| Range of hydrogen fuel cell cars | 300-400 miles |
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What You'll Learn
- Hydrogen fuel cell cars are more expensive than comparable e-cars or internal combustion engine cars
- Hydrogen fuel cells are happiest at a steady power output, making them unsuitable for the power demands of the average car
- There is a scarcity of hydrogen refuelling stations, making it difficult for consumers to refuel their vehicles
- The cost of building and maintaining hydrogen refuelling stations is high, deterring potential investors
- The production of hydrogen fuel cells is energy-intensive, requiring more wind turbines than battery-electric cars
Hydrogen fuel cell cars are more expensive than comparable e-cars or internal combustion engine cars
Firstly, the cost of hydrogen fuel is significantly higher than that of gasoline or electricity. Hydrogen fuel has historically been priced at around $20 per kilogram, which is already higher than the energy equivalent of a gallon of gas. However, recent supply chain disruptions have driven prices even higher, with some retail stations in California charging up to $36 per kilogram. This makes refueling a hydrogen fuel cell car extremely expensive, with costs ranging from $75 to $125 depending on the fuel tank size.
Secondly, the lack of widespread and accessible hydrogen refueling infrastructure adds to the expense of owning a hydrogen fuel cell car. As of 2023, there are only around 1000+ refueling stations globally, with the vast majority concentrated in California, the only US state with a dedicated network. This limited infrastructure not only makes refueling less convenient but also contributes to the higher cost of hydrogen fuel due to supply chain issues.
Additionally, the energy cycle of hydrogen fuel cells is less efficient than that of e-cars or internal combustion engine cars. Hydrogen fuel cells require more energy to produce the same amount of power. Professor Joeri Van Mierlo, editor-in-chief of the World Electric Vehicle Journal, explains that driving the same distance with a hydrogen car requires three to four times more energy input than with a battery-electric car due to the various conversions involved in the fuel cell process. This higher energy consumption results in higher costs for consumers.
The industrialization of hydrogen fuel cell production is still in its early stages, and the demand for platinum, a costly component, further drives up prices. Furthermore, the transportation and storage of hydrogen fuel add to the overall expense. Hydrogen fuel must undergo compression, cooling, transportation, and storage, incurring additional costs that are not as significant for gasoline or diesel fuels.
While hydrogen fuel cell cars offer advantages such as longer driving ranges and quick refueling times, their higher costs compared to e-cars and internal combustion engine cars remain a significant barrier to their widespread adoption.
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Hydrogen fuel cells are happiest at a steady power output, making them unsuitable for the power demands of the average car
Hydrogen fuel cells work best when delivering a steady power output. This makes them suitable for backup power use, but not for the varying power demands of the average car. The power requirements of a car can vary from 15 kilowatts (20 horsepower) to maintain a steady speed on a flat road, to 10 or 20 times that amount for maximum acceleration.
The challenge for automotive engineers is that hydrogen fuel cells are not well-suited to these varying power demands. For instance, the fuel cell in the Toyota Mirai, the best-selling hydrogen car in the U.S., is rated at 90 kW (120 horsepower). While this is enough to maintain a steady speed on a flat road, it is not sufficient to accelerate onto a fast-moving highway. To compensate for this, some car manufacturers add a high-voltage, low-capacity battery to provide supplemental power during periods of intense acceleration.
However, this solution does not address the underlying challenge of varying power demands, and hydrogen fuel cell cars continue to face challenges in the marketplace. As of mid-2022, there were 17,000 or fewer hydrogen-powered vehicles on U.S. roads, compared to almost three million EVs. Hydrogen fuel cell cars are also more expensive than comparable e-cars or internal combustion engine vehicles due to the industrialization of production and the demand for platinum.
The energy-intensive process of transporting and storing hydrogen further contributes to the higher cost of fuel cell cars. Hydrogen must undergo compression, cooling, transport, and storage, which is more complex and energy-intensive than fossil fuels. Additionally, the production of hydrogen fuel cells consumes much higher amounts of renewable electricity, requiring 3-4 times more wind turbines to drive the same distance as a battery-electric car. These factors make hydrogen fuel cell cars less attractive to consumers and car manufacturers.
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There is a scarcity of hydrogen refuelling stations, making it difficult for consumers to refuel their vehicles
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are a type of zero-emission vehicle that emits only water vapour. While these cars are exciting prospects, there is a notable absence of them on the road. One of the main reasons for this is the lack of hydrogen refuelling stations, which makes it difficult for consumers to keep their hydrogen-powered cars running.
As of 2022, there were 17,000 or fewer hydrogen-powered vehicles on US roads, and all of them were in California, the only state with a network of retail hydrogen fuelling stations. In the UK, there are just 14 hydrogen filling stations. This is in stark contrast to the growing network of EV charging stations, which are becoming more accessible and easier to use through on-street charging, hubs, and faster charging times.
The implementation of new hydrogen refuelling stations (HRSs) is essential for the expansion of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). HRSs are key infrastructure that supports the deployment of FCEVs, and their development is being driven by both the public and private sectors. However, the process of building these stations is complex and energy-intensive. A hydrogen refuelling station consists of a hydrogen storage tank, a compressor to increase gas pressure, a precooler to avoid temperature rise, and a dispenser (injection machine). Various safety measures are also required to prevent hydrogen leakage and ignition and to reduce the effects of fire.
The energy balance of fuel cell cars includes the costs of transporting and storing hydrogen, which can be more complex and energy-intensive than for gasoline or diesel. Hydrogen can be produced on-site or off-site, and the process requires a hydrogen production chamber, purification unit, compressor, storage tank, gas boosters, cooling unit, safety equipment, and mechanical and electrical equipment. The production and transportation of hydrogen also require more renewable electricity consumption than battery-electric cars.
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The cost of building and maintaining hydrogen refuelling stations is high, deterring potential investors
The high cost of building and maintaining hydrogen refuelling stations is a significant factor deterring potential investors in fuel cell cars. The scarcity of these refuelling stations makes it difficult and impractical for consumers to refuel their vehicles, limiting the convenience of owning a hydrogen fuel car.
The cost of constructing and maintaining hydrogen refuelling infrastructure is high due to the complexity and energy intensity of transporting and storing hydrogen. Hydrogen needs to be compressed for storage in a car, and this compression process requires additional energy input. Furthermore, the uncertainty surrounding the mainstream adoption of hydrogen cars further discourages investment in the necessary infrastructure.
The production cycle of hydrogen fuel cells is energy-intensive, and the industrialization of production is not yet fully developed, contributing to higher costs. Additionally, the demand for platinum, a costly material, plays a role in increasing the overall expense. These factors collectively make the prospect of investing in hydrogen refuelling stations less attractive, as the potential returns on investment are uncertain.
While there are incentives and leasing packages that include fuel and maintenance to promote the adoption of fuel cell cars, the high cost of hydrogen fuel itself at the pump remains a challenge. Hydrogen fuel currently sells for considerably more than gasoline, despite offering twice the range per unit of fuel. This further discourages consumers from choosing hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, creating a chicken-and-egg problem for the development of refuelling infrastructure.
The lack of widespread refuelling stations and the high cost of fuel create a self-reinforcing cycle that deters both consumers and investors. This situation slows down the expansion of the hydrogen refuelling network, making it challenging for fuel cell cars to gain traction in the market. Despite the growing interest in hydrogen fuel cell technology, the low number of hydrogen-powered vehicles on the road and the limited availability of refuelling stations present a significant barrier to wider adoption.
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The production of hydrogen fuel cells is energy-intensive, requiring more wind turbines than battery-electric cars
Hydrogen fuel cell cars are much rarer than electric vehicles, with only about 17,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles on US roads, all of which are in California. California is the only state with a network of retail hydrogen fuelling stations, making the cars usable.
The production of hydrogen fuel cells is energy-intensive, and their energy balance includes transporting and storing the hydrogen. Hydrogen needs to be compressed to be stored in a car, and all these conversions result in much higher renewable electricity consumption. Professor Joeri Van Mierlo, editor-in-chief of the World Electric Vehicle Journal, states that "you need three to four times more wind turbines to drive the same distance with a hydrogen car than with a battery-electric car".
Hydrogen can be produced through water electrolysis, where water molecules are split into oxygen and hydrogen using an electric current generated from clean energy sources, like wind or nuclear energy. When the electricity used in electrolysis comes from renewable energy resources, no carbon emissions are released into the environment. While many renewable energy sources can be used for hydrogen production, governments and energy companies are particularly interested in offshore wind for this use.
There are new schemes to produce hydrogen via wind turbines, and offshore turbines could generate electricity that could then be taken onshore via a high-voltage undersea cable. The Wind2H2 project, for example, links wind turbines and photovoltaic (PV) arrays to electrolyzer stacks, which pass the generated electricity through water to split it into hydrogen and oxygen. The resulting hydrogen is stored for later use at the site's hydrogen fuelling station or converted back to electricity and fed into the utility grid during peak-demand hours.
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Frequently asked questions
There are a few reasons why fuel cell cars are not very common on the roads. Firstly, they are much rarer than electric vehicles (EVs) due to the limited infrastructure for hydrogen fuel. As of 2022, there were only about 17,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles on US roads, all of them in California, the only state with a network of retail hydrogen fueling stations. In the UK, there are only 14 hydrogen filling stations. This scarcity makes it difficult for consumers to refuel, limiting the convenience of owning a hydrogen fuel car. Secondly, hydrogen fuel cell cars are more expensive than comparable conventional cars, with higher costs for compression, cooling, transport, and storage. Thirdly, hydrogen fuel cells are happiest at a steady power output, which makes them less suitable for the varying power demands of an average car.
Fuel cell cars are powered by an electric motor and are classified as e-cars. They combine hydrogen stored in a tank with oxygen from the air to produce electricity through a process known as reverse electrolysis, with water vapour as the by-product.
Fuel cell cars are emission-free, producing only water vapour, and have a long range of 300-400 miles, with quick refuelling times similar to standard cars.
Yes, fuel cell cars are currently more expensive to acquire than comparable conventional cars. However, leasing packages often include fuel, service, and maintenance to compensate for the higher upfront cost.
While fuel cell cars have been called "mind-bogglingly stupid" by Elon Musk, they may yet threaten Tesla and other electric car manufacturers. A 2017 survey of 1,000 global auto executives concluded that hydrogen fuel cell technology will ultimately outperform battery-powered electric vehicles. However, the high costs of building and maintaining hydrogen refuelling stations, along with the uncertainty of their mainstream adoption, are deterring potential investors and slowing down infrastructure expansion.
