Ameer Randolph
Fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) are electric vehicles that use a fuel cell, sometimes in combination with a small battery, to power an electric motor. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCVs) are a type of FCV that uses hydrogen to generate electricity. Despite the advantages of HFCVs, such as shorter refuelling times and longer ranges compared to electric vehicles, they have remained rare. This can be attributed to various factors, including the high cost of HFCVs, the lack of refuelling infrastructure, and the dominance of battery-powered electric vehicles in the market.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCVs) are rare | True |
| HFCVs are zero-emission vehicles | True |
| HFCVs emit only water vapour | True |
| HFCVs use an electric motor | True |
| HFCVs are powered by hydrogen fuel cells, not large batteries | True |
| Hydrogen is an energy carrier, not a fuel | True |
| Hydrogen is the most common element in the universe | True |
| Hydrogen refuelling takes a similar time to refuelling with gas | True |
| Hydrogen vehicles have a similar range to e-cars with large batteries | True |
| Hydrogen vehicles' range does not deteriorate in cold weather | True |
| Hydrogen is an efficient way to store and transport renewable energy | True |
| Hydrogen vehicles are more expensive than comparable e-cars | True |
| Hydrogen vehicles are less popular than EVs | True |
| Hydrogen vehicles are available from Honda, Hyundai, and Toyota | True |
| Hydrogen refuelling infrastructure is lacking | True |
| Hydrogen production and transportation can create pollutants | True |
| Hydrogen storage is problematic | True |
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What You'll Learn
Hydrogen fuel cells are expensive to produce
The high cost of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCVs) is also due to the fact that industrialization in production is not yet fully developed. The demand for platinum, a costly material, also contributes to the expense. As a result, HFCVs currently cost more than comparable e-cars with batteries or internal combustion engines.
Furthermore, the lack of widespread hydrogen refueling infrastructure adds to the overall expense of owning and operating an HFCV. While California has made significant investments in hydrogen fueling stations, the availability of hydrogen fuel remains limited in other parts of the United States. This lack of infrastructure can deter potential consumers from adopting HFCVs, hindering the growth of the market and keeping production costs relatively high.
The cost of HFCVs is expected to decrease in the long term as the technology advances and the infrastructure expands. Collaborations between vehicle manufacturers, hydrogen producers, and filling station operators, such as the Clean Energy Partnership initiative, aim to drive down costs by expanding the hydrogen refueling network.
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Hydrogen is difficult to store
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCVs) are powered by an electric motor, but instead of a large, heavy battery, they are powered by a fuel-cell stack. In this stack, pure hydrogen passes through a membrane to combine with oxygen from the air, producing electricity and water vapour.
While hydrogen is the most common element in the universe, it is never found in its pure state. It is always combined with other elements, and creating pure hydrogen for vehicles requires a great deal of energy. Hydrogen can be stored physically as either a gas or a liquid. The most common hydrogen fuel tank for cars is the compressed hydrogen gas tank, which requires high-pressure tanks (350-700 bar tank pressure) to safely store the hydrogen. These tanks are made of carbon fibre composites or carbon fibre and metal alloys and composites, with an inner line made of a high-molecular-weight polymer that serves as a hydrogen gas permeation barrier. The outer shell is placed on the tank for impact and damage resistance, and a pressure regulator and an in-tank gas temperature sensor are located in the tank's interior to monitor the pressure and temperature during the gas-filling process.
Compressed hydrogen gas tanks can have different interiors. For example, when the hydrogen is stored in porous metal hydride material, the gas is released by adding a small amount of heat to the tank. However, metal hydrides are generally very heavy, which reduces the range per litre of fuel in the vehicle. Another option is cryogenic liquid hydrogen, which is used by BMW's "Hydrogen 7 automobile". However, this type of tank can have boil-off problems, where the liquid hydrogen evaporates if the car is left alone for a couple of weeks. Additionally, cryogenic liquid hydrogen must be stored at a temperature below negative 253 degrees Celsius, which can be challenging to maintain.
Overall, the process of storing and transporting hydrogen is more complex and energy-intensive than it is for gasoline or diesel. Hydrogen is flammable, and it is crucial to prevent it from reacting uncontrollably with oxygen. While numerous crash tests have validated the safety of hydrogen vehicle designs, the storage and transportation of hydrogen remain challenging and costly.
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Hydrogen fuel stations are rare
However, efforts are being made to expand the number of hydrogen fuelling stations. For example, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 incentivizes projects with low-lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by providing a tax credit of up to $3 per kilogram of hydrogen. This provides certainty to current and future hydrogen producers to stabilize and expand the market. Additionally, vehicle manufacturers such as BMW have joined initiatives like the Clean Energy Partnership to drive the expansion of hydrogen fuelling infrastructure.
The rollout of hydrogen fuelling stations is also being matched with the vehicle rollout. Manufacturers like Hyundai and Toyota are offering production fuel cell electric vehicles for sale or lease in markets where hydrogen fuel is available, primarily in California. Mobile hydrogen fuellers, which store liquefied or compressed hydrogen and dispensing equipment onboard a trailer, are also being developed to support the expansion of hydrogen infrastructure.
As the demand for fuel cell electric vehicles grows, the business case for building more stations with higher capacities improves, and the volume in production of station components will bring down costs. However, until the hydrogen fuelling infrastructure becomes more widely available, hydrogen vehicles will struggle to break into the mainstream.
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Electric vehicles are more popular
Secondly, electric vehicles benefit from a wider range of models being available for purchase or lease. While there have been several hydrogen fuel cell prototypes and demonstration cars released, only a few production models are currently on the market. For example, Honda offered the Clarity Fuel Cell for lease from 2008 to 2015, and only 45 units were leased in the US during that period. Similarly, Hyundai introduced the Nexo in 2018, but recalled all 1600 vehicles sold in the US by 2024 due to safety concerns. In contrast, almost three million electric vehicles had been sold in the US by mid-2022.
Thirdly, electric vehicles have benefited from legislative support and incentives. For example, the US Department of Energy is leading research efforts to make electric vehicles more affordable and environmentally friendly, and electric vehicles qualify for alternative fuel vehicle tax credits under the Energy Policy Act of 1992. Additionally, states such as California have implemented legislation to reduce carbon emissions from vehicles, which has likely contributed to the popularity of electric vehicles.
Lastly, electric vehicles have a cost advantage over hydrogen fuel cell cars. The industrialization of hydrogen fuel cell production is not yet fully developed, and the demand for platinum contributes to higher costs. As a result, hydrogen fuel cell cars are currently more expensive than comparable electric vehicles with batteries or internal combustion engines.
While electric vehicles are currently more popular, it is important to note that hydrogen fuel cell cars have several advantages, such as shorter refuelling times and similar ranges to electric vehicles with large battery storage. Additionally, hydrogen is one of the most efficient ways to store and transport renewable energy, and it can be used in combination with electric vehicles to meet the increasing demand for electric charging stations.
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Hydrogen fuel cells are seen as 'stupid'
Hydrogen fuel cells are seen as stupid because, despite their promise, they have failed to gain widespread adoption. This is due to a combination of technological, economic, and infrastructure-related factors.
Firstly, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) have faced significant technological challenges. Hydrogen storage is extremely problematic, and the risk of hydrogen leaks and fires is a serious safety concern, as evidenced by Hyundai's recall of 1600 Nexo FCVs in 2024. Additionally, FCVs are currently more expensive than comparable internal combustion engine or battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), partly due to the high demand for platinum in their production. While carmakers have made progress in reducing platinum usage and improving efficiency, FCVs still require further technological advancements to become more affordable and attractive to consumers.
Secondly, the lack of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure has been a significant impediment to the adoption of FCVs. The limited availability of hydrogen at public filling stations has led to lawsuits by FCV owners, who allege fraudulent concealment and violations of advertising laws. The challenge of building a comprehensive hydrogen refuelling network has been a catch-22 situation, with fuel-cell carmakers hesitant to increase production without sufficient infrastructure, and energy suppliers reluctant to invest in hydrogen stations without ample demand for the fuel.
Moreover, FCVs face competition from BEVs, which have benefited from declining battery costs and improvements in range. As a result, many automobile companies that were initially developing hydrogen cars have shifted their focus to BEVs.
In conclusion, while hydrogen fuel cells offer certain advantages such as zero emissions and long ranges, they have faced technological, economic, and infrastructure hurdles that have hindered their widespread adoption. These challenges have perpetuated a cycle of low production and limited infrastructure development, causing FCVs to remain a niche option in the automotive market.
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Frequently asked questions
Fuel cell cars have stayed rare due to a variety of reasons, including:
- Lack of infrastructure: The lack of hydrogen fueling stations makes it inconvenient and inaccessible for consumers to adopt fuel cell cars.
- Cost: Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are currently more expensive than comparable electric or internal combustion engine cars.
- Competition from electric vehicles: The rise of battery-powered electric vehicles and their decreasing costs have drawn more attention and investment from automakers.
- Technical challenges: Hydrogen storage is extremely problematic, and the process of creating pure hydrogen for vehicles requires a significant amount of energy.
Efforts are being made to expand the infrastructure for fuel cell cars. For example, California is investing heavily in clean energy funds to accelerate the development of hydrogen fueling stations. Automakers like Honda and Toyota have also teamed up with energy companies to build new hydrogen fueling stations.
The future of fuel cell cars is uncertain. While some experts argue that hydrogen fuel cell technology will ultimately outperform battery-powered electric vehicles, others believe that electric vehicles are more practical due to their range, fueling time, and environmental benefits. However, fuel cell technology continues to receive significant investment and research funding, and some automakers remain committed to developing hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
Fuel cell cars offer several advantages over electric vehicles, including:
- Faster refueling: Fuel cell cars can be refueled with hydrogen in a similar amount of time as traditional gas-powered cars, whereas electric vehicles typically require longer charging times.
- Range: Fuel cell cars have a similar range to electric cars with large battery storage and are not affected by cold weather, making them suitable for long-haul applications.
- Reduced pollutants: While both technologies produce zero emissions from the vehicles themselves, fuel cell cars centralize pollutants at the site of hydrogen production, which can be advantageous for indoor applications where clean emissions are important.
