Hydrogen cars, or hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV), use hydrogen fuel cells to power their electric motors. Thanks to their energy efficiency, long driving range, reduced dependency on fossil fuels, and quick refueling process, these vehicles are growing in popularity.
According to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Global EV Outlook 2023 report, the number of hydrogen cars on the world’s roads increased by 40% in 2022.
How do hydrogen cars work, what are their pros and cons, and what factors — including infrastructure challenges, government initiatives, and consumer attitudes — will impact wider adoption in the coming years?
How Do Hydrogen Cars Work?
Rather than being powered through electricity stored in a lithium-ion battery, the electricity used to power hydrogen cars is created via a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen in a fuel cell stack. Here’s how it works.
- Step 1: Hydrogen is extracted from a range of resources, which includes fossil fuels, biomass, and water electrolysis with electricity. Most hydrogen used in the U.S. is produced at large industrial sites and transported via pipelines, high-pressure tube trailers, or liquefied hydrogen tankers.
- Step 2: Hydrogen is compressed and stored onboard in carbon-fiber-reinforced high-pressure tanks.
- Step 3: Compressed hydrogen is fed into an onboard fuel cell stack, where it is combined with oxygen to generate electricity. The fuel cell functions similarly to a battery. The hydrogen enters the anode where its exposure to oxygen causes the hydrogen atoms to separate into an electron and a proton.
- Step 4: The electrons are fed, via a conductive current collector, to the vehicle’s high-voltage circuitry, to power the car’s electric motors that turn its wheels.
- Step 5: Water vapor — the only by-product of the chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen — is released via the car’s exhaust.
Pros of Hydrogen Cars
The advantages of hydrogen cars include:
1. Zero Emissions
Hydrogen cars produce zero tailpipe emissions, with the only waste product produced being water vapor.
2. Quick Refueling
It takes approximately five minutes to refuel a hydrogen car’s tank. A refueling time that rivals that of fossil-fuel-powered vehicles will be especially welcome to the logistics and freight industries, who have long bemoaned the time it takes to recharge an EV’s lithium-ion battery.
3. Long Driving Range
Hydrogen cars can carry enough hydrogen fuel for 300-400 miles of range. They also don’t require large batteries, since the fuel cells convert hydrogen into electricity in real time. In EVs, batteries often weigh several hundred kilograms.
4. Reduced Dependency on Fossil Fuels
So long as the hydrogen comes from renewable sources, no fossil fuels are required and the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle will have a neutral carbon footprint
5. Quiet Operation
Most hydrogen cars are silent in their operation, contributing to a peaceful and comfortable ride.
6. Lifecycle Emissions
Hydrogen cars have life-cycle emissions that are at least as low as that of EVs. One study found that a hydrogen car emits around 120g/km of CO2 over its lifetime. This number can be reduced to 60g/km if the hydrogen used is produced using renewable energy.
Cons of Hydrogen Cars
The disadvantages of hydrogen cars include:
1. Infrastructure Challenges
The Biden administration is making sizable investments to develop EV infrastructure, but little is being done to improve infrastructure for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. The lack of refueling stations makes it difficult for drivers to refuel their vehicles, which is curbing consumer enthusiasm.
2. High Production Costs
The costs associated with extracting, storing, and transporting hydrogen are high. Indeed, thanks to rising hydrogen costs, it is almost 14 times more expensive to drive a Toyota Mirai (a hydrogen car) in California than a comparable Tesla battery-electric car. In addition, hydrogen cars use expensive metals such as titanium and platinum.
3. Energy-intensive Production
The production of hydrogen can be energy-intensive, relying on fossil fuels such as gasoline and diesel. This counteracts the zero-emissions nature of a hydrogen car.
4. Storage and Transportation Issues
Hydrogen gas has low energy density, which presents storage and transportation challenges. Because most of the hydrogen used in the U.S. is produced at or close to where it is used, efficient methods of transporting and storing it for mass consumption have not yet been established.
5. Limited Model Availability
Although several automakers are in the process of developing and testing hydrogen cars, just a handful of models are commercially available. This is unlikely to change in the short term unless re-fueling infrastructure significantly improves.
Environmental Impact of Hydrogen Cars
A typical passenger vehicle emits around 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year, as well as nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, and particulate matter, which contribute to global warming and air pollution.
Electric cars have long been hailed as a greener and cleaner alternative, but how do hydrogen fuel cell vehicles compare?
The truth is, if either vehicle type is to have a significant environmental impact, electricity (for electric cars) and hydrogen (for hydrogen cars) must be produced using renewable energy.
In 2022, around 60% of electricity generation in the U.S. was from fossil fuels, while most of the hydrogen used today is extracted from natural gas via a process that creates carbon dioxide as a byproduct.
The environmental and societal impact of raw material extraction, battery production, vehicle assembly, storage, and transportation must also be factored in.
A recent study by the International Council on Clean Transportation explores the best-case scenario. It found that battery electric trucks and buses would reduce GHG emissions by up to 92%, compared to their diesel counterparts, when 100% renewable electrical energy is used.
Meanwhile, hydrogen-powered electric trucks and buses would reduce GHG emissions by up to 89%, compared to their diesel counterparts, if the hydrogen is solely produced with renewable electricity.
Infrastructure Challenges
Two major infrastructure challenges are impeding the uptake of hydrogen cars:
1. Storage and Transportation
Hydrogen has low volumetric energy and a boiling point close to absolute zero, which makes it difficult to transport and store. The various codes and standards for its storage and transportation present additional complications.
Growing demand for hydrogen vehicles necessitates vast quantities of hydrogen being moved via pipelines, gaseous tube trailers, or cryogenic liquid tanker trucks to refueling stations all over the country. The infrastructure to achieve this on such a scale does not exist.
It is also important to scale up existing storage solutions. For example, the Department of Energy is financing Advanced Clean Energy Storage, a clean hydrogen and energy storage hub, which will provide long-term, seasonal energy storage. More facilities like this could support a faster transition to hydrogen cars.
2. Hydrogen Refueling Stations
A lack of refueling stations is perhaps the biggest obstacle to wider hydrogen vehicle adoption. As of 2023, there are 59 open hydrogen stations in the United States, with 50 more in various stages of planning or construction. The vast majority of these stations are in California, which severely limits the range and reach of hydrogen cars.
The fast development of refueling stations is the only way to enable nationwide deployment of these vehicles and the government is making moves toward this. For example, the Department of Energy is awarding grants that support the development of hydrogen refueling station plans in the Midwest corridor and between Houston and Los Angeles.
Production Costs and Challenges
There are a few key challenges associated with the production of hydrogen-powered vehicles.
The first is the extraction, transportation, and storage of hydrogen. Extraction is time-consuming and energy-intensive, and the U.S. does not yet have the infrastructure to transport and store the vast quantities that will be required for wide-scale hydrogen vehicle adoption.
Secondly, hydrogen fuel cells typically require precious metals, including platinum and iridium, which are difficult and expensive to acquire.
Finally, hydrogen fuel cell technology needs to be developed into a more efficient and viable energy source. At present, the cost for a unit of power from hydrogen fuel cells is higher than many other energy sources.
As a result of these production challenges, and high costs, hydrogen-powered cars are expensive to buy. Currently, the total cost of ownership for hydrogen is around 40% higher than a comparable diesel car and about 10% more than an EV. In addition, customers might have to wait a long time for a newly purchased car to be delivered due to low production rates.
Global Adoption of Hydrogen Cars
A 2023 study from Information Trends estimates that there are 56,000 passenger hydrogen fuel cell vehicles on the road worldwide.
Some of the world’s biggest adopters of hydrogen vehicles are China, South Korea, Japan, and the United States.
Leading the charge, South Korea aims to produce 6.2 million hydrogen vehicles and has rolled out at least 1,200 hydrogen refueling stations by 2040.
Though uptake has been slow to date, China is especially committed to boosting its hydrogen car market. The nation is already home to more than 95% of the world’s hydrogen trucks and almost 85% of the world’s hydrogen bus fleet. In 2022, China’s stock of hydrogen vehicles grew by 60%, compared to just 20% in the United States, and it aims to have one million hydrogen-powered cars on its roads by 2030.
In 2022, there were 1,020 hydrogen refueling stations in operation around the world.
| Country | No. of Hydrogen Refuelling Stations |
| China | 387 |
| South Korea | 159 (only 41 are open at present due to hydrogen shortages) |
| Japan | 161 |
| The U.S. | 59 |
Government Initiatives and Policies
Hydrogen has been identified by the Biden administration as the option that provides the greatest long-term opportunity for decarbonizing the heavy-duty transportation sector.
To that end, it has introduced several incentives to spur the adoption of hydrogen vehicles.
California’s Clean Vehicle Rebate Project, for example, offers a rebate of up to $7,500 for hydrogen vehicles. These vehicles also qualify for the Clean Air Vehicle decal, which allows them to be driven solo in carpool lanes.
In addition, the government is investing in infrastructure projects that will see refueling stations established nationwide and expand hydrogen transportation and storage capacity.
The Inflation Reduction Act, for example, provides a credit of up to $100,000 for alternative fuel vehicle refueling property in low-income and rural areas.
Related Insights
Leading Hydrogen-Powered Car Manufacturers
The leading manufacturers of hydrogen-powered cars include Toyota and Hyundai.
Toyota Mirai from $49,500
Toyota has been working on hydrogen cars since 1992. The Mirai is a hydrogen-powered Sedan offering up to 402 miles of range and a re-fuel time of five minutes. The vehicle features Toyota’s innovative Human Machine Interface (HMI), its Pre-Collision System, and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC). Between January and November of 2023, Toyota sold 2,714 units.
Hyundai Nexo from $60,135
Launched in 2018, Hyundai’s Nexo is the world’s first dedicated hydrogen-powered SUV, with a range of up to 380 miles, a refuel time of five minutes, and a maximum speed of 111 mph. Between January and November of this year, Hyundai sold 216 units.
Several other automakers, including Honda and BMW, are also developing and testing hydrogen-powered vehicles.
Related Insights
Consumer Perspectives on Hydrogen Cars
There hasn’t been a huge amount of research into public opinion on hydrogen cars.
However, according to a 2023 report from Bosch, 41% of worldwide survey respondents perceive hydrogen fuel cell technology as the most significant driver of sustainability.
Meanwhile, the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI conducted a qualitative and quantitative study of user perceptions of the hydrogen infrastructure in Germany.
The study revealed that the public does not yet consider the technology to be fully market-ready, particularly with regard to refueling infrastructure. Nonetheless, the respondents generally regarded hydrogen as a promising future technology in the transport sector.
Those who are positive about hydrogen power cite the fast re-fueling times — which rival gas-powered counterparts — and zero carbon emissions, while more skeptical consumers question high costs, lack of refueling infrastructure, and hydrogen production challenges.
Future Trends in Hydrogen Car Technology
Hydrogen-powered cars offer a wealth of benefits, including fast recharging time, zero carbon emissions, and long driving range.
Despite the technology’s potential, uptake has been slow, which is largely due to major infrastructure challenges, high production costs, and lack of meaningful investments from governments. The Toyota Mirai and the Hyundai Nexo remain the only two hydrogen-powered cars that are commercially available around the world.
The global adoption of hydrogen-powered vehicles will come with advancements in fuel cell technology, substantial government incentives, and a large network of hydrogen refueling stations. In addition, the world must establish systems that can produce hydrogen in a sustainable and scalable manner. The hydrogen vehicle market is expected to garner a revenue of $58 billion by the end of 2035, up from $2 billion in 2022.
Image credit: Scharfsinn/Shutterstock
Source: thomasnet.com
