Hydrogen Cars: Everything You Need to Know

Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles or HFCVs have come a long way since Chevrolet’s Electrovan was developed almost 60 years ago. Slowly, but surely, HFCVs are taking their place in the lineup of fossil-fuel-free vehicles. If you’re not quite as familiar with this type of electric vehicle as you may be with others, you’re not alone. In this article, you’ll learn everything there is to know about hydrogen-fueled cars.

An HFCV is a type of electric vehicle or EV and, like other types of EVs, doesn’t burn gasoline or produce harmful emissions. But instead of powering the motor with a lithium-ion battery pack, it’s powered by a stack of hydrogen fuel cells.

Hydrogen Benefits

• Offers similar driving distance to gas-powered cars
• Carbon footprint smaller than those of EVs
• Can be produced domestically from diverse sources
• Near-zero greenhouse gas emissions
• Reduced oil dependence

Hydrogen Considerations

• Infrastructure not yet big enough to support widespread adoption of HFCVs
• Needs to be stored at high pressure and low temp
• Difficult to store compactly
• Fuel-cell stacks and hydrogen stations expensive to produce
• Less efficient than battery power
• Less durable and reliable due to heat and moisture sensitivity

Hydrogen Fuel Sources

According to the Department of Energy, hydrogen can be produced from multiple domestic resources, including renewable solar and wind energy. Since hydrogen is mainly obtained from water, it offers the promise of a sustainable emission-free fuel source that can eventually replace fossil fuels.

Power Sources Defined

In the past, our options for engines were limited to gas or diesel. The landscape has changed significantly with the advent of the electric motor — especially regarding energy efficiency. With zero-emissions vehicles becoming more mainstream, we may be familiar with the terms “electric,” “hybrid,” and even “hydrogen.” But do we understand the differences?

Electric: This type of car is quiet, odorless, and gives a very smooth ride. They’re also the most advanced and affordable option, powered by a battery-powered electric motor. They carry no exhaust pipe, combustion engine, or gas tank, resulting in minimal maintenance. Electric cars can be more expensive to buy, but they’re cheaper to maintain and operate in the long run. Data shows that electric cars are 70 percent cheaper to run than gas-powered cars.

Hybrid: As the name suggests, hybrid vehicles use a combination of gas and battery. The electric motor works as a backup, which lowers fuel consumption. The battery gets recharged when the driver brakes or decelerates. According to CarWeek, a hybrid will cost several thousand dollars more to buy than a comparable gas-fueled vehicle — but will cost about 60 percent less to run.

Hydrogen: HFCVs are 100 percent electric and, as mentioned, powered by hydrogen fuel cells. The cells use pressurized hydrogen gas and oxygen from the atmosphere to produce a chemical reaction that generates electricity with only water vapor and clean, warm air as by-products. HFCVs are estimated to be two to three times more efficient than conventional gas-powered vehicles.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy

The Potential for HFCVs

HFCVs have been around for a while but recent technological advances are rendering them more efficient and practical. The cost of fuel cells has decreased by about 60 percent in the past 15 years and the cells have become more durable and efficient. However, even with the potential they hold, the infrastructure required to support them, like the hydrogen fueling stations, needs to be developed further.

The global hydrogen fuel cell market is expected to grow in the next decade, with the vehicular segment consisting of planes, trains, buses, and cars, holding the largest market share. According to McKinsey, HFCVs could make up 20 percent of total vehicles (cars, trucks, and buses) on the road by 2050. Some of the major car makers interested in developing and refining the fuel-cell market include Toyota, Hyundai, Honda, and General Motors.

Car and Driver reports that since 2015, Honda, Hyundai, and Toyota manufactured HFCV models, Clarity, Nexo SUV, and Mirai, respectively. At the time of writing, Honda has ended production of the Clarity and Hyundai has sold fewer than 1500 Nexo SUVs. Toyota reports sales of 10,700 Mirai sedans in the US, often at a substantial discount.

Hydrogen Cars and Safety

HFCVs are considered by many to be as safe as any other passenger vehicle since the hydrogen tanks are designed to withstand high-speed crashes. The tanks are so safe that they may survive a crash even when the rest of the vehicle does not. In the relatively small number of HFCVs sold to date, the hydrogen-related car parts have not been responsible for any accidents or deaths.

The Future

With their inexpensive and sustainable energy source and lack of harmful exhaust fumes, HFCVs have the potential to improve air quality and may be the wave of the future. But disadvantages to hydrogen technology exist. For instance, hydrogen produced from natural gas creates its own carbon emissions. What’s more, the low energy content per volume measurement means that a significant amount of hydrogen is needed to power a vehicle — hence the fuel-cell “stack.” Then there’s the domestic and global investment necessary to fund the building of the refueling infrastructure to consider.

For these reasons, many car manufacturers and industry experts are putting their money on lithium-ion battery power to lead the way for the foreseeable future. However, presently, electric vehicles need to be charged more regularly. And if the electricity used to charge EVs is sourced from fossil fuels like coal or natural gas, the more eco-conscious choice may be the hydrogen-fueled option.