Technology Tuesdays: What’s the Deal with Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles?
The hydrogen fuel cell vehicle received a fair amount of buzz some years ago. However, with the sharp increase in plug-in electric vehicles (PEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) it seems as though the buzz has died down substantially. Let’s explore why that is and if hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are really viable in today’s market.
We have discussed hydrogen fuel cells and fuel cell technology in the past. First, we talked about some of the basics of hydrogen fuel cell technology and what makes it so unique here. We then discussed hydrogen fuel cell boilers and how they work and we have even talked about how the process to make hydrogen is being evolved to make more energy dense fuels here.
As a refresher, a fuel cell is, essentially, a power generator. These power generators create energy through an electrochemical process. A hydrogen fuel cell is a type of fuel cell named for the fuel it uses. You can compare a hydrogen fuel cell to a battery but with some key differences. For example, both store energy. However, a battery needs to be charged periodically. The charging frequency depends on its use and the length of time a battery must be charged is substantially longer than the time it takes to refuel a hydrogen fuel cell. Whereas it may take as long as 6-8 hours to fully charge the battery in your vehicle, a hydrogen fuel cell can be refilled in about the same amount of time it would take to fill a gas tank.
Some other key differences include emissions. While hydrogen fuel cells do have emissions that are the result of the chemical process, those emissions are water in vapor form and heat which are not harmful to the environment. Additionally, hydrogen is the most abundant resource on the planet. Therefore, normal supply chain issues should not apply.
All of these wonderful things about hydrogen fuel cells bring me back to my original question: why aren’t hydrogen fuel cell vehicles more popular and are they viable?
Initially, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, being a relatively new technology, were more expensive. Most working people are not able to make purchasing decisions solely based on the most environmentally friendly technology. They have to take things like cost and practicality into consideration. In fact, there are only about 15,000 or less, hydrogen-powered vehicles in the United States, all of which are located in California. By contrast, there are millions of electric vehicles on the road all over the country.
Currently, the momentum is behind electric vehicles. The general public seems to be warming up to the idea of electric vehicles especially, since there are rebates and tax incentives out there to assist with purchasing them. However, as we move closer and closer to our net carbon neutrality goals, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles will begin to play a bigger role according to many experts. In fact, it is projected that the market for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles will increase from $1.2 billion in 2022 to $46.8 billion by 2030. Currently, there are 3 hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicles available on the market:
Honda Clarity– Although Honda discontinued production on the Clarity in August 2021, lease options were still available through the 2022 model year.
Hyundai Nexo – Hyundai began making the Nexo in 2018. The new and updated 2023 model is available to buyers.
Toyota Mirai – Toyota was the first to produce a commercial hydrogen fuel cell vehicle when it launched the Mirai back in 2014. The vehicle continues to be available today with the release of the second-generation Mirai in 2023.
The journey of the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle will be an exciting one to watch!
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Sources:
https://www.plugpower.com/fuel-cells-what-they-are-and-how-they-work/
https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a41103863/hydrogen-cars-fcev/
https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2023/02/14/2607529/0/en/Hydrogen-Fuel-Cell-Vehicle-Market-Projected-to-Reach-USD-46-8-billion-at-a-68-52-CAGR-by-2030-Report-by-Market-Research-Future-MRFR.html
https://www.motorbiscuit.com/honda-clarity-line-officially-canceled/