Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCEV)
How They Work
Hydrogen fuel cells convert hydrogen gas into electricity to power electric motors. Only emission is water vapor.
Advantages
- • Fast refueling (3-5 minutes)
- • Long range (300-400 miles)
- • Zero emissions
Challenges
- • Infrastructure: Very few hydrogen stations (mostly California)
- • Efficiency: 25-35% well-to-wheel vs 70-80% for BEVs
- • Cost: Expensive vehicles and fuel
- • Production: Most hydrogen from fossil fuels (not green)
Biofuels
Fuels derived from organic matter (ethanol, biodiesel)
Status: Can reduce emissions but still combustion engines with associated pollution and inefficiency. Limited by land use for crops.
Synthetic Fuels (E-fuels)
Gasoline-like fuels created from CO2 and hydrogen
Status: Very expensive, energy-intensive to produce. Still uses combustion engines. Not commercially viable for passenger vehicles.
Why Battery EVs Are Winning
- ✓ Infrastructure already exists (electricity everywhere)
- ✓ 2-3x more efficient than hydrogen
- ✓ Lower cost to own and operate
- ✓ Proven technology with millions of vehicles
- ✓ Rapidly improving batteries and charging
