What Are Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles and Are They Worth it? | Global News Avenue

You’ve heard of gasoline and electric cars, but what about hydrogen-powered cars?

Fuel cell electric vehicles use electricity to power an electric motor, just like a regular electric vehicle. However, FCEVs use hydrogen fuel cells to generate some of the electricity needed by the vehicle, rather than relying solely on batteries.

Like most things on the internet, whether this makes sense is still up for debate. Elon Musk, whose Tesla Inc. makes competing battery electric vehicles, has criticized FCEVs. Call them “incredibly stupid.” At the same time, some large automotive companies, e.g. toyota and Honda are investing in hydrogen technology. Experts at Toyota, which has battery electric vehicles, hybrids, plug-in hybrids and its own fuel-cell vehicles, had no comment on Musk’s views but stressed it was not a one-size-fits-all solution.

“What’s lost in the debate is what the customer wants,” said Josh Burns, mobility communications consultant at Toyota. “Ultimately when choosing a vehicle, it comes down to your lifestyle, your budget and the resources you have.” Choose the vehicle that’s right for you.” CNET.

With that said, should you consider an FCEV when buying your next car? Let’s settle this debate by exploring how they compare to internal combustion engine cars and battery electric cars.

What is a fuel cell electric vehicle?

Unlike battery electric vehicles, FCEVs are more traditional electric vehicles that store energy in large batteries Using hydrogen to generate electricity And only water vapor and warm air are released. pure electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicle They are a zero-emission, green alternative to internal combustion engine cars that burn fossil fuels and emit pollutants.

Jackie Birdsall, senior engineering manager for Toyota’s fuel cell division, explains an FCEV as “an electric vehicle, but instead of plugging in to charge, it’s replenished with hydrogen.”

When you’re at a charging station or gas station, the energy source makes a difference. Here’s a quick breakdown of the different fuel sources we’re using:

• ICE vehicles run on gasoline or diesel.
• Battery electric vehicles use electricity stored in large batteries.
• FCEVs use hydrogen.

Natural gas and diesel are considered fossil fuels, while electricity and hydrogen can come from renewable sources. But that doesn’t necessarily mean these alternative fuel sources are 100% clean.

“Not all electricity is clean, and that’s a challenge for hydrogen as well. But with FCEVs, it’s often overlooked that the energy source can be clean, and there are lots of opportunities to produce clean hydrogen,” Burns said.

Refueling an FCEV only takes about 5 minutes. FCEVs can be refueled much faster than BEVs and can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 50 hours, depending on your situation Electric vehicle charger rating. The refueling process for FCEVs is actually similar to that for ICE vehicles. It’s like taking your car to a gas station, except you fill it up with hydrogen instead of gasoline. At a hydrogen refueling station, you connect the fuel nozzle to your vehicle’s hydrogen tank and fill it up in just a few minutes.

Electric car batteries are also Wear over time. that’s why energy star It is recommended to only charge electric vehicles to 80% of their capacity to maximize battery life. Hydrogen fuel cells are different. “The goal for a hydrogen refueling station is typically 100 percent. Since it’s a hydrogen tank, you want to fill it up and deplete it all the way. That has no impact on the durability of the tank,” Birdsall said. This means FCEVs can deliver consistent performance without the battery degradation issues seen in BEVs.

Advantages and Disadvantages of FCEV

FCEVs are equipped with some nice benefits. First, you can refuel an FCEV in about 5 minutes, which is about the same amount of time it takes to refuel an ICE vehicle. A tank of gas typically lasts about 400 miles, depending on the vehicle. But it costs more than charging an electric car or refueling an internal combustion engine car.

Hydrogen prices vary, but Reddit user Reports say each tank costs $140 to $200, much more than Diesel or electric vehicle. Finding a place to refuel can also be tricky. You need to find an online hydrogen network and Station map Plan your drive.

One of the main attractions of FCEVs is the environmental benefits. Instead of polluting the air by burning gasoline or diesel, FCEVs produce zero tailpipe emissions and only release water vapor. However, the overall environmental impact of FCEVs depends heavily on whether the hydrogen comes from renewable sources. Currently, most hydrogen production does not come from clean energy sources, but this may change in the future.

“The federal government is investing approximately $8 billion to create renewable energy hydrogen center All over the United States. The goal is to use renewable resources unique to each hub to create hydrogen,” Birdsall said.

Despite the many advances made over the past decade, fuel cell electric vehicles still face some obstacles. Here are some pros and cons to consider.

advantage

• Quick refuel: You can refuel an FCEV in five minutes. A single tank of fuel should last about 400 miles.
• Clean emissions: FCEVs only emit vapor water and not harmful pollutants.
• Familiar refueling process: Refueling an FCEV is similar to refueling an ICE vehicle, so the conversion process is very simple.
• Long lasting performance: Hydrogen fuel cells have a long service life and are designed to extend the life of the vehicle. You don’t have to worry about battery degradation like you do with a pure electric car.
• Incentives: You can receive local and federal grants or Incentives For use in zero-emission vehicles. Some automakers also offer fuel incentives when you buy an FCEV.

shortcoming

• Limited technology and resources: There are far fewer fuel cell electric vehicles and hydrogen refueling stations available compared to alternatives. When a hydrogen refueling station needs maintenance, there aren’t as many technicians and permitting officers trained in hydrogen technology.
• Expensive fuel: Hydrogen is more expensive compared to other fuel sources.
• Non-renewable hydrogen: Although efforts are underway to increase the production of renewable hydrogen, a large proportion of hydrogen is produced from non-renewable sources.

The future of FCEVs

Will FCEVs take over America? Maybe one day. But currently most FCEVs in the U.S. are concentrated in California, largely due to that state’s policies Zero emissions mission. Other states have similar mandates but have not put as much money or effort into developing hydrogen infrastructure. Although the United States has made great strides in the adoption of FCEVs, it is still not as advanced as other countries.

“China and South Korea have taken the lead in building hydrogen infrastructure, investing a lot of money in these efforts,” Birdsall said. “But things are different in California. We have more drivers and fewer stations, so the infrastructure There’s more wear and tear on the facility.”

This results in more hydrogen refueling stations needing to be shut down for maintenance. However, Japan and many European countries have larger networks of hydrogen refueling stations, which helps distribute usage and reduce equipment failures.

Although the technology is evolving, there is still significant investment in fuel cell development. “There’s a lot of opportunity in light vehicles, there’s a lot of opportunity in medium-duty and heavy-duty transportation,” Burns said. One of the drawbacks of battery technology is that it can’t yet support the needs of commercial long-distance vehicles. But with the right hydrogen infrastructure in place, these vehicles can be quickly refueled and continue running, making them an excellent solution for reducing emissions from fleet operations.

When it comes to electric vehicles competing with fuel cell vehicles, Burns said, “It’s not an either/or conversation; it’s an ‘and.’ There’s no clearly better technology, but different ones that complement each other.” Solutions. “Electric vehicles and fuel cell electric vehicles both have a role to play in reducing harmful emissions and supporting a sustainable future.

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