Benefits of Hydrogen Vehicles over Battery
Why choose Fuel
Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) over Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs)
Here are some benefits of FCEVs over BEVs:
FCEVs typically have a longer driving range compared to many BEVs. Hydrogen fuel cells can store more energy per unit weight than batteries, allowing FCEVs to travel greater distances on a single tank of hydrogen.
Refueling a hydrogen FCEV is generally faster than recharging a BEV. It takes a few minutes to fill up a hydrogen tank, similar to the time it takes to refuel a traditional gasoline vehicle. In contrast, BEVs typically take longer to recharge, even with fast-charging stations.
Like BEVs, FCEVs produce zero tailpipe emissions. However, FCEVs have an advantage in terms of range and refueling convenience, making them a viable option for long-haul or heavy-duty applications where BEVs might face range limitations.
Hydrogen fuel cells and tanks can be lighter than the large batteries used in BEVs. This can result in improved handling and efficiency in certain vehicle types.
FCEVs generally perform better in cold weather conditions compared to BEVs. Hydrogen fuel cells maintain their efficiency in extreme temperatures, whereas BEV battery performance can degrade in very cold weather.
FCEVs do not experience the same battery degradation over time that BEVs do. Batteries in BEVs gradually lose their capacity, leading to reduced range. FCEVs do not suffer from this issue.
FCEVs can be more space-efficient since hydrogen tanks can be integrated into the vehicle's design without taking up significant interior space, while BEVs need to accommodate bulky battery packs.
FCEVs can reduce dependence on lithium-ion battery production, which requires significant resources like rare metals and minerals. Hydrogen production can be sourced from a variety of feedstocks, including renewable sources, reducing resource dependency concerns.
Hydrogen can be produced from various sources, including renewable energy and natural gas. This versatility can help reduce carbon emissions from the transportation sector.
Currently, FCEVs also have their own set of challenges and limitations, including the limited availability of hydrogen refueling infrastructure, the energy-intensive process of hydrogen production, and concerns about hydrogen storage and transportation which is set to change with nations around the world trying to come up with low-cost green production plans.
US initiative for viable Green production is referred as “Hydrogen shot” with target 1-1-1 (1Kg H2 production under $1 in 1 decade).
For more information, refer to https://www.energy.gov/eere/fuelcells/hydrogen-shot
