Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle (HFCV): Is a New Alternative for all Vehicles?
Published on : Monday 25-05-2020
Fuel Cell Vehicles operates on a similar operation like electrified vehicles, where it uses charged hydrogen ions across an electrolyte membrane to generate current for the conversion of chemical energy is converted into electrical energy. These kinds of vehicles are purely based on renewable energy.
The article is based on the evolution of hydrogen fuel cell vehicle (HFCV), where it showing the hydrogen-based vehicles are available in the market in opposition to oversupplied less cost electrified vehicles. It is expected that HFCVs have high potential growth in the future but struggles in the next few years.
Advantages of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle
• The HFCVs are purely electrified vehicles and it is totally emission-free and no engine noise, which electric vehicles have partial and gasoline are totally based on heavy engine run
• It has better charging time compared to electric vehicles
• The HFCV can go a longer range compared to electric vehicles. They can move on an average 300 miles on a full hydrogen tank, while it will heavy batteries for electric vehicles to match the miles
• The variety of fuel cell vehicles isn't dependent on the outside temperature. In other words, it does now not go to pot in cold weather.
Dis-Advantages of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle
• The biggest shortcoming of hydrogen fuel cell cars is the sparsity of options for refueling.
“In the US, there are only over 40 refueling stations for hydrogen-powered cars in 2019, while Germany accounted for 80 in the total count”
“The average cost for the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle (HFCV) is nearly USD 80,000, which is almost twice the cost of electrified vehicles”
“In 2019, the average cost for hydrogen of 1 lb USD 14 in the US, compared to USD 4.8 in Germany”
Current Market Observation
There are several programs to promote hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in the global market. The Automotive OEMs such as BMW AG and Nissan Motors is investing in the partnership and collaboration with the hydrogen producers and filling station operators along with the industry associations to overall enhance the demand and consumption among the consumers. In Asia-Pacific, there are more than 100 hydrogen refueling stations and the domestic government targets for the consumption of more than 800,000 HFCVs by 2030, along with the 90% reduction in the hydrogen cost by 2050.
Considering the current trend, BMW AG leads the market in terms of hydrogen fuel cell car infrastructure. The company launched the “Clean Energy Partnership Initiative” with the collaboration with hydrogen producers and filling station operators to expand the network to over 130 stations by 2022, which would expect to account for the 60,000 German hydrogen cars. Further, it extends to 400 stations by 2025.
“If the demand for hydrogen increases, the price could drop to around USD 2.50/lb by 2030” – BMW AG
As per the International Energy Agency of Paris stated that the cost of producing hydrogen to fall by a further 30% by 2030. Such aspects are expected to lower the overall operational cost of the vehicles and increase in the development of materials for hydrogen fuel cell vehicle (HFCV) are expected to create the demand for the vehicles in the global market in the future.