Where are we at with Hydrogen Fuel Cells?

Hydrogen fuel cells have been seen as a promising alternative to traditional gasoline-powered vehicles for several decades. Fuels cells work by combining hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, which can then be used to power an electric vehicle. One of the biggest advantages of fuel cells is that they produce only water as a byproduct, making them a cleaner alternative to traditional internal combustion engines.

In recent years, the development of fuel cell technology has made significant progress. Automakers have been investing heavily in the technology, and several models of hydrogen-powered vehicles are now available on the market. Some of the largest automakers in the world, including Toyota, Hyundai, and Honda, now offer fuel cell  vehicles, and the number of models available is expected to continue to grow in the coming years.

As of 2021 , the following makes and models of fuel cell vehicles are available on the market:

• Toyota Miarai: Toyota was one of the first automakers to release a fuel cell vehicle, the Mirai, in 2014. The Marai is a four-door sedan that can travel up to 250 miles (402 km) on a single tank of hydrogen.
• Hyundai Nexo: Hyundai released its fuel cell SUV, the Nexo, in 2018. The Nexo has a range of up to 380 miles (609 km) and is available in several countries around the world.
• Honda Clarity Fuel Cell: Honda’s Clarity Fuel Cell is a four-door sedan that was first released in 2016. The Clarity has a range of up to 365 miles (589 km) and is available in select markets.
• Mercedes-Benz GLC F-Cell: Mercedes-Benz’s GLC F-Cell is a fuel cell SUV that was released in 2019. The GLC F-Cell has a range of up to 270 miles (437 km) and is available in several countries in Europe.
• Audi h-tron Sportback: Audi’s h-tron Sportback is a fuel cell SUV that was released in 2020. The h-tron Sportback has a range of up to 225 miles (365 km) and is available in select markets.

Despite these advances , the adoption of fuel cell vehicles has been slow. One of the biggest challenges facing the technology is the lack of hydrogen fueling infrastructure. Unlike gasoline or electric charging stations, hydrogen fueling stations are still relatively scarce, making it difficult for drivers to refuel their vehicles. Additionally, the high cost of fuel cell vehicles and the limited range of many models have also been a barrier to widespread adoption.

To Address these challenges, governments and industry organizations have been working together to encourage the growth of the hydrogen fuel cell industry. Several countries, including Japan, Germany, and the United States, have established programs and incentives to encourage the development of hydrogen fueling infrastructure and the production of fuel cell vehicles. These efforts are beginning to pay off, with the number of hydrogen fueling stations increasing and the cost of fuel cell vehicles dropping.

Despite these advances, there are still many challenges facing the fuel cell industry. One of the biggest is the issue of hydrogen production. Most hydrogen currently produced is made from fossil fuels, which negates some of the environmental benefits of fuel cells. There are ongoing efforts to develop alternative hydrogen production methods, such as using renewable energy sources like wind and solar power to produce hydrogen, but these methods are still in the early stages of development.

The current status of hydrogen fuel cells for powering automobiles is a mixed one. On one hand, the technology has made significant progress in recent years, with several models of fuel cell vehicles now available on the market . On the other hand, the lack of a hydrogen fueling infrastructure and the high cost of fuel cell vehicles continue to be major barriers to widespread adoption. Nevertheless, with ongoing efforts from governments and industry organizations, the future of fuel cells in the automotive industry looks promising.

February 9, 2023