For a decent amount of time, the hydrogen fuel cell has been a major focus for the transportation industry. It saves refuelling time over gas-powered vehicles and produces drinkable water as a by-product. Over the last few decades, the world has witnessed burning debates on whether hydrogen fuel cell vehicles can compete with electric vehicles.
Some extensive efforts have been made to make hydrogen fuel cell vehicles a prominent element in the transportation industry. But despite five decades, the technology has never really caught on. There has been no incentive to build up the infrastructure for these kinds of vehicles. As a result, there is nowhere you can top up your tank.
In 2015, hydrogen vehicles seemed to be making a comeback into the industry with the world going bananas over a major announcement made by Toyota. Toyota announced the opening up of their 5,680 HFCV patents. It seemed that hydrogen vehicles would finally get the shift that they have needed forever. But despite this, HFCV vehicles have failed to make a mark against electric vehicles. In this article, we will understand more about hydrogen vs electric cars.
Hydrogen Car Vs Electric Car: What Are They and How They Operate?
Hydrogen Car
Hydrogen gas cars, sometimes referred to as hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), run on an electrochemical reaction that produces electricity by converting oxygen and high-pressure hydrogen gas into an electric motor. Hydro vehicles have zero emissions because they only release water vapor, as opposed to conventional gasoline-powered vehicles.
In order to produce electricity and water vapor in fuel cells, highly compressed hydrogen gas is first stored in a tank and then released. Hydro vehicles have longer driving ranges—up to 400 miles—and faster refueling periods than electric vehicles, despite being more sophisticated.
Electric Car
The operation of electric cars, commonly referred to as electric vehicles (EVs), is based solely on energy that is kept in lithium-ion batteries. An electric motor powered by these batteries produces rapid torque and acceleration. When in use, electric automobiles emit no emissions and can be charged at home using a plug or at public charging stations.
Electric cars have become more and more popular due to their superior infrastructure and regenerative braking technology, as well as their cheaper maintenance costs and environmental friendliness.
Hydrogen Fuel Vs Electric Cars: Comparison
In case you want a TL;DR – this table packs in an overview of hydrogen vs electric cars for you to get a clear idea about their differences:
| Aspect | Hydrogen Cars | Electric Cars |
| Refueling/Charging Time | 5-10 minutes for hydrogen refueling | 4-8 hours for electric charging |
| Driving Range | Up to 400 miles | 150-375 miles |
| Efficiency | Less efficient due to the complex conversion process | More efficient, utilizing around 80% of energy |
| Environmental Impact | Zero emissions during operation | Zero emissions during operation, but manufacturing and disposal impact |
| Infrastructure | Limited refueling stations globally | Widespread charging stations, but some regions may have limitations |
| Performance | Good performance, but lower efficiency | Efficient performance, instant torque, and acceleration |
| Safety | Risks associated with highly flammable hydrogen gas | Battery safety concerns in case of fire |
| Cost of Ownership | Higher initial cost and refueling charges | Lower initial cost and charging expenses |
Hydrogen Vs Electric Vehicles: Pros
In this section, we will talk about the pros of both electric and hybrid cars for you to get a better idea.
Hydrogen Car
Let us find out why hydrogen gas cars can be a good choice for you:
#1 – Faster refueling times
The ability of a hydrogen car to refill quickly is one of its main benefits. Similar to conventional gasoline cars, hydrogen gas cars can be refueled in a matter of minutes as opposed to electric vehicles, which can take several hours to recharge. High-pressure hydrogen filling stations enable you to immediately top off your tanks and continue driving without having to wait a lengthy period.
#2 – Extended driving ranges
The driving range of hydrogen automobiles is excellent and often exceeds that of electric vehicles. For instance, the hydrogen fuel cell automobile Toyota Mirai can go more than 400 miles on a single hydrogen tank. With an increased range, hydrogen cars are an excellent option for long-distance driving because they don’t require frequent stops for refilling.
#3 – Zero emissions
The fact that hydrogen cars emit no emissions makes them possibly the most alluring feature. These cars emit only water vapor as a byproduct when they use hydrogen fuel cells to generate power, therefore no harmful emissions or pollutants are released into the atmosphere. As a result, hydrogen gas cars are a greener and more sustainable option for transportation than conventional gasoline-powered cars.
Electric Car
#1 – Advanced infrastructure with widespread charging stations
An expanding network of infrastructure for electric car charging is a big plus, as more and more charging stations are found in cities, on highways, and at enterprises. For instance, Tesla owners have easy access to fast charging thanks to the company’s Supercharger network, which comprises hundreds of stations worldwide. Electric vehicles are a sensible option for long-distance and daily traveling due to this solid infrastructure.
#2 – Lower cost and affordability
The cost of electric cars has fallen recently, primarily due to industrial economies of scale and improvements in battery technology. With lower lifetime operating costs than their gasoline-powered counterparts, a number of electric car models are now competitively priced. The upfront cost of buying an electric car is further decreased by incentives like tax credits and rebates, which makes them a desirable choice for customers on a tight budget.
#3 – Zero emissions during operation
Electric vehicles, like hydro vehicles, emit no pollutants while in use, improving air quality and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Electric automobiles can be completely emissions-free throughout their lifespan by using electricity generated from renewable resources like solar, wind, and hydroelectric power. This has environmental advantages that go beyond the vehicle itself.
Hydrogen Vs Electric Vehicles: Cons
Find out the drawbacks of electric and hydro vehicles in the following section.
Hydrogen Car
Here are the reasons why hydrogen cars are difficult to sustain for a longer time:
#1 – Hydrogen is not really an energy source
Hydrogen is not really an energy source. It is more of a form of energy storage. An energy carrier. Comparing it with other natural sources like coal and Uranium is wrong because they’re all energy sources. Although hydrogen doesn’t produce any emissions, it cannot be compared with fuels like petroleum and gasoline. Primary energy sources like coal, uranium and natural gas are needed to extract hydrogen from the source, like natural water.
However, the argument in the favour of hydrogen can be that it doesn’t really matter. After all, it does provide energy. Moreover, you needs to setup an entire nuclear power plant to generate energy from Uranium as well.
#2 – Multi trillion Hydrogen delivery infrastructure
To bring the HFC vehicles into the market prominently, it would require multi trillion dollar infrastructure, with huge pipelines and refineries. Which by the way, resembles existing oil and gas infrastructure. On the other hand, the electric vehicles already have a ready to work with infrastructure. Almost everyone in the world has access to electricity. The infrastructure for HFCVs will have to be built from nothing.
#3 – Hydrogen is not clean
Almost all the hydrogen in the world is made from natural gas in large plants. The process is called Natural Gas Reforming. Methane, which is the main component of natural gas is a lot worse than CO2 in terms of global warming impact. And it is leaked throughout this process. It leaks consistently during the process – even when it is transported through miles and miles of lines.
According to US Environmental Protection Agency, three million cubic feet of methane leak annually. This is the global warming equivalent of half the coal plants in all of United States.It isn’t really a wise decision to spend so much of money to produce a fuel whose production itself causes significant global warming.
#4 – Is Hydrogen truly renewable?
People consider hydrogen renewable when it is obtained from water through the process of hydrolysis. But this method involves the use of a high voltage electricity to split, or breakdown water into hydrogen and oxygen. But when we apply conventional electricity to split water, we still burn coal, petroleum, uranium and other fuels. So in a way, we still have nothing but dirty hydrogen. It is no myth that we are already consuming the fossil fuels at a speed far away from sustainable levels. Adding hydrogen to our list obviously isn’t wise.
Electric Car
Find out the various reasons why electric cars can be a tough choice for you in the following section:
#1 – Limited driving range
When compared to conventional gasoline-powered vehicles, electric automobiles’ driving range is still constrained, despite advancements in battery technology. While some electric vehicles can travel more than 300 miles between charges, some might only be able to travel a shorter distance, especially in colder locations or when carrying a large load. Drivers who often travel long distances or who reside in places with poor charging infrastructure may find this limited range concerning.
#2 – Battery lifespan and disposal challenges
Because batteries degrade with time and with repeated charging cycles, people are still concerned about how long electric car batteries will last. Even though contemporary lithium-ion batteries are made to withstand hundreds of charging cycles, the range and performance of vehicles may eventually suffer from degradation. In addition, disposing of batteries from electric cars poses environmental issues because recycling facilities are still being developed and battery contents can be dangerous if improperly handled.
#3 – Limited charging stations in some regions
Even with the growth of the infrastructure for charging, certain areas might not have enough charging stations to encourage the widespread use of electric vehicles. Particularly in rural locations, there might be fewer possibilities for charging, which could cause range anxiety and difficulty for owners of electric cars. Encouraging the widespread adoption of electric vehicles and guaranteeing their viability as a mainstream transportation choice would require addressing these gaps in the charging infrastructure.
What gives Hydrogen Cars some hope?
Having said all this, there are some factors working in favour of hydrogen vehicles. Hydrogen cars have better range and they charge faster than all conventional battery powered vehicles. If you want a battery vehicle with a good range, you’ll need to spend a lot of money. For instance, you can spend a $132,000 and buy the Tesla Model X, which can go 257 miles on a single charge with a 90 kWh battery. But an average battery car doesn’t have such a range.
An average battery car goes about a 100 miles and costs less than $50,000. Compared to this, there are Hydrogen vehicles in the market which have a much better range. Audi’s e-tron Quattro concept car has a 372 miles range. The Honda Clarity can achieve a 400-mile range.
Moreover, even if you are rich enough to look at a Tesla which has a decent range, let me remind you that you are still looking at a fairly long charge time. That’s one other area where hydrogen vehicles have an edge over electric vehicles. Consider the Tesla Model S – it can give you a 170 mile ride after a charge of thirty minutes. That’s great when we compare it with the other battery vehicles in existence.
But contrast this to gas vehicles – we are never at the gas station for thirty minutes, and we get way more than 170 miles out of refuelling at a time. Hydrogen powered cars have a range of over 300 miles and can be refuelled in just about three minutes.
Also Read: Elon Musk: An Ode to the Rocket Man
The Bottomline on Hydrogen vs Electric
Despite all the benefits and merits of hydrogen cars, there is no infrastructure for these kind of vehicles. You cannot exactly go anywhere to refuel your hydrogen car. It can be argued that strides are being made to develop this infrastructure. But this, of course, will take some time – perhaps a decade?
Additionally, in the case of this infrastructure, electric vehicles steal the show as the automakers need to do nothing but add more charging points to the already built and functioning electric grids to develop this infrastructure. Maybe in a decade or two, the infrastructure for the jydrogen vehicles will be fully developed and the potential of these vehicles will be fully explored. But as of today, electric vehicles continue to have edge over hydrogen vehicles.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are hydrogen cars better than electric cars?
Although both electric and hydrogen cars have advantages, the choice between the two comes down to personal needs and preferences. Although they have longer driving ranges and faster refueling periods, hydrogen cars have drawbacks due to their more expensive and restricted infrastructure. Conversely, electric vehicles offer the advantages of a more sophisticated charging network, reduced expenses, and no emissions while in use. The decision between hydrogen and electric vehicles ultimately comes down to personal preferences, accessibility to infrastructure, and environmental reasons.
2. How much does it cost to refuel/charge electric and hydrogen cars?
The cost of charging or refueling an electric or hydrogen automobile varies based on a number of variables, including local laws, energy prices, and the efficiency of the vehicle. In general, refilling an electric automobile with hydrogen can be more costly than charging it, though this might vary depending on the area and the availability of incentives or subsidies. The cost of charging an electric automobile usually depends on the power rate as well as the type of charging method (home charging, public charging stations, etc.). The total cost may also be impacted by variables like time-of-use pricing and unique billing schedules.
3. Why are hydrogen cars not the future?
Despite having some benefits, like rapid refueling times and no emissions, hydrogen cars have a number of drawbacks that could prevent them from being widely used. These difficulties include a lack of adequate infrastructure, more expensive than electric vehicles, and production difficulties arising from the supply of hydrogen. Furthermore, because of the widespread investment in charging infrastructure and the quick improvement of technology, electric cars are becoming a more attractive option for policymakers and consumers alike.
4. Hydrogen vs electric car: which side are you on?
The choice between an electric or hydrogen-powered vehicle depends on a number of variables, such as driving style, infrastructure accessibility, environmental concerns, and individual preferences. While some people would value the speedy refilling convenience that hydrogen cars provide, others could favor the more sophisticated charging infrastructure and cheaper expenses that come with electric vehicles. In the end, switching to more environmentally friendly transportation options and lowering greenhouse gas emissions are major goals that can be achieved by both hydrogen and electric vehicles.