Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle 101

Learn the Basics of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles, Including How Fueling Works, the Benefits, and the Limitations

How does fueling work for hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs)?

Like all electric vehicles, fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) use electricity to power an electric motor. In contrast to other electric vehicles, FCEVs produce electricity using a fuel cell powered by hydrogen, rather than drawing electricity from an off-vehicle battery charger. FCEVs are fueled with pure hydrogen gas stored in a tank on the vehicle. Like conventional internal combustion engine vehicles, they can fuel in about 20 minutes and can expect ranges all the way up to 750 miles.

Medium- and heavy-duty FCEVs can be fueled by finding a public station that is accessible for larger vehicle types. Not all vehicle types will have room to access fueling at every available hydrogen station. Mobile hydrogen fuelers, where liquefied or compressed hydrogen and dispensing equipment is stored onboard a trailer, are also available today to support the expansion of hydrogen infrastructure.

Learn more about hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles charging using the following resources:

U.S Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center: Hydrogen
U.S Department of Energy Hydrogen Station Locator
CA Fuel Cell Partnership Station Map
CA Fuel Cell Partnership FAQ
Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Infrastructure Topics

What are the benefits of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles?

A hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) emits only water vapor and warm air, and is considered a zero-emission vehicle, although the production of hydrogen may generate emissions affecting air quality.
Hydrogen fuel can be produced domestically from many sources such as natural or renewable gas, solar energy, wind, hydro, and biomass. When used to power highly efficient fuel cell electric vehicles, hydrogen fuel helps to strengthen national energy security, conserve fuel, and diversify our transportation energy options.
Hydrogen refueling is faster than charging battery electric vehicles. Refueling times can be as low as 10 minutes, and the refueling process is nearly the same as fueling with compressed natural gas (CNG). Similarities to conventional refueling make transitioning from conventional fuel types to hydrogen fuel cells more adaptable for some users.
Hydrogen fuel cell technology can handle tough conditions, including cold environments as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit, weather environments like hurricanes, deserts, and winter storms.
Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles are safe. There has not been a single case of an FCEV accident because of leaking hydrogen. Unlike conventional fuels, hydrogen is non-toxic, it disperses quickly when released into the air, has lower risk of secondary fire, and is less explosive.

Learn more about hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle benefits using the following resources:

U.S. Department of Energy: Hydrogen Benefits and Considerations
Plug Power Fuel Cell Benefits
California Fuel Cell Partnership: Fuel Cell Electric Trucks Vision (PDF)
Hydrogen Safety: Let's Clear the Air

What are the limitations of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles?

Upfront costs for hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) are currently higher than conventional vehicles, although a combination of declining costs, incentives, and innovative financing models can lower these upfront investments and reduce the impact. CARB is currently prioritizing financial incentive projects that will help ease adoption of all zero-emission vehicles. For example, the Hybrid & Zero-Emission Truck & Bus Voucher Incentive Program (HVIP) offers point-of-sale discounts for zero-emission trucks and buses by working directly with dealers to apply the incentive at time of purchase.
Hydrogen fueling infrastructure availability is important to consider when deciding to deploy a FCEV. There are currently 52 hydrogen fueling retail stations open to the public in California today, with a majority located in larger cities and metropolitan areas. Many stations may be suitable for medium-duty trucks to fuel, while four stations are specifically designated for heavy-duty vehicle fueling. The State of California is working to build 200 hydrogen refueling stations by 2025, with plans for 13 of those to offer fueling for heavy-duty vehicles. The California Energy Commission (CEC) has recently rolled out a new program offering Energy Infrastructure Incentives for Zero-Emission Commercial Vehicles (EnergIIZE Commercial Vehicles). The program will provide incentives for new electric charging and hydrogen fueling infrastructure projects to support fleets. The Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) program is also incentivizing the increase in hydrogen fuel availability. The program creates a potential funding stream for fueling infrastructure through a market-based system of tradable credits for clean fuel production. The U.S. Department of Energy has also launched a new program, Hydrogen Shot, to kickstart cost reduction and ramp up hydrogen production. This work and the increase in hydrogen fuel cell vehicle adoption will help to greatly increase the widespread availability of hydrogen fuel stations.
The hydrogen fuel production process is complex, and the high price of hydrogen today makes fuel cell vehicles more costly to operate. With new manufacturer requirements going into effect and more investment in the zero-emission market, the outlook is positive for an increase in fuel cell technology availability at lower cost. As vehicle production increases, prices will fall.

Learn more about options to assist transition by using the following resources:

ZEV TruckStop - Incentives & Funding
Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS)
EnergIIZE Commercial Vehicle Project
Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Infrastructure Topics
U.S. Department of Energy Hydrogen Shot