First of all, we already have good electric distribution infrastructure, but don’t have an industrially-sized hydrogen distribution infrastructure. It’s way easier to install a new charging site than a new hydrogen refueling site. Building hydrogen out will be expensive, unless you’re talking about vehicles with a centralized depot, like busses or ferries.
Second, fuel cells aren’t really that efficient right now, and neither is electrolysis. Due to losses at each step, 100 miles worth of green hydrogen is way, way more expensive than 100 miles worth of electricity.
With more research, that could change. But for now, there’s a reason you don’t see many FCEVs.
The same story was said about wind, solar, even BEVs too. They all had to be expensive before they hit mass production.
But the advantage of FCEVs is that they have very low resource requirements. The cost floor is much below that of BEVs. Eventually, they will be as cheap as ICE cars or less, and the fuel will be cheaper than gasoline.
The efficiency argument is hugely exaggerated and is mostly coming from BEV companies. Even if you believe it, you should be aware that photovoltaics are terribly inefficient. But it doesn’t matter because solar is made from sand and sunlight is everywhere. Hydrogen has the same idea going for it. Made from water and renewable energy, it too will be extremely cheap.
The problem with FCEVs right now is cost.
First of all, we already have good electric distribution infrastructure, but don’t have an industrially-sized hydrogen distribution infrastructure. It’s way easier to install a new charging site than a new hydrogen refueling site. Building hydrogen out will be expensive, unless you’re talking about vehicles with a centralized depot, like busses or ferries.
Second, fuel cells aren’t really that efficient right now, and neither is electrolysis. Due to losses at each step, 100 miles worth of green hydrogen is way, way more expensive than 100 miles worth of electricity.
With more research, that could change. But for now, there’s a reason you don’t see many FCEVs.
The same story was said about wind, solar, even BEVs too. They all had to be expensive before they hit mass production.
But the advantage of FCEVs is that they have very low resource requirements. The cost floor is much below that of BEVs. Eventually, they will be as cheap as ICE cars or less, and the fuel will be cheaper than gasoline.
The efficiency argument is hugely exaggerated and is mostly coming from BEV companies. Even if you believe it, you should be aware that photovoltaics are terribly inefficient. But it doesn’t matter because solar is made from sand and sunlight is everywhere. Hydrogen has the same idea going for it. Made from water and renewable energy, it too will be extremely cheap.