What are hydrogen fuel cells? How do electric cars use them?
As explained by the U.S. Department of Energy, “Similar to battery electric vehicles, fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) use electricity to power an electric motor. In contrast to other electric systems, FCEVs generate electricity on board of the vehicle, using a device called fuel cells powered by hydrogen fuel, rather than only drawing it from a battery.”
Are hydrogen fuel cells a new technology?
The first fuel cell was invented by physicist William Grove in 1842 — nearly 200 years ago.
The first road vehicle powered by a fuel cell was introduced in the 1960s, and various types of FCEVs made available for lease in the early 2000s.
The first mass-produced hydrogen car was introduced by Hyundai in 2013: the Hyundai ix35, quickly followed by Toyota’s Mirai.
As of 2020, over 30,000 FCEVs have been sold worldwide.
How do we know it’s safe?
Hydrogen fuel cell technology and the safety around it have been widely studied and with thousands of vehicles on the road, rigorous safety measures have been implemented.
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) states that, “Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles are safe. There has not been a single case of an FCEV accident because of leaking hydrogen.”
No. As explained by the Department of Energy, hydrogen is non-toxic.
In fact, hydrogen (H2) can be found all around us — most commonly in water (H2O).
Is hydrogen more dangerous than other fuel sources like gasoline?
Hydrogen, like gasoline, has risks associated with its utilization but it is not inherently more dangerous than other fuel sources.
As shown by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), hydrogen is around 50 times lighter than gasoline meaning that when released, hydrogen tends to rise and disperse making the likelihood of ignition at ground level low.
As explained by CARB, “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.”
Is hydrogen flammable? Is it easily combustible?
Hydrogen, like gasoline, is flammable. However, this is well known, and the appropriate measures are made to mitigate these risks when designing and operating FCEVs. Among others, as explained by the DOE, these include ventilation and leak detection as key elements in the design of safe hydrogen systems.
Where can I learn more about hydrogen, fuel cells, and hydrogen safety?
There’s a wealth of resources available via government agencies, national labs, trade groups, safety organizations and educational programs, including:
