Fuel-Cell Vehicle Mechanism
Source: Energy.gov
https://www.afdc.energy.gov/vehicles/how-do-fuel-cell-electric-cars-work

Over the last couple of months, two main headlines seized my attention. The first one from June was “Honda Clarity Fuel-Cell and PHEV Models to End Production Soon”. The second one from a week ago was “Toyota Mirai drives 845 miles on a tank of hydrogen, sets world record”.

Well, which one is it? Is the hydrogen-fueled vehicle dead or alive-and-ready-to-get-kicking?

While I think we can all agree that hydrogen has good potential in our future, exactly what role it will play is still somewhat unclear. In addition, we also have the following competing headlines where California has been dreaming of a “Hydrogen Highway” since 2004 and several states in the US east in the process of setting up a huge EV charging network.

Again – which one is it? EV or Hydrogen fuel-cell??

This discussion is, of course, in the face of rapid advance of the electric cars with almost every car manufacturer worldwide setting full electrification targets and the US government setting an ambitious new target to make half of all new vehicles sold in 2030 zero-emissions vehicles, including battery electric, plug-in hybrid electric, or fuel cell electric vehicles. While the future of Nikola trucks is in doubt, Hyundai and big-rig producer Cummins are looking into the possibility to jointly develop and commercialize fuel cell powertrains by combining Hyundai’s fuel cell systems with Cummins’ electric powertrain, battery, and control technologies. Toyota and Kenworth are building 10 fuel cell semi tractors for use in and around the Port of Los Angeles and Port Heuneme, California.

Given that, from a transportation perspective, Hydrogen is going to be used in a fuel-cell which will convert Hydrogen to electricity which will then propel the vehicle, does it also qualify to be called an electric or electrified vehicle?

Where is this all leading? We believe that it is taking us toward a future, that will evolve through a combination of conventional (on its way down), electrified, and alternative fuel vehicles being developed by a broad range of auto and truck manufacturers, some legacy and some new. Each, however, has their own vision of what our driving future will look like. Time will tell what the future of our transportation world will look like.

Signing off
Mani Vadari