The fuel cell combines the advantages of an electric vehicle, i.e. almost zero emission, high efficiency and silent operation, with the advantages of a conventional ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicle: long range and short refueling time. However, even though a fuel cell has about twice the efficiency of an internal combustion engine during a typical driving cycle, the gain in overall efficiency of the vehicle becomes unclear given the performance of the present-day fuel cell. When the total energy chain is considered, the ICE is still ahead of the fuel cell. This may change, however, if the expected development of the fuel cell system is taken into account. If unlimited and clean electricity is available for the transportation sectors the hydrogen fuel cell could compete with the battery electric vehicle as a zero emission vehicle at longer ranges. In this scenario, the hydrogen fuel cell would also be a better choice than the hydrogen internal combustion engine. For the fuel cell to be able to compete, there would have to be a dramatic reduction in cost. Essentially, the same performance will be demanded of the fuel cell as of the present-day vehicle. Since it is a consumer product the customer's demands as regards safety, reliability, ease of use and perhaps cost, most of all, will always have to be satisfied. It is clear, however, that the fuel cell vehicle could play an important role since it has the potential to reduce, at least locally, toxic emissions and possibly CO2. To make this happen a lot of resources have to be spent on research and development not only on the fuel cell as such but also on the entire energy chain and the infrastructure needed.
The fuel cell vehicle analysis of energy use, emissions and cost
Analyse der Energieausnutzung, der Emission und der Kosten von brennstoffzellengetriebenen Fahrzeugen
International Journal of Hydrogen Energy ; 23 , 5 ; 381-385
1998
5 Seiten, 4 Bilder, 2 Tabellen, 5 Quellen
Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)
Englisch
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