HYDROGEN POWERED ELECTRIC CARS

Hydrogen powered electric cars are similar to all-electric vehicles, except the car produces electricity using a fuel cell powered by hydrogen to run the car, rather than getting electricity from only a battery. The first commercially produced hydrogen powered electric car was the Hyundai ix35 FCEV, which was introduced in 2013. Another popular hydrogen powered electric car is the Toyota Mirai, which was released in 2015. Click here to see an article about the release and specs of the 2020 Toyota Mirai.

Hydrogen cars densely pack their energy storage, so they're usually able to drive longer distances than battery powered electric vehicles. While most fully electric vehicles can travel between 100-200 miles on a single charge, hydrogen ones can get to 300 miles. The hydrogen is fed into the fuel cell, which is what generates the electricity. It combines hydrogen and air which generates electricity. Inside the fuel cell is a liquid with a positively charged anode on one side and a negatively charged cathode on the other, like a battery. In the cell, hydrogen atoms split into protons and electrons. This provides the car with the power for the car’s electric motor, and also creates water as an exhaust product. Because hydrogen powered electric cars are not very popular currently, there are limited fueling stations. Click here to see the available hydrogen refuelling stations.

Toyota is selling the car Mirai, which costs around $50,000. This price point is a little more expensive than a conventional car, but it is much less than hydrogen fuel cells used to cost. For hydrogen and electric cars to cut down on carbon emissions, the electricity used to develop, manufacture, and charge fuel cells also has to come from a source of clean energy. Currently, hydrogen cells to use as fuel are a little pricey, but it is possible for the prices to decrease as they can start being made in bulk, and hydrogen powered electric cars become more popular. Click here to read an article about the cost of the Toyota Mirai.