What are hydrogen fuel cells?

Hydrogen fuel cells are a technology used primarily in electric vehicles for storing and generating electrical power through a chemical process. This process involves hydrogen, typically stored as a compressed gas in tanks, passing through a fuel cell where it reacts to create static electricity. This generated electricity can then be utilized to power an electric vehicle.

The key components of a hydrogen fuel cell system include the hydrogen fuel cell itself, a compressed hydrogen storage tank, and the necessary infrastructure such as hydrogen filling stations. The main advantage of using hydrogen in fuel cells is that it produces zero emissions—only water vapor is released as a byproduct.

Despite its potential, the widespread adoption of hydrogen fuel cell technology faces challenges, particularly regarding the availability of hydrogen filling stations, which are far less common compared to traditional gas stations or electric charging stations. Nonetheless, hydrogen fuel cells offer the benefit of extended driving ranges for vehicles and faster refueling times compared to battery electric vehicles, which could make them a valuable component of future transportation systems 1 2 3.