How much does it cost to run a hydrogen fuel cell?

Hydrogen fuel cell cars now average between 312 miles and 380 miles in range, according to the EPA. They will cost about $80 to refuel from empty (most drivers don’t let the tank run down to empty before they refuel, so end up refueling at a cost of $55 to $65).

Are hydrogen fuel cells cost effective?

Overall Cost The cost for a unit of power from hydrogen fuel cells is currently greater than other energy sources, including solar panels. This may change as technology advances, but currently this cost is a barrier to widespread use of hydrogen even though it is more efficient once produced.

Is hydrogen power expensive?

The cost of hydrogen production is an important issue. Hydrogen produced by steam reformation costs approximately three times the cost of natural gas per unit of energy produced. This means that if natural gas costs $6/million BTU, then hydrogen will be $18/million BTU.

Why are hydrogen fuel cells so expensive?

Current hydrogen vehicles use fuel cells to convert the chemical energy to power. Fuel cells are very costly because they are complex and require expensive materials such as platinum.

How much do hydrogen fuel cells cost per kWh?

Still, the added expense of fuel cell energy is a burden. Electricity produced by fuel cells costs $0.14 to $0.15 per kilowatt-hour, the most commonly used measurement of energy prices.

Is hydrogen fuel cheaper than diesel?

Diesel cost is currently about 1/3 of the annual costs for a long-distance truck doing 80,000 miles per year. Taking the factor of two means that a BEV will be cheaper than a hydrogen at current prices by about 16-17\% of annual costs – not insignificant!

Is fuel cell technology expensive?

In terms of equipment costs, fuel cell systems are more expensive than battery systems.

What is the most expensive part of a fuel cell?

Unlike a battery, where most of the cost comes from the raw materials used to make it, the most expensive part of a fuel cell is manufacturing the fuel cell stack itself—not the materials to produce it. The cost to build and maintain hydrogen stations also needs to decrease for the market to support a hydrogen economy.

How reliable is a hydrogen fuel cell?

Hydrogen fuel cells provide quiet, reliable, low-maintenance operation, as well as being a clean energy solution with zero emissions. Batteries are heavy with a low relative energy density, providing only enough power for short-endurance drone missions with a typical recharge time that is much longer than the provided flight duration.

How much does a gallon of hydrogen fuel cost?

Hydrogen Fuel Cost. Current average prices are around $2.50-$3.00 per gallon of hydrogen fuel. As gasoline prices are somewhere between $3-$4 at the present time, this highly comparable.

What are the disadvantages of hydrogen fuel cells?

List of the Disadvantages of Hydrogen Fuel Cells 1. Hydrogen fuel cells can still pose health risks. 2. It is not an affordable technology for the average person. 3. Hydrogen fuel cells are available in limited quantities. 4. It requires a huge capital investment to incorporate into our infrastructure.

Are hydrogen fuel cells expensive?

Hydrogen fuel cells are expensive for two major reasons: These two reasons stem from a number of factors and are closely interlinked. In fact, this is another example of the chicken and egg problem. Among other limitations, the constituent materials (such as platinum) that form the fuel cell system are not cheap.