Why are hydrogen fuel cars so expensive?

Another reason for the high purchase price is that hydrogen fuel cell cars tend to be quite large because the hydrogen tank(s) take up a lot of space. The drive unit for a purely battery-driven electric vehicle, on the other hand, also fits into small cars.

How much does it cost to refuel a hydrogen car?

It can hold 6.3 kilograms of hydrogen and, by the EPA’s methodology, sees 60 miles per kilogram. That means a Nexo owner can go about 380 miles before needing to refill the tank, which costs about $100.

Can the Toyota Mirai explode?

Fuel cells make the wheels go ’round Still, many consumers immediately feel cold chills at the thought of driving a vehicle filled with such a highly combustible gas. Fuel cells combine oxygen and hydrogen. This is, in turn, used to generate electric power. There’s no explosion involved.

Why are hydrogen vehicles so expensive?

Hydrogen in vehicles must be compressed in expensive high-pressure tanks, which requires — you guessed it — energy. 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.

Are hydrogen fuel cells the future of car energy?

Fuel cells don’t use fossil fuels and they don’t produce pollution, so they would seem to be an ideal successor to internal combustion engine as the energy source for the cars of the 21st century. At least one hydrogen fue­l cell car, the Honda FCX Clarity, is already available for lease in certain parts of California.

How is hydrogen used to power electric cars?

Aside from internal combustion-powered vehicles, hydrogen can also be used to power a vehicle through a device called a fuel cell. A fuel cell separates the single electron in a hydrogen atom from the single proton and uses the electrons to produce a stream of electricity. This electricity can then power the motor in an electric vehicle.

Is hydrogen a safer fuel than aviation fuel?

The end result: hydrogen is safer than aviation fuel for aerospace applications involving an incendiary round penetrating the fuel tank. if you want more info on hydrogen safety in aerospace applications, NASA has loads of documentation of the history on-line, you can also check out Daniel Brewer’s book “ Hydrogen Aircraft Technolog y.”