Comparison of Battery Electric Vehicles and Fuel Cell Vehicles

• Published in: World electric vehicle journal Vol. 14; no. 9; p. 262
• Main Authors: De Wolf, Daniel, Smeers, Yves
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.09.2023; MDPI
• Subjects: advantages and limitations; Automobiles; battery electric vehicles; Carbon dioxide; Climate change; Costs; Diesel fuels; distribution costs; Electric power distribution; Electric power grids; Electric vehicles; Energy costs; Environmental Sciences; Fossil fuels; fuel cell electric vehicles; Fuel cell vehicles; Fuel cells; Gasoline; Hydrogen; Natural gas; Natural gas reserves; Quantitative Finance; Sales; United Kingdom > UK; France; United States > US; China; Europe; Germany; advantages and limitations; fuel cell electric vehicles; battery electric vehicles; distribution costs; battery electric vehicles fuel cell electric vehicles advantages and limitations distribution costs
• ISSN: 2032-6653; 2032-6653
• DOI: 10.3390/wevj14090262

In the current context of the ban on fossil fuel vehicles (diesel and petrol) adopted by several European cities, the question arises of the development of the infrastructure for the distribution of alternative energies, namely hydrogen (for fuel cell electric vehicles) and electricity (for battery electric vehicles). First, we compare the main advantages/constraints of the two alternative propulsion modes for the user. The main advantages of hydrogen vehicles are autonomy and fast recharging. The main advantages of battery-powered vehicles are the lower price and the wide availability of the electricity grid. We then review the existing studies on the deployment of new hydrogen distribution networks and compare the deployment costs of hydrogen and electricity distribution networks. Finally, we conclude with some personal conclusions on the benefits of developing both modes and ideas for future studies on the subject.