Hydrogen Fuel Cell Efficiency – How Economical Are They?

Take it as read that the hydrogen fuel cell is coming to a car park near you. While battery EVs and hybrids are the current new-tech go-tos, it won’t be long before a fuel cell-powered car or SUV could be in your future.On the surface, a fuel cell which uses hydrogen to create electricity is a commendably efficient way to go. Depending on the actual fuel cell, these devices are reckoned to be between 40 and 60 per cent efficient.That’s partly because hydrogen needs to be compressed into a liquid form that a fuel cell can use, and that costs about 15 per cent of the gas’ efficiency. Another 25 per cent is lost in the electrolysis process (which separates the hydrogen from the water molecules in the first place).Read more about hydrogen fuel cell cars But compared with the average internal combustion engine at just 25 per cent efficient, that’s still a big win to…

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