Fuel-cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) Vs. Battery-operated Electric Vehicle (BEV) - A Tug-of-War For The Next Big Thing

What started as a fashion gig is gradually becoming a reality. With Nations stressing eco-friendly transportation modes, Electric vehicles are foraying into mainstream commuting. But displacing or taking over a century-long fuel-led automobile sector is no easy feat. Three pivotal factors determine the sustainability of any invention. They include, 

• Safety
• Infrastructure
• Cost 

Now that researchers have channelized their R&Ds to work extensively on vehicles operated via electricity, an intense rivalry arises to determine the power generation. The two dominating techniques that gain immense spotlight in today’s world include, 

• Electric vehicles operated via Hydrogen-powered Fuel cells (FCVs or FCEVs) 
• Electric vehicles operated via Rechargeable Batteries (BEVs) 

With Hydrogen considered the best fuel alternative for the future, can FCEVs, a.k.a., Hydrogen cars outplay the BEVs that have a competitive headstart? Bringing the ‘environment’ factor to the table, are Hydrogen cars more eco-friendly than BEVs? Explore more to find out who’s leading the battle and who’ll emerge victorious in the war. 

The Conventional E-vehicles - BEVs 

Ask a layman what they think when they hear e-vehicles, and ‘Battery’ would be the inevitable answer. BEVs demand electricity from a single source called batteries that run one or more electric motors based on demand. Considered as one of the earliest replacements for gasoline-powered vehicles, BEVs do not emit any hazardous emissions. 

Some of the classic examples include, 

• Tesla Model 3
• Hyundai Ioniq
• Toyota Rav4

The Emerging Hydrogen cars - An Irresistible Force 

In FCEVs, Fuel Cells are the energy source. Fuel Cells work on the electrochemical reaction between Hydrogen & Oxygen. The vehicle has an in-built Hydrogen storage tank that feeds the fuel cell periodically. One of the notable aspects of FCEVs is that these vehicles emit only water as a by-product, making it highly reliable and sustainable in the long run. By leveraging the universal reaction, Hydrogen and Oxygen combine to form H2O and run vehicles effortlessly. 

Some of the popular FCEVs include, 

• BMW i Hydrogen NEXT 
• Hyundai Xcient 
• Volkswagen Crafter HyMotion 

(Source: BMW)

Cracking the code to extract hydrogen 

Although a common element, Hydrogen doesn’t exist in its pure form in the atmosphere. Among different methods, the two popular ways to extract pure hydrogen include, 

• Electrolysis 
• Natural gas reforming 

The predominant method Electrolysis produces hydrogen with no emissions. The process clocks an efficiency of almost 75%. However, the process is costly. 

(Source: Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy) 

On the other hand, Natural gas reforming has gained the limelight due to its less-expensive preparation process. The process typically involves the production of synthesis gas by mixing coal or biomass with steam and oxygen. The entire process takes place in a pressurized gasifier. While the gas extracts CO2 and other impurities, pure Hydrogen is obtained as the end-result. One significant drawback of this production technique is that harmful by-products can lead to pollution. 

(Source: making-hydrogen.com)

Efficiency - One Crucial Constraint 

On any given day, efficiency is crucial to determine the longevity of any fuel alternative. Keeping aside factors like environment, safety, etc., BEVs have a competitive advantage over FCEVs when it comes to efficiency. 

According to a detailed study by energy.gov, in BEVs, almost 16% energy is lost during charging, and another 16% is lost in electric drive systems. However, due to regenerative braking, almost 17% is regenerated, leading to the net efficiency of 77-82%. 

Contrastingly, Fuel Cell e-vehicles are prone to huge losses via various forms. Losses during Electrolysis are inevitable when it comes to FCEVs. Almost 35-45% of the total power is lost during electrolysis, and practically 40-55% is lost during conversion. These losses lead to a state where the efficiency dips massively, ranging anywhere between 25-35% for FCEVs. 

Driving Range & Refueling Time - Vital in the long run 

Range and Refueling time are other vital parameters that can have a long-lasting impact. It appears that the FCEVs have the upper hand when it comes to both these determinants. A hydrogen-powered vehicle has a range of 320 - 405 km (200-250 miles). Well, if there’s one fuel alternative that can be refueled at the same time as that gasoline or diesel, Hydrogen should be your best bet. It typically takes 3-4 minutes for refueling. 

On the other hand, BEVs have a comparatively less range of 160-500 km (100 - 310 miles). Another significant pain point is that it can take a minimum of 30 mins to recharge BEVs. Unless there’s a charging station every 160 km or so, vehicles may take as many as 12 hours for a complete recharge. 

Pricing - The Ultimate Showdown 

Petrol or diesel vehicles are available for as low as $8000. This pricing is one of the main reasons for these vehicles’ popularity. Interestingly, the other way round is also widely possible - Due to their popularity and wide use, pricing gets reduced ultimately. 

In today’s scenario, BEVs fall under elite budget vehicles, wherein these vehicles’ pricing starts from $21,000. Well, if BEVs are categorized under the privileged budget, we’ll have to come up with a new name for FCEVs as they come up with a significantly higher price tag. FCEVs’ pricing starts from $60,000, a massive investment amount, taking the current turn of events into account. 

Assessing the Capital cost 

You cannot determine viability without assessing the capital costs of a vehicle. In a research paper published in Elsevier, here are some interesting outcomes when it comes to upfront costs. 

20 KW Fuel Cell: $10000 (2010) and $700 (2030)

80 KW Fuel Cell: $43700 (2010) and $4900 (2030)

6 KWh Battery Pack: $6000 (2010) and $1200 (2030)

25 KWh Battery Pack: $25000 (2010) and $5000 (2030)

Electric Motor & Controller: $1700 (2010) and $1200 (2030)

Hydrogen Storage: $2000 (2010) and $900 (2030)

Components

Thus, it is clear that the cost of the vehicles will reduce drastically for both FCEVs and BEVs in the upcoming years. 

The total cost is summarized as, 

FCEV: ~$50,000 (2010) and $7000 (2030)

BEV: $26,700(2010) and $6200 (2030)

An Eye on Operating costs 

Parallel to the Capital costs, one needs to take care of running costs as well. 

The cost of one kg hydrogen for charging currently stands at $13.9/kg. According to the latest study by NERL, the prices will reduce substantially to $8-$10/kg between 2020 and 2025. According to a report by Deloitte, wherein analysis is carried out on a 12-meter bus, here’s the operational costs for both FCEV & BEV. 

Operating Costs in 2019

FCEV: $130.82/100 km 

BEV: $84.90/100 km

Operating cost here refers to fuel, charging station, maintenance, parts replacement, and insurance. 

Weighing the Pros and Cons - A Duel 

Pros of FCEVs: 

• Comparatively higher travel range - 320-405 km 
• Faster refueling time 
• Reduced CO2eq Emissions from 0-27% 
• No Engine noise 
• New methods of H2 development - Proton Exchange Membrane can elevate efficiency by 86% 
• The energy utilize of 1 kg H2 = Energy of 236 x 1 kg of Li-Ion battery 

Cons of FCEVs: 

• Less refueling stations - Only 45 in the US 
• Extracting Hydrogen is a complex process 
• Relatively less efficiency - 25-35% 
• Platinum as a Catalyst in Electrolysis is highly expensive 

Pros of BEVs: 

• More economical when compared to FCEVs 
• 20,000 charging stations in the US 
• High efficiency - 80-90% 
• Total of 240,000 BEVs in the US 

Cons of BEVs: 

• The high upfront cost of batteries 
• Longer refueling time 
• Requires adequate planning for recharging on long trips 

The Verdict - Coexist and Complement!

E-vehicles can be the ideal replacement to conserve and utilize renewable energy for transportation. The new methods of hydrogen production expand the market scope for e-vehicles considerably. Tesla’s Electric vehicles currently occupy more than 80% of the total BEVs in the market. It appears that both BEVs and FCEVs will coexist and complement in the future, paving the way for a conservative, renewable energy source!