# FCEV Vehicle: Understanding Fuel Cell Cars Today

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2015/12/fcev-vehicle-understanding-fuel-cell-cars-today/
- Published: 2015-12-21T21:15:05-05:00
- Author: greenlivingguy

# FCEV Vehicle: Study questions environmental impact of fuel-cell vehicles

This article originally appeared in Physics World [link: [http://physicsworld.com]](https://physicsworld.com)
September 2015 and is reproduced with permission. It explores various topics, including
the innovative FCEV vehicle technology that promises a sustainable future for transport.

Fuel-cell electric vehicles are seen by many as an environmentally friendly technology
that can reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by producing no harmful emissions. But 
a [new study](https://greenlivingguy.com/2025/09/hydrogen-vehicles-vs-electric-cars-the-truth/)
has found the contrary. I mean that overall a fuel cell electric vehicle has about
the same negative environmental impact. Equally as bad as a [luxury sports car](https://greenlivingguy.com/2023/04/lucid-vehicle-electric-2023-world-luxury-award/).(
Energy & Environmental Science 10.1039/C5EE01082A).

[⌊A study claims that hydrogen fuel cell cars can be less environmentally friendly
than their gasoline counterparts. (Courtesy: Honda)⌉⌊A study claims that hydrogen
fuel cell cars can be less environmentally friendly than their gasoline counterparts.(
Courtesy: Honda)⌉[

A study claims that hydrogen fuel cell cars can be less environmentally friendly
than their gasoline counterparts. (Courtesy: Honda)

## FCEV Vehicle: Exacts on Energy Conversion

Fuel cells convert the chemical energy of hydrogen directly into electricity. Then
that’s producing only water as a by-product. The study, led by Dominic Notter of
the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology and colleagues,
assessed the environmental impact for a full life cycle of three types of vehicle:
a compact gasoline-powered car; a [battery electric vehicle; and a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell electric vehicle](https://greenlivingguy.com/2025/09/ev-battery-charging-technology-future-trends-ahead/),
or FCEV. In the study the FCEV was powered by a fuel cell that used electricity 
from the European grid to produce the hydrogen via electrolysis. In the model about
half of the European [electricity grid came from power](https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/05/silver-spring-networks-wants-us-to-have-hybrid-electric-cars-that-sell-power-back-to-grid/)
stations using combustible fuels such as natural gas, coal and oil that all emit
carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

### Fuel Economy?

After 150,000 km of use for each vehicle, the gasoline car consumed an average of
6.1 litres per 100 km. All the while a battery-driven one consumed the equivalent
of 6.4 litres per 100 km.

The FCEV, however, consumes the equivalent of 12.1 litres of gasoline per 100 km.“
The FCEV [powered with a European electricity](https://greenlivingguy.com/2010/09/ac-propulsion-helps-x-prize-winner-e-tracer-with-new-electric-drive-system/)
mix is definitely a clear no-go strategy,” says Notter. “Transport with electric
vehicles makes sense only if the vehicles use electricity [generated by renewable](https://greenlivingguy.com/2015/02/blue-sphere-corporation-renewable-energy-biogas-generation/)
resources, such as solar, wind, or water.”

#### More Concerns

He adds, however, that when plenty of renewable electricity is available, FCEVs 
can play an important role in environmentally friendly transportation, along with
[battery and potentially also biogas-powered vehicles](https://greenlivingguy.com/2015/01/seeo-awarded-usabc-contract-for-technology-assessment-high-energy-density-electric-vehicle-battery/).

Notter [says that FCEV technology](https://greenlivingguy.com/2012/11/exploding-engine-could-reduce-fuel-consumption-says-technology-review/)
has improved substantially in recent years. Thereby noting that the “hydrogen to
power” efficiency of such [vehicles has reached](https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/04/ecocar-daytona-test-vehicle-reaches-65-mph-at-daytona/)
about 60%. That which compares to the thermodynamic theoretical maximum of 83%. 
The two main factors limiting widespread introduction of FCEVs, he says. For most
importantly is the lack of hydrogen refuelling stations. Finally and the technology
cost.

**_[Source: The Japan Society of Applied Physics](https://web.archive.org/web/20150919181114/http://jsap-bulletin.jsap.or.jp/)_**