Comparison of Hydrogen Vehicles and Fully Electric Vehicles

To reduce petrol consumption and prevent harmful gases released into nature, various studies have been carried out in the automotive field.

These studies are sometimes additions to existing systems and sometimes fundamental changes.

One of these fundamental changes is the electrification of vehicles. Internal combustion engine components have been removed from vehicles and replaced with electric motors and batteries.

In this way, both reduced petrol consumption and zero emission values are targeted.

Hydrogen vehicles (fuel cell electric vehicles) were also produced for this purpose.

Fundamentally, these vehicles also rely on electrical energy, but there are differences between them and fully electric vehicles. In today's article, we will compare these two vehicle types.

How do fully electric vehicles work?

Fully electric vehicles draw their power from the electricity stored in the battery. The battery is charged in the usual charging way.

For the vehicle to run, electricity from the battery is transferred to the motor. Electric motors have two parts called stator and rotor. The stator is fixed and the rotor is the moving part.

By creating an electromagnetic field and moving the rotor, electrical energy is converted into motion.

How do hydrogen vehicles work?

These vehicles have a fuel tank like internal combustion engine vehicles. Hydrogen filled into the fuel tank is delivered to the fuel cell.

Hydrogen reaching the fuel cell reacts with oxygen in the atmosphere. As a result of this reaction, electricity and water vapor are produced.

Like other fully electric vehicles, electricity moves the rotor and drives the vehicle. Water vapor formed from the reaction is expelled through the exhaust.

Advantages of Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicles are increasing, and for this reason it is possible to see charging stations in many places. The range of a fully charged vehicle can reach up to 400 km, which is truly a long range.

Traveling with electric vehicles is less costly than traveling with petrol vehicles.

Electric vehicle prices are higher than other vehicles, but the fuel savings they provide give users a major advantage.

Motor components and batteries in electric vehicles fail less often, so maintenance costs for electric vehicles are also quite low.

Advantages of hydrogen vehicles (fuel cell electric vehicles):

Hydrogen vehicles (fuel cell electric vehicles) fill their fuel tanks at stations, just like petrol vehicles. Refueling time is also short, like petrol and diesel vehicles, and this is an advantage.

These vehicles also have very low fuel consumption. Water vapor comes out of the exhaust pipe, so these vehicles do not pollute nature at all.

These vehicles also have a battery, but it is not a large battery and can be charged throughout the journey with the regenerative braking system. Thus, fuel consumption is greatly reduced.

Which is better? Hydrogen or fully electric?

There are two significant differences between hydrogen vehicles and fully electric vehicles. One is performance: fully electric vehicles accelerate from 0 to 100 faster than hydrogen vehicles.

Fully electric vehicles also have higher torque values. The other difference is refueling times. Because hydrogen vehicles have a refueling process like petrol vehicles, they refuel much faster than electric vehicles.

Charging an electric vehicle to 80% takes approximately 30–40 minutes. Regarding price, hydrogen vehicles have more affordable price tags than fully electric vehicles, but electricity fuel cost is cheaper than hydrogen, so fully electric vehicles are more advantageous in long-term use.