Fuel Cell Vehicle Technologies, Infrastructure and Requirements

Qin, Nan; Brooker, Paul; Raissi, Ali · 2017 · ROSA P / University of Central Florida. Electric Vehicle Transportation Center (EVTC)

archive: archived pipeline: cataloged verified

Get this paper ↗ (full text — opens at the source; we link to it, we don't host it)

Summary

This report evaluates the state-of-the-art technologies, infrastructure requirements, and deployment strategies for Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) as they transition from concept demonstration to commercialization. Motivated by the 2015 introduction of commercially available FCEVs by Toyota and Hyundai, the study addresses the critical barriers to widespread adoption, specifically the lack of hydrogen fueling infrastructure and high capital costs. The research, conducted by the Electric Vehicle Transportation Center at the University of Central Florida, synthesizes findings from four distinct areas: historical and technical analysis of FCEV development, hydrogen fueling station infrastructure costs and standards, modeling of fuel cells as range extenders, and the potential use of FCEVs as backup power sources. The methodology involved a comprehensive review of 117 FCEV models produced since 1994, an analysis of hydrogen fueling station types and costs using models from the U.S. Department of Energy (H2A), the University of California, Davis (UCD), and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and simulation modeling using NREL’s FASTSim tool. The simulations modeled a Fuel Cell-Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (FC-PHEV) based on a Chevy Volt platform, testing various fuel cell power ratings (10–50 kW) and hydrogen storage capacities against standard driving cycles. Additionally, the report assessed the technical feasibility of using FC-PHEVs for whole-home emergency power backup. Key findings indicate that while FCEVs offer zero tailpipe emissions and ranges comparable to gasoline vehicles, their deployment is currently limited to California due to infrastructure constraints. Analysis of fueling stations revealed that delivery-based stations (liquid or gaseous hydrogen) generally have lower capital costs per capacity than onsite production stations, with early market stations ranging from $2 to $6 million. The "clustering" strategy—concentrating stations in specific geographic areas—is identified as the most effective rollout approach. Simulation results demonstrated that FC-PHEVs achieve significantly higher fuel economy (~40% improvement) than internal combustion engine hybrids due to fuel cell efficiency, offering ranges exceeding 200 miles. Furthermore, FC-PHEVs were found to be viable, cost-effective backup power sources for homes during emergencies, leveraging existing charging hardware to isolate the home from the grid. The study concludes that FCEV technology is a realistic competitor to conventional vehicles, but market penetration requires strategic policy interventions to address high infrastructure costs. The authors recommend government incentives and subsidies to support the initial construction of hydrogen stations in clustered regions. Additionally, the dual utility of FC-PHEVs as both efficient transportation and emergency backup power offers a unique value proposition that could accelerate adoption. The report emphasizes that successful deployment relies on standardizing station designs, achieving economies of scale, and implementing targeted infrastructure strategies that align with consumer travel patterns.

Key finding

Fuel cell range extenders provide approximately 40% higher fuel economy than equivalent internal combustion engines and significantly greater range than battery electric vehicles, while hydrogen delivery stations are more cost-effective than onsite production for high-demand urban areas.

Methodology

review

Provenance

The full processing record for this entry. Every stage of this paper's journey through the pipeline is logged — what ran, with which tool and model, how many attempts it took, and when it last completed. Discovered via bulk_ingest_rosap on 2026-05-23 (6 acquisition events logged).

Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-10; verification: verified.

Topics

Ranked by relevance to this paper. Hover a topic for its definition.

• v2x connected vehicle