Fuel cells return to focus

While fuel-cell vehicles haven't been in the spotlight in recent years compared with hybrids and EVs, hydrogen fuel-cell technology is regaining momentum as OEMs move to reduce their CO₂ footprints. But cost and infrastructure challenges remain.

“In the last decade, all the technical issues about the functionality of fuel cell vehicles have been solved,” stated Dr. Christian Mohrdieck, Director-Drive Development Fuel Cell Systems for Daimler AG. Problems related to cold starts, high- and low-temperature operations, and low power density that plagued early fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) have been resolved.

“We can now start, stop, and park in freezing temperatures. We now package a fuel cell small enough that there are no compromises with trunk space or in the passenger compartment,” Mohrdieck told SAE Vehicle Electrification. Visually, FCVs are no different to those powered by combustion engines. But more development is needed.