Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are seen as an ideal solution to the issues of energy
security and environmental pollution. There is a great need for a comprehensive
understanding of the ecological impacts associated with fuel cells throughout
their entire life cycle, from fuel extraction through manufacturing, operation,
and ultimately to the disposal stage. This paper reviews the progress of
research on measuring the emissions of hydrogen fuel cells and focuses on the
carbon footprint throughout the fuel cell’s life cycle. The study defines the
boundary conditions of the fuel cell system using the PLAC (Process-based life
cycle assessment) method, analyzes the proportion of each material in the
system, and divides its life cycle into six stages: raw material preparation,
manufacturing and assembly, transportation and logistics, utilization,
maintenance and repair, and scrap and recycling. This study uses the GREET
analysis software to introduce a carbon footprint analysis model for a fuel cell
system. It then calculates pollutant emissions per kilometer by integrating the
fuel cell system into a light fuel cell vehicle. The carbon footprints at each
stage are calculated assuming the end of the fuel cell system’s life is set at
150000 km, and the study finds that the production and assembly stages of raw
materials are the primary sources of carbon footprints during the fuel cell’s
life cycle. In addition, the PLCA method and carbon footprint analysis model can
analyze the carbon footprints and pollutants from each system of fuel cell
vehicles. Therefore, it is imperative to discuss the construction of a carbon
footprint model suitable for the life cycle of fuel cell production, quantify
carbon footprints in each link, and propose targeted carbon reduction measures,
which have far-reaching significance for fuel cell vehicles’ carbon footprint
reduction management.