Analysis of the application of fuel cells in the future as a substitute for batteries in heavy vehicles

Abstract

Hydrogen as a fuel source has numerous advantages that position fuel cell vehicles as a completely sustainable alternative to electric vehicles. Some of them are fast refuelling, higher energy density, scalability for larger vehicles, reduced load on power grids, longer range, and by-product utility. Hydrogen fuel cell technology appears particularly promising for use in heavy-duty vehicles such as trucks, buses, trains and boats. For these vehicles, energy density and refuelling speed are critical, and they require a large amount of energy, which in the case of electric vehicles means the use of impractically large and heavy batteries. The aim of this paper is to present the future development that may lie in the combined application of hydrogen, battery and potentially some third technology that would complete a diverse energy ecosystem, where different technological solutions complement each other in global efforts to reduce emissions of harmful gases.