Hydrogen before the end?

Fraunhofer no longer gives e-cars with fuel cells a chance

Created: 04/28/2022, 11:55 am

By: Marcus Efler

Batteries versus hydrogen: What is the optimal energy storage for electric cars?

That is why the renowned Fraunhofer Institute considers the fuel cell dead.

Karlsruhe – There is hardly any doubt that the future belongs to the electric car.

Most car manufacturers like Audi are changing their minds, and the EU wants to ban internal combustion engines with emissions anyway.

Electric vehicles are now more popular than combustion engines, especially among young drivers.

So far, the question of where the electricity on board comes from has not been clarified.

Although rechargeable battery models (so-called BEV, Battery Electric Vehicle) are currently gaining ground across the board, some car manufacturers are still pursuing the alternative with hydrogen, which a fuel cell converts into electrical energy.

BMW will soon be launching the X5 as a hydrogen variant, Toyota has made its FCEV (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle) Mirai a notable success, and Hyundai has shown a corresponding prototype.

Hydrogen before the end?

Fraunhofer no longer gives e-cars with fuel cells a chance

But now the renowned Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (ISI) is taking away the hope of a future with hydrogen from car manufacturers.

It will "play an important role in industry, in shipping and in synthetic aviation fuels," explains Patrick Plötz, head of the Energy Management business area and freight transport".

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One of the last of its kind?

The Toyota Mirai with fuel cell.

(Iconic image) © Toyota

Hydrogen before the end?

Time window in the competition against the battery is closed

"The time window for hydrogen cars to achieve a relevant market share is as good as closed," believes the scientist.

Since battery technology and the charging infrastructure (despite some gaps) made significant progress, hydrogen fans were slowly running out of arguments.

“When battery electric vehicles had a limited range of less than 150 km and took a few hours to charge, there was an important and large market segment for fuel cell vehicles,” says Plötz: “Today, battery electric vehicles offer around 400 km of realistic range, and the latest generation uses them 800 volt batteries that can be charged in about 15 minutes for a range of 200km. 

Hydrogen before the end?

The battery is also catching on in trucks

Even for trucks, for which hydrogen has hitherto appeared to be particularly suitable, the Fraunhofer researcher sees the fuel cell train as a viable option.

Around 30,000 battery-powered trucks are already in operation around the world, especially in China.

Fuel cell trucks, on the other hand, have so far mainly been used as a test.