Hydrogen Fuel Cell System and Hydrogen Storage

In 2022 and 2023, approximately 35,000 new fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) were sold worldwide with the 2023 figure more than three times the sales recorded in 2017. In 2022, there were more than 72,000 FCEVs on the road globally, a 40% growth compared to 2021. The sale and production of these vehicles have been primarily dominated by a select few brands, with the Hyundai Nexo and Toyota Mirai leading the charge for passenger vehicles.

FCEVs offer a low compromise alternative to battery electric vehicles (BEVs), with comparable range and refuelling to existing combsution engine vehicles, and can support the global automotive industry’s push towards decarbonisation with a system efficiency that rivals internal combustion engines (ICEs) in specific use-cases. There are two primary fuel cell technologies that are considered on the global scale for automotive applications:

• proton-exchange membranes fuel cells (PEMFCs)
• solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs).

However, since the 2020 roadmap update, the automotive industry has focussed primarily on PEMFCs. This is reflected in this fuel cell roadmap refresh, with PEMFCs the key technology focus throughout, and SOFCs highlighted if / when it is the preferred technology for certain applications and areas.