Energy face-off: Electric vs. Hydrogen.

Mobility is set to change at an accelerating pace over the coming decades. Zero emission vehicles are monopolizing the market, and this is where the potential competition in the energy model to power them comes into play. Electric and hydrogen powered vehicles are based on two technologies leading to the same goal of sustainable, environmentally-friendly mobility, positioning them both to be the main protagonists of the coming decades in this field.

How does each technology work?

The main difference is that electric vehicles have a battery — battery electric vehicle (BEV) — while hydrogen vehicles use a fuel cell — fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV).

Both technologies can be defined as electric vehicles, with the difference that instead of being charged by connecting them to the electrical grid, hydrogen-powered vehicles generate electricity on board through a chemical reaction. This means that they are not charged using a plug, but contain tanks that mix hydrogen with oxygen to create the driving force.

Filling and range:

A hydrogen powered vehicle refuels in a similar way to today’s gasoline and diesel powered vehicles, so the time required is no more than three to five minutes. Electric recharging, on the other hand, is making strides to become faster every day.

They also differ in terms of range, hydrogen powered vehicles have a higher mileage potential, similar to gasoline powered vehicles. Electric vehicles, on the other hand, have a more limited range, which varies considerably depending on the model, although this is one of the areas in which the sector invests most in R&D, with results that can be seen year after year.

Current development:

Another major difference lies in the development of each technology. The global automotive sector has been actively committed to electric cars for years, with a wide variety of versions and models, while hydrogen powered cars are still in very low production, and most brands have not yet decided to invest in this type of energy.

This makes a big difference in terms of recharging possibilities. The number of electric vehicle charging stations and points continues to grow in Europe and, of course, the rest of the world, while hydrogen refuelling points are very rare.

Economic factor:

The economic aspect must also be taken into account when analyzing the differences between one technology and the other. In this section, the high price of hydrogen models is notable, due to the smaller number on the market. According to a study analyzing the total cost of using different types of car by the Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU) and the European Climate Foundation, an electric car is currently the cheapest if you take advantage of the current subsidy plan according to different countries.

The total cost of an electric car is 56,000 euros over 11 years of use, according to the study, compared with 65,000 euros for a compact car with a petrol engine, and 89,000 euros for a hydrogen car.

European support:

The European Commission wants to see at least one hydrogen refueling station installed for every 150 kilometers of road on the TEN-T network of European connections by 2030, and it is also expected to expand into other sectors such as shipping, rail and air transport.

In short, the electric car and the hydrogen car are two different technologies that will be able to coexist with other energy sources in the future. While electric vehicles are well into their second phase, hydrogen is still at an early stage in its development, although there is potential to improve this technology and make it equal to electric vehicles or more widely used in public transport.

The energy battle: Electricity vs. Hydrogen

Now that we have a basic understanding of the two technologies, let’s move on with our energy head-to-head, based on 10 criteria:

1/ Energy efficiency:

Electric vehicles are more efficient in terms of energy conversion, with around 80% of the energy stored in the battery used for movement. Hydrogen powered vehicles on the other hand, have an efficiency of around 30–40%, due to the energy lost in producing, transporting and converting hydrogen into electricity.

Electricity: 8/10, Hydrogen: 4/10.

2/ Recharging infrastructure:

At present, there are far more recharging stations for electric vehicles than for hydrogen. However, recharging time for electric vehicles is generally longer than refuelling time for hydrogen vehicles.

Electricity: 7/10, Hydrogen: 5/10.

3/ Range:

Hydrogen-powered vehicles generally have a greater range than electric vehicles, although this depends on the specific model.

Electricity: 7/10, Hydrogen: 9/10.

4/ Cost:

At present, electric vehicles are generally less expensive than hydrogen vehicles, both in terms of initial cost and running cost.

Electricity: 8/10, Hydrogen: 6/10.

5/ Environmental impact:

Both technologies have a significantly lower environmental impact than traditional gasoline powered vehicles. However, hydrogen production can be more energy-intensive and produce more emissions than electricity production, depending on the method used.

Electricity: 9/10, Hydrogen: 7/10.

6/ Technology maturity:

Electric vehicles are currently more mature and more widely adopted than hydrogen vehicles.

Electricity: 9/10, Hydrogen: 6/10.

7/ Variety of models available:

There are currently many more electric vehicle models on the market than hydrogen vehicles.

Electricity: 9/10, Hydrogen: 5/10.

8/ Performance:

Both types of vehicle offer performances comparable to that of traditional gasoline powered vehicles. However, electric vehicles generally have better acceleration.

Electricity: 8/10, Hydrogen: 7/10.

9/ Durability:

Electric vehicles have fewer moving parts and can therefore be more durable in the long term. However, battery life can be a concern. Hydrogen powered vehicles also have comparable durability, although fuel cell technology may require more frequent maintenance.

Electricity: 8/10, Hydrogen: 7/10.

10/ Future potential:

Both technologies have significant potential for the future of mobility. However, electric vehicles currently have a head start in terms of development and adoption.

Electricity: 9/10, Hydrogen: 8/10.

Summing up the scores, we get a total of 82/100 for electricity and 64/100 for hydrogen. It’s clear that, while both technologies have a role to play in the future of mobility, electric vehicles currently have the edge in terms of efficiency, cost, maturity of technology, variety of models available and future potential.

However, it is important to note that hydrogen technology is still under development and could play a more important role in the future, particularly for certain applications where range and recharging time are key factors.