Fuel cell vehicles

A fuel cell produces electricity using hydrogen gas fuel (H₂) and oxygen gas from the air (O₂). The only exhaust is water vapor (H₂O).

Efficiency

Good

Fuel cell vehicles are more efficient than hydrogen combustion vehicles.

Platinum-group metals

Major problem

Platinum-group metals (PGMs) are an essential component of fuel cells. Unfortunately, PGMs are very scarce, and fuel cells need too many of them.

• If the goal is to replace all gasoline or diesel vehicles with something electric, then fuel cell vehicles aren't the answer, because the Earth simply doesn't have enough PGMs. See this page for details.

See also

• Hydrogen combustion vehicles - could be more scalable than fuel cells, if hydrogen gas fuel ever becomes abundant enough via surplus wind power