Germany's first hydrogen filling station on the autobahn opens

[OKIsItJustMe]

11. The comparison to an internal combustion engine doesn’t seem apropos

The primary difference between a fuel cell electric vehicle and a battery electric vehicle is that the battery electric vehicle must carry around a large storage battery, which needs to be recharged, while a fuel cell electric vehicle needs to carry around a fuel cell, and a tank(s) which needs to be refilled.

• The Toyota Mirai has greater range on full tanks than a Tesla Model S has with a full storage battery.
• The Mirai can be refilled faster than a Model S can be recharged.

These “convenience factors” are clear advantages.

• The Model S can be recharged at home (assuming you have a private garage, or some other arrangement.)—In theory, the Mirai can be refilled at home, but this is much less likely.
• The hydrogen to fill a Mirai will cost more than the electricity to charge a Model S (even though, reportedly, the first three years of hydrogen for your new Mirai will be free.)

However, if your income is high enough for you to buy either vehicle, I don’t think the cost of operation is going to bother you.


To increase the range of a BEV means a larger, heavier battery (which means a less efficient vehicle.) To increase the range of a HFCEV means a larger (but not much heavier) tank(s.)

At some point, the weight of batteries makes them impractical. Is that a locamotive? A tractor-trailer? A bus? An SUV? or a Midsize sedan?

I think we’ll see BEV’s be most popular for small, commuter vehicles. I may be wrong.