Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Basics

Fuel cell electric vehicles use fuel cell stacks to convert onboard gaseous hydrogen to electricity, which is then stored in a battery to power the vehicle's electric motor.

As with other electric vehicles, fuel cell electric vehicles are equipped with regenerative braking systems to capture the kinetic energy normally lost during breaking and store it in the battery.

Fuel cell electric vehicles can travel 300 to 400 miles on a tank of hydrogen and can refuel in three to five minutes.

Additional Resources

Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Research

Transportation and Mobility Research

Hydrogen and Fuel Cell News and Features

Alternative Fuels Data Center: Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (U.S. Department of Energy)

Alternative Fueling Station Locator: Hydrogen Fueling Stations (U.S. Department of Energy)