Why are fuel cells less efficient than batteries?

Put simply, batteries are far more efficient than fuel cells, according to VW. Both vehicles types use electricity for propulsion. Battery-electric cars store that electricity directly in their battery packs, while fuel-cell cars store it in gaseous hydrogen, releasing it through a chemical reaction in the cells.

Why is a hydrogen fuel cell better than a battery?

Hydrogen fuel cells have a far greater energy storage density than lithium-ion batteries, offering a significant range advantage for electric vehicles while also being lighter and occupying less space.

Are hydrogen fuel cells lighter than batteries?

Energy, Sustainability and Lifespan Hydrogen fuel cells have an energy to weight ratio ten times greater than lithium-ion batteries. This means that hydrogen powered vehicles have the potential to offer much greater range, while being lighter.

What is the energy density of petrol?

46 MJ/kg
Table 1: The energy density(MJ/kg) of a variety of different fuels….Fuel energy density.

What is efficiency of a fuel cell?

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, fuel cells are generally between 40 and 60\% energy efficient. This is higher than some other systems for energy generation. For example, the typical internal combustion engine of a car is about 25\% energy efficient.

What is the energy density of hydrogen?

In electrical terms, the energy density of hydrogen is equal to 33.6 kWh of usable energy per kg, versus diesel which only holds about 12–14 kWh per kg. What this really means is that 1 kg of hydrogen, used in a fuel cell to power an electric motor, contains approximately the same energy as a gallon of diesel.

What is the efficiency of a hydrogen fuel cell?

The energy efficiency of a fuel cell is generally between 40 and 60\%; however, if waste heat is captured in a cogeneration scheme, efficiencies of up to 85\% can be obtained.

What is battery energy density?

Energy density is the measure of how much energy a battery contains in proportion to its weight. This measurement is typically presented in Watt-hours per kilogram (Wh/kg). Power density is the measure of how quickly the energy can be delivered, rather than how much stored energy is available.

How do you find the energy density of a battery?

The energy density of a battery can be simply calculated using this formula: Nominal Battery Voltage (V) x Rated Battery Capacity (Ah) / Battery Weight (kg) = Specific Energy or Energy Density (Wh / kg).

How do you calculate the energy density of a fuel cell?

Power Density=P/total surface area of electrode.

What are the benefits of fuel cells?

Fuel cells have several benefits over conventional combustion-based technologies currently used in many power plants and passenger vehicles. Fuel cells can operate at higher efficiencies than combustion engines, and can convert the chemical energy in the fuel to electrical energy with efficiencies of up to 60\%.

Are hydrogen fuel cells bad for the environment?

Hydrogen fuel cells emit only water, so there are no carbon dioxide emissions and no air pollutants that create smog and cause health problems at the point of operation. Also, fuel cells are quiet during operation as they have fewer moving parts.

How many miles can you drive with a hydrogen fuel cell?

A fuel cell only gives you around 35\% of the energy in the hydrogen, the rest is waste heat. If you took the amount of electricity that it would take just to compress the hydrogen equivalent of a gallon of gasoline to the usually quoted storage tank pressure and fed it directly to the charging port instead, it will take the car 40 miles.

Why doesn’t Tesla use fuel cells instead of batteries?

Tesla doesn’t use fuel cells probably because they have only one clear advantage over batteries, and miss a major advantage that batteries have. What advantage is there in a fuel cell over a battery? Recharge time. Fuel cells can be “recharged” in pretty much the same time you’d fill an ICE car today, the process is very similar.