Why Electric Cars Killed the Hydrogen Car – Efficiency & Price Always Win

Featured Image

The phrase “electric cars killed the hydrogen car” is often thrown around to explain how electric vehicles (EVs) have become the dominant force in the auto industry, essentially leaving hydrogen fuel cell vehicles behind. But it’s not so much a “death” as it is a shift in priorities driven by a few key factors.

Infrastructure Issues

First and foremost, electric cars are just much more practical for everyday use. With EVs, you can charge your car with home EV chargers, and with the rapid expansion of charging infrastructure, it’s easier than ever to find a charging station when you’re on the road. It’s not perfect everywhere, but it’s getting there. Infact Australia is deploying more EV chargers than EV sale growth with a 4x increase in installed capacity year on year. Hydrogen cars, however, face a significant challenge: the refuelling infrastructure is still very limited and expensive to build. There just aren’t enough hydrogen stations, so even if you’re driving a hydrogen car, you might be worrying about where the next refuel is coming from. This makes EVs far more appealing to the average consumer.

Hydrogen Vs Electric Car

Efficiency and Energy Conversion

Then there’s the efficiency factor. Electric vehicles are inherently more energy-efficient than hydrogen cars. With an electric car, you’re essentially using electricity directly to power the motor, whereas hydrogen fuel cells require several stages of energy conversion. his lengthy process required to produce Hydrogen requires electricity. Then this hydrogen which needs to be pumped into the vehicles needs to be converted back into electricity to power the car. This makes the whole process less efficient than simply charging a battery.

It’s Cheaper to own an EV

Cost is another major reason with battery prices having dropped significantly, and there are more affordable options on the market. On the flip side, hydrogen vehicles are still quite costly to produce. The technology isn’t cheap, and the need for hydrogen refueling stations adds extra costs. So, while EVs have become more accessible, hydrogen cars still carry a hefty price tag, both in terms of the vehicle itself and the infrastructure needed to support them.

The environment prefers EV’s

The environmental impact also comes into play. While hydrogen cars have the potential to be a clean option, the reality is that a lot of hydrogen is still produced using fossil fuels, especially natural gas. There are efforts to produce “green” hydrogen from renewable sources, but it’s not the norm yet. Electric vehicles, on the other hand, are much cleaner, especially if they’re powered by renewable energy like wind or solar. The energy required to produce Hydrogen and then convert it back means you need more electricity generation. This has an environmental impact

The People have spoken

And of course, there’s the sheer momentum behind electric cars. Governments around the world are offering incentives for EVs, car manufacturers are heavily investing in electric technologies, and consumers are increasingly leaning toward cleaner, more efficient options. While hydrogen still has a place in certain sectors like heavy-duty transport, for consumers, electric vehicles have become the clear frontrunner.

So, while hydrogen fuel cell vehicles aren’t “dead” and still have some niche applications, it’s clear that electric cars have taken over. They’re cheaper, more efficient, and simply easier to use, which is why they’ve become the future of personal transportation.

Share this Article

Audi E-Tron stepping stone into the future and Audi E-Tron Charging Information

By the first look at Audi E-Tron, it looks like a very ordinary Audi. This is the electric car that does not try to seek to blur boundaries or act radical. This is the electric vehicle that simply persuades those ordinary SUV buyers to make the jump to swap to embrace the electric vehicle era. […]
Read More

Electric Vehicles Spell the End of OPEC with EV Charging Stations

OPEC which stands for the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries is predicting that 94% of cars on the road will still be powered by oil in 2040.OPEC has a colourful history and lets look at some of it predictions in the past– in the past it predicted Oil Prices in 2015 to average $120USD a barrel– […]
Read More

Find the right charger

Tell us about your car and home to see recommendations.

Get the best price

Stocking the best Electric Car products from the World’s leading brands.

Reliability

All of our EVSE products are compliant with Australian & International standards.