A Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) operates by converting chemical energy into electrical energy. The process involves storing hydrogen gas or liquid in a tank. This hydrogen is passed through a fuel cell stack where it combines with oxygen taken from the outside air. This chemical reaction produces electricity, which powers the vehicle's electric motor. The only by-products of this process are heat and water vapor, which is emitted from the tailpipe. For the vehicle to be truly 'zero emission' in a holistic sense, the hydrogen used should be 'Green Hydrogen,' produced using renewable energy sources like wind and solar.
Australia's national science and renewable energy agencies provide foundational data on hydrogen production and fuel cell technology.
While both FCEVs and BEVs use electric motors to turn their wheels, they differ significantly in energy storage. BEVs store energy in heavy lithium-ion batteries, which can take considerable time to recharge and add significant weight to the vehicle. FCEVs store energy as hydrogen, which allows for refueling times comparable to fossil fuel vehicles—approximately 5 minutes for cars and up to 30 minutes for large trucks. This quick turnaround is crucial for commercial vehicles that need to be on the road to make money. However, BEVs currently have a much more developed infrastructure compared to the very limited number of hydrogen refueling stations.
Government and industry councils monitor the comparative performance and adoption rates of low-emission vehicle technologies.
Hydrogen is particularly promising for the freight and logistics sector. In trucking, 'payload' (the weight of the cargo) is money. To increase the range of a Battery Electric truck, you must add more batteries, which increases the vehicle's weight and drastically reduces the amount of cargo it can carry. Hydrogen systems are much lighter relative to the energy they store. A 40-ton combination truck can achieve a range of 1000km with just 80kg of liquid hydrogen, maintaining a high payload of 25 tons. This makes hydrogen ideal for long-haul transport across Australia's vast distances.
Federal departments and transport commissions outline the strategic roadmap for decarbonizing Australia's heavy freight industry.