Fuel Cell vs. Electric Battery Vehicles

If you’ve ever wondered about the differences in battery electric vehicles vs. fuel cell electric vehicles around Houston, you certainly aren’t alone. The two technologies provide many of the same benefits, but they do so in different ways. For more information, feel free to contact us anytime around Spring!

The Biggest Difference between Battery Electric vs Fuel Cell

If you truly want to understand the differences between an electric battery and a fuel cell around Woodlands, the premise is very simple. An electric battery stores energy while a fuel cell requires energy. In the realm of hybrid vehicles, for example, a fuel cell can be powered by hydrogen, diesel, propane, or natural gas. Most of the standard passenger vehicles being manufactured with fuel cells today utilize hydrogen fuel cells. Some examples include the Toyota Mirai and the Hyundai Nexo, but many manufacturers have put together demonstration fleets (or concept cars) designed to pilot the technology.

What are the Benefits of Each?

When determining the benefits of battery electric vehicles vs. fuel cell electric vehicles, it’s fairly simple to compare the two.

• A battery is the best option in any environment in which it can be recharged. In EVs that use electric batteries, things like regenerative braking are important. This technology collects the energy from braking and converts it into an electric charge that refills the battery. It’s completely independent from external sources of energy in this manner, which makes it ideal for fully-electric vehicles.
• A fuel cell is ideal in situations when the battery cannot be recharged. Furthermore, aerodynamics comes into play with fuel cells; for the amount of energy stored in a fuel cell, the cell itself and its tank are far smaller and lighter than a battery, which can improve a vehicle’s mileage.

Why Electric Batteries are More Popular

A battery electric vs. fuel cell electric car is going to be easier to charge and, despite high battery replacement prices, more affordable to repair. Fuel cells require recharging just like electric batteries, but there aren’t fuel cell charging stations in every city and state. This can make it virtually impossible to drive a fuel cell car across the country. Of course, as of the time of writing, there are also stretches of highway across the US that simply do not offer electric charging stations. Nevertheless, it’s far easier and more convenient to charge an electric battery than a fuel cell.

Find Your Next Electric Car With North Freeway Hyundai Today!

Now that you know more about battery electric vs. fuel cell vehicles, come stop by North Freeway Hyundai and find your next efficient electric vehicle today! Check out our new vehicle inventory, and meet with our finance center to start the buying process around Cypress!