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Fuelling the sustainable future: a comparative analysis between battery electrical vehicles (BEV) and fuel cell electrical vehicles (FCEV)

• Review Article
• Published: 03 April 2023
• Volume 30 , pages 57236–57252, ( 2023 )

Cite this article

• Ahan Parikh 1 ,
• Manan Shah   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-8665-5010 2 &
• Mitul Prajapati 3  

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With the advancement of technology in recent decades and the implementation of international norms to minimize greenhouse gas emissions, automakers have focused on new technologies connected to electric/hybrid vehicles and electric fuel cell vehicles. Alternative fuel sources like hydrogen and electricity have been introduced as a sustainable, lower-emission alternative to burning fossil fuel. BEVs or battery electric vehicles are typical electric cars with a battery and electric motor that have to be charged. FCEVs, or fuel cell electric vehicles, have a fuel cell that converts pure hydrogen into electricity via reverse electrolysis to charge a battery connected to an electric motor. The lifecycle costs of the BEV and FCHEV are comparable; however, depending on driving patterns, one may be more advantageous than the other. This study compares the most recent proposed fuel-cell electric car topologies. This paper aims to find out which fuel alternative is more sustainable, looking forward to the future. An analysis was conducted by comparing different fuel cells’ and batteries’ efficiencies, performance, advantages, and disadvantages.

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Data availability.

All relevant data and material are presented in the main paper.

Abbreviations

• Battery electric vehicles

Fuel cell, electric vehicle

Hydrogen combustion engine

Internal combustion engine

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle

Hybrid electric vehicle

Steam methane reforming

Proton electron membrane fuel cells

Proton electron membrane

Anion exchange membranes fuel cells

Molten carbonate fuel cells

Solid oxide fuel cell

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The authors are grateful to School of Energy Technology, Pandit Deendayal Energy University, for the permission to publish this review.

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Parikh, A., Shah, M. & Prajapati, M. Fuelling the sustainable future: a comparative analysis between battery electrical vehicles (BEV) and fuel cell electrical vehicles (FCEV). Environ Sci Pollut Res 30 , 57236–57252 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-26241-9

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Received : 19 October 2022

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Published : 03 April 2023

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DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-26241-9

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