Fuel-cell-vehicle cost assumptions

Resource H2 production technology H2 delivery method to station (for central plants) 

Central production Natural gas Coal Steam methane reforming Coal gasification with carbon capture and sequestration Liquid-H2 truck Compressed-gas truck H2-gas pipeline 

Biomass (agricultural, forest and urban wastes) Biomass gasification  

Onsite production (at refuelling station) Natural gas Steam methane reforming Electricity (from various Water electrolysis generation resources)  

FC drive-train retail price Costs fall with learning and 54/kW 

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Based on input assumptions to be described below, these two models are used to calculate the costs of fuel-cell vehicles and hydrogen infrastructure and estimate the benefits in terms of reductions in C02 emissions and oil consumption. 

Table 15.5 lists our cost and performance assumptions for hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles (FCVs) and a gasoline internal combustion engine reference vehicle. FCV... 

Unfortunately, for the foreseeable future, hydrogen cars will almost certainly be unable to compete with alternative strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. As we saw in Chapter 6, we do not even know today whether a practical and affordable fuel cell vehicle can be built. A 2002 analysis for the doe concluded that even with optimistic assumptions about technology improvements, future fuel cell vehicles will probably cost 40 to 60 percent more than conventional vehicles.15... 

This analysis was done for output levels ranging from 3 to 200 kW and with the assumption that the stack operates near ambient pressure replacing an expensive compressor that provides three atmospheres of air pressure to the vehicle fuel cell cathode with a blower for the stationary system. This reduces the parasitic power required to run the fuel cell system and also reduces the ancillary costs for the system. 

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