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Fuel guide · Michigan City Ford · Michigan City, IN
Hydrogen Cars: How Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles Work
Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) use an electric motor like other electric vehicles but refuel in about 5 minutes. Here is how a hydrogen car works, what it emits, how far it goes, how it compares with a battery electric vehicle, and where hydrogen stations were as of 2024, from the U.S. Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC) and fueleconomy.gov.
About 5 minutesto refuel a fuel cell electric vehicle
More than 300 milesdriving range of an FCEV
10,000 psitank pressure in light-duty FCEVs sold at dealerships
54retail hydrogen stations in the U.S. (2024)
The short answer
A hydrogen car, or fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV), is an electric vehicle that makes its own electricity. A fuel cell combines hydrogen from an on-board tank with oxygen from the air to produce electricity for an electric motor, and the only exhaust is water vapor and warm air. FCEVs refuel in about 5 minutes and have a range of more than 300 miles, but only a few models are offered, and the 54 U.S. retail hydrogen stations (as of 2024) are mostly in California.
What a hydrogen car is
Fuel cell electric vehicles are powered by hydrogen. Like all-electric vehicles, they use electricity to power an electric motor, but they produce that electricity with a fuel cell powered by hydrogen rather than drawing it only from a battery. They produce no harmful tailpipe pollutants; they emit only water vapor and warm air.
FCEVs also use other efficiency technologies, such as regenerative braking, which captures energy lost during braking and stores it in a battery. Hydrogen can also be burned in an internal combustion engine, but unlike FCEVs, those vehicles produce air pollution and are less efficient. Hydrogen is considered an alternative fuel under the Energy Policy Act of 1992.
From the AFDC Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles, How Do Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles Work Using Hydrogen? and Hydrogen Basics pages, read November 8, 2026.
Key parts of a fuel cell vehicle
The AFDC lists these key components of a hydrogen fuel cell electric car:
- Fuel tank (hydrogen): stores hydrogen gas on board until the fuel cell needs it.
- Fuel cell stack: an assembly of individual membrane electrodes that use hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity.
- Battery pack: a high-voltage battery that stores energy from regenerative braking and gives the motor extra power.
- Electric traction motor: uses power from the fuel cell and the battery pack to drive the wheels.
- Power electronics controller: manages the flow of electrical energy from the fuel cell and battery and controls the motor's speed and torque.
- Thermal (cooling) system: keeps the fuel cell, motor and power electronics in their proper temperature range.
- Fuel filler: the receptacle a hydrogen dispenser nozzle attaches to.
From the AFDC page How Do Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles Work Using Hydrogen?, read November 8, 2026. The AFDC also lists an auxiliary battery, a DC/DC converter and an electric transmission.
How a fuel cell makes electricity
Most fuel cells in vehicles are polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells, also called proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Fueleconomy.gov describes how a PEM fuel cell makes an electrical current in four steps:
- Hydrogen fuel is channeled to the anode on one side of the fuel cell, and oxygen from the air is channeled to the cathode on the other side.
- At the anode, a platinum catalyst splits the hydrogen into positively charged protons and negatively charged electrons.
- The polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) lets only the protons pass through to the cathode. The electrons travel through an external circuit, creating an electrical current.
- At the cathode, the electrons and protons combine with oxygen to form water, which flows out of the cell.
Most fuel cells designed for use in vehicles produce less than 1.16 volts, far from enough to power a vehicle, so many cells are assembled into a fuel cell stack. From fueleconomy.gov's How Fuel Cells Work page and the AFDC Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles page, read November 8, 2026.
Hydrogen vs. battery electric
Both kinds of vehicles use electricity to power an electric motor. The difference is where the electricity comes from:
| Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) | All-electric vehicle | |
|---|---|---|
| Where the electricity comes from | Produced on board by a fuel cell powered by hydrogen | Drawn only from the battery |
| Role of the battery | Recaptures braking energy, adds power for short bursts of acceleration and smooths out the power from the fuel cell | Stores all of the energy that powers the motor |
| What sets the energy on board | The size of the hydrogen fuel tank | Power and energy are both closely related to the battery's size |
From the AFDC page How Do Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles Work Using Hydrogen?, read November 8, 2026. The AFDC notes automakers could design an FCEV with plug-in charging, but most FCEVs today use the battery as described above.
Hydrogen fuel and fueling
Energy content. The energy in 2.2 pounds (1 kilogram) of hydrogen gas is about the same as the energy in 1 gallon of gasoline. Because hydrogen has a low energy density by volume, it is stored on board as a compressed gas.
Tank pressure. Most current tanks store hydrogen at 5,000 psi (sold as H35) or 10,000 psi (sold as H70). Light-duty FCEVs sold at dealerships have 10,000 psi tanks, which retail dispensers can fill in 3 to 5 minutes.
Where it comes from. Most U.S. hydrogen is made by steam reforming, which reacts high-temperature steam with natural gas. Hydrogen can also be made from water by electrolysis, which uses more energy but can run on renewable power such as wind or solar.
Stations. As of 2024, there were 54 open retail hydrogen stations in the United States, mostly in California, with one in Hawaii, and over 20 more in various stages of planning or construction. Retail stations are planned for some midwestern and northeastern states, and most hydrogen dispensers are being added at existing gasoline stations. Check the AFDC Alternative Fueling Station Locator for current locations.
Energy content, tank pressures and hydrogen production are from the AFDC Hydrogen Basics page; station counts (as of 2024) and dispenser locations are from the AFDC Hydrogen Fueling Stations page; plans for midwestern and northeastern stations are from Hydrogen Basics, read November 8, 2026.
Challenges today
Few models, limited areas. Fueleconomy.gov says only a few models are now available for sale or lease, and availability is limited to areas with hydrogen fueling stations, mostly in California.
Vehicle cost. FCEVs currently cost more than conventional vehicles and hybrids, though costs have decreased significantly, according to fueleconomy.gov.
Fueling network. The current infrastructure for producing hydrogen and getting it to consumers cannot yet support widespread adoption of FCEVs.
Durability. On-road fuel cell stack durability is just over 4,100 hours in real-world conditions. Experts believe fuel cell systems must last 8,000 hours with less than 10% loss of performance to give an FCEV a 150,000-mile expected lifetime under typical driving conditions, according to fueleconomy.gov.
From fueleconomy.gov's Fuel Cell Vehicles: Benefits and Challenges page, read November 8, 2026.
Maintenance and service at Michigan City Ford
The Works® at Michigan City Ford includes a synthetic blend oil change, tire rotation and pressure check, brake inspection, Multi-Point Inspection, fluid top-off, battery test, and a filter, belts and hoses check. Check your owner's manual for the fuel your vehicle takes, or ask our service team.
Schedule service online and see our service specials first. Michigan City Ford is at 3930 Franklin St. in Michigan City. Get directions.
Michigan City Ford service hours
| Days | Hours |
|---|---|
| Mon-Fri | 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. |
| Sat | 8 a.m.-3 p.m. |
| Sun | closed |
From Michigan City Ford's website, November 8, 2026. Holiday hours can differ.
Hydrogen car FAQ
How do hydrogen cars work?
A hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) stores hydrogen gas in a tank. A fuel cell combines the hydrogen with oxygen from the air to make electricity, which powers an electric motor that drives the wheels. A battery stores energy from regenerative braking and adds power when needed, according to the AFDC.
What comes out of a hydrogen car's tailpipe?
Only water vapor and warm air, according to the AFDC. Some ways of producing hydrogen do create air pollution, depending on the source, but the vehicle itself produces no harmful tailpipe pollutants.
How long does it take to fill up a hydrogen car?
About 5 minutes, similar to a gasoline vehicle, according to the AFDC. Retail dispensers can fill the 10,000 psi tanks used in light-duty FCEVs in 3 to 5 minutes. Fuel cell buses use 5,000 psi tanks that take 10 to 15 minutes to fill.
How far can a hydrogen car go?
The AFDC says FCEVs have a driving range of more than 300 miles. Unlike a battery electric vehicle, the amount of energy on board is set by the size of the hydrogen tank, not the battery.
How much hydrogen equals a gallon of gas?
The AFDC says the energy in 2.2 pounds (1 kilogram) of hydrogen gas is about the same as the energy in 1 gallon of gasoline.
Where can I fill up a hydrogen car?
As of 2024, there were 54 retail hydrogen stations in the United States, mostly in California, with one in Hawaii and over 20 more in planning or construction, according to the AFDC. Retail stations are planned for some midwestern and northeastern states. Use the AFDC Alternative Fueling Station Locator to check stations near you.
Are hydrogen cars more efficient than gas cars?
Generally, yes. The AFDC says a fuel cell coupled with an electric motor is two to three times more efficient than an internal combustion engine running on gasoline.
What is the difference between a hydrogen car and an electric car?
Both use electricity to power an electric motor. An all-electric vehicle draws its electricity only from a battery, so the power and energy available are closely related to the battery's size. A hydrogen FCEV produces its electricity with a fuel cell powered by hydrogen, and the energy stored on board is set by the size of its hydrogen tank, according to the AFDC.
What does The Works at Michigan City Ford include?
The Works® at Michigan City Ford includes a synthetic blend oil change, tire rotation and pressure check, brake inspection, Multi-Point Inspection, fluid top-off, battery test, and a filter, belts and hoses check.
Questions about your vehicle's fuel?
Schedule service with the Michigan City Ford team, or read our guide to getting better gas mileage.
Sources
Hydrogen, fuel cell and fueling facts are from the U.S. Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels Data Center and fueleconomy.gov, administered for the U.S. Department of Energy and the EPA, read November 8, 2026. Service details, address and hours are from Michigan City Ford's own website. Photo is illustrative.
- Alternative Fuels Data Center: Hydrogen Basics, U.S. Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC), read November 8, 2026
- Alternative Fuels Data Center: Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles, U.S. Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC), read November 8, 2026
- Alternative Fuels Data Center: How Do Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles Work Using Hydrogen?, U.S. Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC), read November 8, 2026
- Alternative Fuels Data Center: Hydrogen Fueling Stations, U.S. Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC), read November 8, 2026
- fueleconomy.gov, Fuel Cell Vehicles, fueleconomy.gov (U.S. DOE/EPA), read November 8, 2026
- fueleconomy.gov, How Fuel Cells Work, fueleconomy.gov (U.S. DOE/EPA), read November 8, 2026
- fueleconomy.gov, Fuel Cell Vehicles: Benefits and Challenges, fueleconomy.gov (U.S. DOE/EPA), read November 8, 2026
- General service: The Works, Michigan City Ford, November 8, 2026
- Address and service hours (structured data), Michigan City Ford, November 8, 2026